The fine silver necklace lay in the dust, just off the path that led from the dungeons to the vizier’s tower—unworn and unnoticed. I was not the first time in the hundreds of years since its creation that the necklace’s constellation of seven-pointed stars had rested on the unforgiving ground, specks of grime working their … Read more
“Sabit is at your mercy as I promised,” Regida said. She and Kehnan waited in an antechamber of the vizier of Bahteel. Even the heavy perfumes in the air could not banish the acrid tang of smoke from her cloak. “When will you take me to the healing temple you promised me, Kehnan?” The warrior … Read more
Holding her breath, Sabit strained against the chains that held her tight. The bronze cuffs dug into the flesh of her strong warrior’s hands, but would not yield to her desperate flailing. Sabit could feel the greasy curls of smoke oozing across her skin. The smoke mixed with her own sweat, forming a sticky red … Read more
Sabit’s eyes locked onto the needle-sharp point of her spear as Kehnan brandished it before her face. “Torture my body if it feeds your cruel heart, but my spirit will never submit to you!” Kehnan smiled. “You are right, Mongoose. Your spirit is as strong as it ever has been in all the years I … Read more
“I did the best I could for you,” Sabit muttered when she could get her parched throat to speak. In the dimly-lit chamber before her stood Kehnan—tall and proud, resplendent in a fine silk tunic and lush fur leggings. Behind him, several shadow-cloaked figures lingered or toiled, as was their place. “You certainly did, Mongoose!” … Read more
Sabit could not say how long she suffered, alone in the darkness—sometimes standing, sometimes hanging listlessly from her chained wrists. In time, even consciousness gave way to waking nightmares. * Sabit in the forest, her loyal bandits at her side. Nerit—his face trusting, the leech tattoo on his cheek subdued and sated. Sidi—his quick jokes … Read more
Out of the dreamless abyss of pain and silence, Sabit awoke. Her mighty arms were spread wide, shoulders burning like the embers of a fire where the weight of her body hung from them. A tingling numbness suffused her wide-spread hands past the cold, thick metal cuffs that gripped her wrists. Sabit’s legs where heavy … Read more
Sabit pulled herself to her feet, even as her body trembled in agony with every movement. The clarity of vision bestowed by the necklace’s pinprick faded as she stood. A veil fell across her sight—of every color and none at all. The clangor of the battle resounded from far-off and within her ear itself. The … Read more
Sabit opened her eyes to the sound of screams. Not far away, she could see the body of one of the brave, simple farmers—his spirit rising from his butchered body like a puff of breath on a cold winter morning. His dead eyes glared at Sabit with bottomless accusation: Why did you fail us? was … Read more
Sabit watched the Junjai troops rally around their captain. Looking closer, the captain’s armor had changed since the beginning of the fight. The morning sun’s rays showed the licks of flame that danced cross the bronze plates, like a corona of incineration. Sabit had not planned for sorcery—yet, painful experience had taught her that sorcerers … Read more