Taking a lantern from the wall, they ascended the tower steps to seek out the source of the noise. The upper chamber was cold and a thin mist hung in the air. As they had feared, there were the endless stone steps, leading upwards into blackness. The way stood open and no wards were in place and no guards stood watching ( Read more... )

Gelaner examined the chain at some length, running his hands along it and examining both the cage and the lock. He turned back to the captain and shook his head sadly ( Read more... )

“There came six men whose swords were made from stone,
And on the bloodsoaked shore they made their stand,
To slay an ancient god was their desire,
Their victory was the founding of this land.”

- from The Song of the Six Castles.


( Read more... )

Ori the Younger stood a while in puzzlement while butterflies perched on him and flew around him and drops of water from the canopy above soaked his hair and jacket. He remembered plunging into the freezing waves as his ship broke apart around him. He remembered chasing through the Skasport docks, helping a customs warden to catch a fleeing ( Read more... )

A seventh course was brought in by the servants and deposited carefully in front of where the diners ought to have been sitting. By this time many of them were on the floor. Some were in various states of undress and engaged both in throwing food at one another and occasional halfhearted flirting. The robed man who had earlier seemed to be priest ( Read more... )

Around the base of the inner gate the pool of water had expanded across the courtyard. The timbers of the gate were soaked and there was clearly no question of their being set ablaze. The veterans amongst them even began to make jokes about it, asking the captain if she’d ever burned down a keep by smoking her pipe too close to the gates ( Read more... )

A procession wound its way along the muddy lane. At the front ran two scouts with bows and clarions. Behind them marched six guards, bearing heavy spears and with armour of thick, tanned leather. Behind the guards another six people carried an ornate box of extraordinary beauty. It had the look of a coffin about it, except that surely only a king ( Read more... )

When all hope of escape is lost, the spears of Ulanquin recall old poems passed down from mother to daughter. In the dark they leap, catching a rope and then along it with a desperate grip and aching arms until at last the lowest rung is reached. Then up the ladder and through the midnight clouds until they find themselves upon a path of stones as ( Read more... )

A great cheer went up from the caravan as it became clear that the rocks were no mirage and they would all have shelter from the heat before midday arrived. Water rations were passed out to everyone and then all spread out to find cool alcoves amongst the rocks in which to rest. The breeze which had been blowing dust into their eyes all morning was ( Read more... )

“Master! I have found your amulet! It is here, in the mouth of the dog statue ( Read more... )