Heath barely slept, and what sleep he did muster was restless and troubled. He rose early, exhausted and emotionally drained. He sat on the edge of his bed, the crush of emotions from the previous day nearly paralyzing him. His anger had retreated, coiling deep until it was little more than a simmering coal. ThereContinue reading “Chapter 28: The Contest of Guilds, Day 2”
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Chapter 27: The Contest of Guilds, Day 1
Heath woke before dawn, the hint of the sunrise peeking over the distant rooftops. He grunted, pulling himself upright and rubbing sleep from his face. He frowned, then stood and made his way to the stairs.The tavern downstairs was empty, the last patron having been escorted out hours before. Mo looked up from behind theContinue reading “Chapter 27: The Contest of Guilds, Day 1”
Chapter 26: The Breath Before the Plunge
The party reached Aleria the following day as night fell. The others had all given in to better spirits despite the bloody melee of the day prior. Nambu was clearly more at peace following what he had referred to as a “balancing of the scales.” The sun was out and the day was warm, furtherContinue reading “Chapter 26: The Breath Before the Plunge”
Chapter 25: An Unpaid Debt
The low rumble in the distance promised a summer storm. Heath kept his head down, his hood shading his face as he walked through the crowded streets as the lingering traces of the sunset slowly faded into the shadow of evening. Aleria had a different feel as its night life roused, especially during the warmContinue reading “Chapter 25: An Unpaid Debt”
Chapter 24: Roles and Goals
As the days stretched, Heath found himself working even more closely with Kriv. While they both recognized they would likely never be friends, there was a mutual understanding that they could accomplish much more when they trusted each other and worked together. As was becoming more common, Heath and Kriv were coordinating their plans atContinue reading “Chapter 24: Roles and Goals”
Chapter 23: A Return to Aleria
The walk back to the mountain path was longer and more arduous, the weariness in Heath’s limbs and falling rain pushing him to move cautiously, though the fury of the storm had blown past. He reached the split where he had diverged from the others, looking up the wide trail to see them slowly approaching. FromContinue reading “Chapter 23: A Return to Aleria”
Chapter 22: The Apex
Heath stood idly patting his mare in the cool morning air as he waited outside the guildhall. The gates were open, and through the courtyard and in the street the others set about preparing themselves for their journey. Even as the morning sun broke the horizon and began to warm the city, a shadow hungContinue reading “Chapter 22: The Apex”
Chapter 21: The Hunting Party
By the time they rode through the gates of Aleria, the final colors of the sunset were fading. Heath had felt the darkness begin to press over him once more, though he held it at bay as much as he dared. A single night’s sleep had done little more than dull the edge of hisContinue reading “Chapter 21: The Hunting Party”
Chapter 20: Lifelines
As Heath rode west, all he could hear was the ragged sound of his own breath and the pounding of his heart echoing in his ears. “Time to go hunting.”The words that had echoed in his ears so many times when he had stepped out from the tower, his task clear and intent given. Time to goContinue reading “Chapter 20: Lifelines”
Chapter 19: Undying Vengeance
Murmur.Almost as though she was whispering it in his ear, Heath held his ground against the surge of memories.Murmur. His mind raced, trying to convince himself it wasn’t her, it couldn’t be her. But it made too much sense. Living in a disguise. Vanishing into the night without a trace. Murdering Miguel. Making sure Rodrigo wasContinue reading “Chapter 19: Undying Vengeance”