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Manuscript
Talking to one of my co-workers who may qualify as a friend, and to my cousin has brought to my attention that reading a Word document may be more convenient than reading an LJ ( Read more... ) -
Reviews
Okay, so here's the part where I outline my intentions for the future of this book, and what I'm looking for from reviewers.
I'm going to do my damnedest not to touch this thing until January 1st. Specifically, I'm not going to start re-reading it and editing it. What I will do is respond to comments in this journal as necessary. If you point out ( Read more... ) -
Chapter 32 (Final)
Celeste woke in a strange place. It was dimly lit, and there was a thatched ceiling not far above where she lay. She turned her head to look around, and the sudden pain reminded her of all that had happened. She shouldn’t be alive at all. True, she’d always been far tougher than she looked, and had survived some injuries that would have been the ( Read more... ) -
Chapter 31
In the midst of this unexpected homecoming, no one noticed the new arrivals. This is remarkable because the new arrivals were highly noticeable, considering that among them was the Golden King in full battle array. With him were Duke Kalatro and Lieutenant Diamo, who still carried the unconscious form of Celeste. The trio of men stood silently for ( Read more... ) -
Chapter 30
Celeste swam up through a sea of pain and darkness. Someone was calling her name, guiding her back to consciousness. She burst through the surface, and her eyelids flickered open. It took a moment to focus, but when she did a face came into view, looking down at her with concern. It was his face ( Read more... ) -
Chapter 29
“Kill him!” Arrogar roared. Several of the soldiers leapt forward at the command, laced as it was with the subsonic undertones conferred by the helmet he had placed over his head. Aura didn’t even move until they were fully committed, then in a maneuver of deadliest grace and agility, the rune-marked blade blazed out of the sackcloth in a full ( Read more... ) -
Chapter 28
It was time. Celeste and Duke Kalatro were taken out of their cell and paraded through the city. The citizens of the capitol had been forcefully turned out, and they stared sullenly at the soldiers marching down the streets. Some of the women wept openly when Kalatro was marched by, because he had been the final hope of throwing off the conquerors ( Read more... ) -
Chapter 27
“I find myself wishing that your Golden King was still alive,” said Duke Kalatro. Celeste turned to him, startled. Neither of them had spoken since they’d been placed into the stockade. It was a real stockade, too. Apparently, the capitol was sufficiently safe now for the bulk of the invading forces to move in. The Empire was ready to begin ( Read more... ) -
Chapter 26
Lieutenant Diamo rode hard and fast. Behind him, his remaining soldiers and a few unattached stragglers leaned low over their horses as well, leaving the killing fields behind them. This was the second time he’d faced the Empire in open field combat, and this time had been impossibly worse than the first. He and those who followed him would be dead ( Read more... ) -
Chapter 25
Celeste walked beside the duke’s horse as his small army traveled east. He’d tried to insist that she ride, but had eventually given it up, remembering that Aura had shown the same stubborn refusal. He occasionally glanced down at her, which amused her. She was certain he was thinking she’d tire before long, but she’d marched every day of her life ( Read more... )