The mouth of the fortress proper wasn’t a terrifying affair. There weren’t teeth guarding the entrance, nor were there pits, or anything too ostentatious apart from large stone doors, chipped at by centuries of erosion and decay. Pieces of stone had fallen off the last time it had been open, and shattered against the ground … Read moreSong of the Venturing Owl (Part 24)
We abandoned the temple and moved on. The path out was ever smaller and more overgrown, and buzz of insects only grew louder as we abandoned the clearings and spots where the expedition had carved holes in the skyline to make their travel easier. Large wasps fluttered through trees, and small birds, covered in thick … Read moreSong of the Venturing Owl (Part 23)
Thyn stayed in the hollow for a long while. “I’m sorry you had to see that, Charm.” “Are you two alright?” “It’s an old argument,” Thyn said. “It was… worse when we were going to the sea of souls. Far worse. I don’t know what I was even thinking, going along with her.” “Everyone speaks … Read moreSong of the Venturing Owl (Part 22)
Sev managed to haul an entire crate of supplies by himself. We’d brought enough to supply the entire expedition, which was supposed to have twelve people. It was more than enough for three. The parrot, Terry, stuffed his face with bits of cheese and smoked sausage, while the deer, Linda, nibbled more plainly on the … Read moreSong of the Venturing Owl (Part 21)
Landfall was a day away when we tried fishing to pass the time. Our fishing attempts proved fruitful after Sev had managed to fix the nets, though this close to the sea of souls, the shoals of fish were smaller and less normal. Thyn and Sev picked through what we hauled up and kicked off … Read moreSong of the Venturing Owl (Part 20)
Jay unfolded like a clam and eyes filled his depths. Squirming beaks and scrabbling claws and things with teeth, and then his touch unfolded and crawled across my skin like hot wax. Words flowed across my mind, hot babbling water, baptized in an unholy creation. Something unfamiliar, something very familiar, and then that form and … Read moreA Throne for Crows (Part 50)
Things were not fine. At around midnight of the third day, after Irony had snuck out of her room and bothered just about everyone on board until the Captain had crossly ordered her back into her room instead of bothering anyone else, and then the Captain had spent a long night squinting at the stars … Read moreSong of the Venturing Owl (Part 19)
She slipped into her room, and gestured at the map. “Did Jess teach you?” she asked, leaning back against her bed. It was an ornate affair, clearly lifted out of some place far more exotic and expensive than the confines of the ship. Ostentationery, as always, silk sheets and soft pillows. A far cry from … Read moreSong of the Venturing Owl (Part 18)
I knew a dismissal when I heard one, so I swallowed and gave a bow. She nodded, accepting my dismissal, and then I turned and walked back into the hall. It was barely the afternoon. That felt incorrectly after staring at the apocalypse, having my heart torn out, or seeing just how grating the Owl … Read moreSong of the Venturing Owl (Part 17)
Time passed, and we abandoned our meals after paying for them and slid back off towards the Academy. In the light of the morning sun, the entire building gleamed with purpose. Monolithic walls were covered in unfurled flags and paintings, murals to break up the image so it wasn’t quite as blocky. Students mingled and … Read moreSong of the Venturing Owl (Part 16)