It was a long way to the capital where the king lived, so Baron Jubal was pretty much the law in all his lands. Recent decades had not been nice to his neighbors, so he was, for practical purposes, lord of all he surveyed. He was feared. He was obeyed. But he was not loved….
“But I am Justice!” “I think you misunderstood. I came to this town looking for justice. A rich man in my village robbed me, and I came here for justice.” The woman looked bewildered. Justice—for that was indeed his name—just looked stubborn. “I’m Justice. People hear you wantin’ Justice, they call me. I’m Justice. What…
Ferod stood in shock in front of the shrine. He’d distinctly heard the words. “Are you sure you don’t want more?” He didn’t really believe in the old gods. Nobody even seemed to remember the names of whatever god or gods this shrine might be dedicated to. But he had run out of money to…
He couldn’t be more than four or five years old, thought the headman. He really should know, as this was the son of the resident priest at the little shrine on the north edge of town. But he really couldn’t remember. This is a work of fiction. All person’s, places, and events are products of…
(See also A Fresh Perspective – II.) For years merchant trains had passed through the town by the falls on their way to the great north-south trade route to the west. The terrain was terrible, but alternate routes were even worse. One could go two or three days journey southward, past the end of the…
“We want you to recover the staff,” said the mayor. “Why? Why not just make another one?” asked Jed. He was young and liked to do important things. Recovering a stick didn’t sound important. “Make another staff?” asked the mayor incredulously. This is a work of fiction. All persons places and events are products of…
Iluan-ga had not felt such excitement for a very long time. She was 81 years old, and a member of a well-disciplined order whose members maintained physical and mental health, and reasonable emotional control. She paused in her study of the ancient manuscript. PÂ-EKLI-TÎ-ÂN she read. “The saying of the master.” Not PÂ-EKLI-ÂN “a saying…
“And then I let go when I’m at the farthest point out, drop into the river and swim to the far shore. The current will be helping me.” “And if you can’t make it?” “I’ll come up against that rock.” “What rock? I can barely see anything.” “There’s a rock in the water just where…
*It was nearly a week after her first lesson with the sword, and if Tlisli had only had a mirror, she would hardly have recognized herself. Many days of travel with Azzesh had already strengthened her body, not to mention toughening her mind. She didn’t even notice things that would have had her crying only…
Tlisli* jumped up from lunch and reached for her backpack. Azzesh had again provided an excellent meal, cooked quickly and yet tasty and well seasoned. There was more meat than Tlisli would have preferred, but she would never think of mentioning that to Azzesh. The reason she had jumped up and reached for her backpack…
