Allies: Five
Allies, Wayfarings of Sabit, flash fiction, serial fiction, sword and sorcery
flash fiction
Allies: Four
The walls of the House of Bouden had withstood the trials of years. Wind. Rain. Fire. Riot. All had left their marks upon the blocks of granite that guarded the house. None had toppled the walls. Yet, the house was in a more precarious position than it had been in many generations. Owing to the … Read more
Allies: Three
The magistrate peered at Sabit and Rayshabu from beneath his bushy, dark eyebrows. The two fugitive women pulled their hoods closer, shying from his inquiring glare. “Magistrate!” came the voice of one of the quarrelling men—a merchant from the look of him. “All thanks to the divine King that you have finally arrived! This man … Read more
Allies: Two
In the marketplace, Sabit and Rayshabu traded the shelter of their wagon for the concealment of hooded robes. As Verdandi haggled with a wine merchant over the delivery of their smuggled goods, Rayshabu shook the last mists of dream from her mind. “We are here! You have done it! I am nearly home,” the young … Read more
Allies: One
Squeezed between amphorae of wine and buried under piles of straw, Sabit made her way back into the city of Bahteel. Crammed next to Rayshabu, the spear woman crouched in the center of a ring of wine amphorae, covered with burlap and straw. Her spear would be useless in such a tight space, but she … Read more
Chains: Twenty-nine
“Rayshabu! Don’t do this,” Saibit said between chattering teeth as she knelt before the flesh merchant. Before the girl could respond, Heguir bent down to gloat in Sabit’s face. He held her silver hawk clutched tight, its leather thong pulled taut around his neck, delighting to see the spear woman flinch as he came close. … Read more
Chains: Twenty-eight
“One rebellious slave does not spoil the lot, your grace,” said Heguir, head lowered before the plump older man. The bandage on his chin sported a broad, red spot at its center. Nearby stood cowering Rayshabu, two bandaged bodyguards, and Heguir’s daughter. The girl looked small in a woman’s dress, her large, dark eyes taking … Read more
Chains: Twenty-seven
“You must beat her within an finger width of her life,” Heguir said, handing a switch of rattan to Qaansoole. “You have the skill to keep her alive but make her wish she were dead.” “I will, of course, do as you ask, Heguir,” answered Qaansoole, taking the switch from his hand. “I only wonder … Read more
Chains: Twenty-six
Sabit found the house of Rayshabu’s father easily enough. Even though she did not recall the steps, it was the grandest, most detailed building in the city. The rest of the city stood like bland and indistinct like fragments of half-remembered dreams. Two guards flanked the gate, drawing their swords as she approached. Sabit had … Read more
Chains: Twenty-five
“My dear friend,” Allamu said, “how I have missed you!” Sabit knew he was not real, just a ghost of memory like every other person she had seen. But the wisp of beard upon his chin and the apples of his brown cheeks were too perfect. She could not leave him unanswered. “Missed me?” answered … Read more