THE GREAT HUNT, by Francesco Meriano, art by Miguel Santos 1.  A Field in England We were traveling across Yorkshire, on a Midsummer’s Eve like many that had graced the thirteen centuries since the birth of our Lord. I led our old donkey Bess across the worn gravel path, spurring her gently through the warmth […]

RAKSHASA IN A POT, by Prashanth Srivatsa, artwork by Miguel Santos Blademaster Savithri was nine months pregnant when she arrived in the agraharam, under strict orders to deal with the rakshasa hiding in the mountains. The villagers, largely a docile, god-fearing lot, gathered with their mouths open, breaths stuck in their throats, and welcoming garlands […]

THE LINTON BANSHEE, by Rev. Joe Kelly, artwork by Karolína Wellartová   The sound started, quite suddenly, some ways off past the fields outside town, in the direction of Linton Hill: a wailing, ululating sort of shriek, yet not like any shriek that Conor Dubh had ever known an animal to make. It reminded him of […]

FEAST OF THE CARRION EATERS, by Aidan Redwing   Upon the field men set a feast for crows. Choice cuts of meat, are freshly slaughtered, butchered, then abandoned, to the care of the carrion eaters.   Livers and kidneys are swallowed down hungry gullets. Glazed eyes are delicately seized, speared and swallowed, washed down feathered […]

DYNASTY, by Gary Every, art by Simon Walpole   The queen was pregnant with the king’s heir. She wished to set a good example for the pious peasants and always attended Sunday services at the cathedral. It was noted by almost everyone in the congregation that her royal highness exited early every week just before […]