THE MERIT ONE GOLD PIECE, by Dave D’Alessio   He was an old man of perhaps fifty years, and his four teeth stank of cardamom. “Beatricsh iss me daughter,” he said. “She’ss not a witch.” “She failed the test, old man.” The sheriff pushed her in the millpond and she rose to the top, all […]

THE GATEKEEPER, by Marlane Quade Cook Beat by beat, footsteps echoed on the stones that carved a path through the meandering hills of the wasteland. Swirls of mist dispersed at the traveller’s approach. The hazy vapour was heavy enough to dampen the clouds of dust that rose faintly from the path: disrupted by human footsteps […]

BARDIC DREAMS, by Deborah Guzzi   Bold warriors and women, shield mates, sat wrapped in the darkness, sheltered between knees warmed by their lovers and heat of kettle fire.   A bard regaled with tales and love song Bold warriors and women, shield mates, sat toasting their fallen friends with ale and tears.   Mist […]

A SEA-MONSTROUS HĂI GUÀI ATTACKS CHING SHIH’S PIRATE SHIP, by Kendall Evans, with artwork by Simon Walpole I. Hand-carved, a distinctive figurehead perched High upon the prow of Ching Shi’s Chinese junk: Proud wooden dragon, ready to breathe fire Eyes scanning for foes, teeth long as short swords Green scales like markings upon turtle’s shell […]

Fall has clamped down hard on our part of the world, bringing relief from the summer’s relentless heat. And now, HFQ brings you relief from the long nights to come in the waning of the year!  Four stories, three poems, artwork, and audio!  A literary feast, spread before you in our electronic pages.  Behold the […]