Fishers always had the strangest hauls after a storm. They set out in their long, lithe boats into the bright, clear dawn. Throwing their nets wide, they hoped for the best. As the nets settled, the fishers saw a form on the surface of the waves. Although it exhibited no motion of its own, the … Read more
Harsh sun and sharp pain woke Sabit from dreams of fathomless, watery blackness. Her arms stiff, her legs aching, her lips cracked, her throat parched, Sabit’s worst pain was the incessant throb in her head. She needed water, badly. Crawling on shaking limbs to the sealed casket from the ship, Sabit took a rock to … Read more
Waves driven by the storm threw Sabit into the sky as she clung to wreckage of the shattered ship. In an instant, the wall of water shifted and she plunged down the liquid slope once more. Tossed and battered, Sabit clutched the sealed casket that served as raft. She focused on her breathing, and pitted … Read more
Sabit counted the spear tips poised and ready to strike. She had trained many of these guards herself. If they came for her blood, Sabit could make the fight costly, but was certain in the end she would pay the ultimate price. The Prioress lifted her head. Irkalla’s tear-streaked eyes could not meet Sabit’s impassioned … Read more
Sabit seized the dagger from Irkalla’s grasp and stood. Looking down at the defeated, grieving Prioress, she said, “If you would know Ishum’s will in all this, you have it within your grasp. Swallow a petal of that flower and his memories will live again in your mind.” The Prioress stood and straightened her white … Read more
The guards stepped aside, allowing their Prioress to close the distance to Sabit, blade flashing wickedly before her. Sabit ducked the first strike, but the tent left little room to maneuver. Diving to the side, she rolled and kicked, sending Irkalla lurching into her guards. Sabit regained her feet near Allamu. He offered her a … Read more
I hope you’re all enjoying this month’s Wayfarings of Sabit story, “Blossom of Ruin.” Chapter Fifteen goes up tomorrow! November’s Tale of Oshala the Hex, “Battle of Oak and Acorn,” is now available. I know that stories are supposed to be like children and I’m supposed to love them all equally. But this one is … Read more
Sabit doubted that many tears had ever watered the foul sativa, but she hoped hers were bitter enough to wither it to dust. Allamu waited on the clearing’s edge in silence. The shadows had grown long. The western sky was painted with blood. “This was Ishum,” Sabit said. “He was prince of Ghabar. Barely a … Read more
Sabit stood tall over the fallen sativa-keeper. His bloody face glowered hatefully at her. With a gurgle, he attempted to command his thralls against her. None could hear. Sabit made quick work of him. “What a terrible and great vegetable this is,” Allamu said, studying the sativa’s tempting blooms from a cautious distance. “All that … Read more
Surrounded, bound, and outnumbered, Sabit took the only course that she could see. She went limp in her bonds. The thralls to her sides struggled with the spear-ends, trying to keep her in place for the swordsman’s blow. The sativa-keeper ducked low to keep hold of her hair. The swordsman raised his blade. With an … Read more