Smoke curled from the equipment I bent over. Sitting back, I threw my tool watching its flight and Clair roll her eyes as it smacked the wall next to her. When’d she come in?
Letters
Bendalia stopped in front of the uneven row of brightly painted boxes. Box 11 was only mostly closed. Not even enough to hide the presence of a letter shoved where none belonged. Scowling she glanced down the cross streets. If Diel and Kedilalia thought they’d joke at her expense . . . She harrumphed annoyed.
She snatched the letter from the box and ripped it open impatiently.
Stars Calling
A door slid open behind Toria. Vaguely she knew she should turn to great them, but she stayed in her chair eyes locked on the stars. Footsteps echoed hollowly on the porch. “How did she get out?” The voice sounded distorted, almost metallic. The muttered response was unintelligible.
Minds
He laughed in Jess’ face. Especially disconcerting since he laughed in her face. Stop that, she thought. The words bounced around trying gain purchase against his mirth which died as abruptly as it had begun. I don’t joke like that. They’ll think I’m insane. Was she?
Escaped
A clip hit me from the direction of Vincent’s desk. My reprimand was halted by his wide eyes and quill twitching left. Turning I gasped. Gears whizzing imperceptibly in the factory’s dim Ottoline chugged into the room. I’d secured him. How’d the mechkanic gotten loose?
Infiltration
Nothing like infiltrating the Kedoldan Empire. The freighters offering discreet passage weren’t anyone’s idea of luxury. Months creeping through space. Bad rations. Water that had been recycled a hundred past recommendation. Not to mention the smells from alien bodies in close confinement.
Choices be Cursed
Elaweth, preeminent enchantress of Veth, had never bowed before Afanad hoard. She was a bulwark between her people’s light and their waves of chaos. A role she had been born too, but one she had accepted without hesitation. At least until today. Now she questioned. Late.
Elements
Wind. Fire. Water. Closing her eyes, Eowini let her chant wash through her splinter of the ephemeral entities she represented. Calm. Her breath slowed as she centered.
Lives
Perdyn stepped slightly in front of him, not obscuring his view of the youth. “Technically, we’ve met before. He was at my naming.” Sorrel raised one shoulder, a spitting reflection of his grandfather. He should have seen it earlier. They’d both been trouble.
Gears
I snapped my watch closed, slipping it into my pocket. The baggage cart clicked by, its mechanics as perturbed by the late train as I.
