Zuberan Trellis bled from her wounds. Her heart pounded in her chest. She looked like garbage, and she clutched at her stomach where the bullet had struck and glared in wild defiance at me. I could smell harsh things when her hand moved, and fluid spilled from her guts. I stared back at her, my brain … Read moreA Throne For Crows (Part 49)
“Sorry,” I said. “I uh… booked passage. In the cargo.” The smooth expanse of her head tilted slightly, and the tufted ears on her head twitched. “Ah,” She said. “I guess that makes sense. Come on, I’ll show you around.” She offered her hand, and against my better judgement, I took it. Where was the … Read moreSong of the Venturing Owl (Part 11)
I’d been spoiled in the Capital, because I hadn’t felt pain. I’d felt pain in the military base, and I’d felt pain when the rite knife had slipped into my flesh, but for the most part, everyone else had been more than willing to be hurt in my stead. When the wires turned on, and … Read moreA Throne for Crows (Part 48)
My sleep was shattered just past midnight, when the Venturing Owl remained full (I was starting to think it never waned) and the ship rocked from an impact. My eyes snapped open. The next one had me falling out of it when it rocked again, and I heard the Captain’s reedy tones through the heavy … Read moreSong of the Venturing Owl (Part 10)
Boss punched the Crow in the face. It exploded, sending confused birds across the floor. They landed hard, and Boss swept through them before they could reform. The rest turned their rifles on her, and she leaned forward, blind, but protected entirely by her armor, and barreled forward. She struck things she couldn’t see, and … Read moreA Throne for Crows (Part 47)
It wasn’t that hard to sleep that night. Sure, there was a nervous energy in the few that were still awake, and the captain had stopped, if only for a moment, to talk to another night owl about something that I didn’t eavesdrop on, but I moved past them and slid into my bed. The … Read moreSong of the Venturing Owl (Part 9)
Electrodes dappled against my skin, kissing them like lovers. I’d never had one, I realized. Not one that mattered. Nobody had ever been waiting for me to come home, and nobody had tangled limbs with me, had whispered sweet nothings into my ear, had been in the image of my mind’s eye for more than … Read moreA Throne for Crows (Part 46)
I spent half of the next day next to Folna, sitting on a stool beside her. People walked by and ignored us, for the most part, apart from a few who lingered, their eyes locked onto the strange gleaming scales we kept in the darkness. The price was relative, depending on how much Folna could … Read moreSong of the Venturing Owl (Part 8)
Deep below the city, The Regent opened her eyes and looked down upon the skeletons in her closets. They stared back at her with their empty sockets, the dead demanding voices that she couldn’t give. She stepped between their bones and made her way to the memorial stone. It sat with names that had been … Read moreA Throne For Crows (Part 45)
The path we took wasn’t quite the same path as before. The market was starting to slow. People traded out their stalls for other materials, turning from food and supplies into a circus of curiosities. Lanterns were on sale, glinting with hidden crystals, with merchants hawking their properties. Many wore lanterns themselves. The Captain ignored … Read moreSong of the Venturing Owl (Part 7)