THE REPRIEVE,  By Darrell Schweitzer, artwork by Andrea Alemanno   There was an intruder in the room. Prince Tigranes drew his throwing knife and whirled about, searching the night-time shadows. Curtains billowed from open windows, rustling gently. There was no other sound, but he knew he was not alone. He had an instinct for that, […]

THE LOST PRINCE, by Milton Davis, artwork by Miguel Santos   -1- The caravan took its time crossing the expansive desert, its people and camels conserving their energy under the brutal sun. Though they resembled merchants, a closer look revealed their hidden swords, spears, bows and armor. A solitary child rode a camel in the […]

THE CARNIVAL JOB, by Mark Finn, artwork by Miguel Santos   The city-state of Alvara (also called Highgate) wasn’t known for its hospitality, nor its charity. For the past several hundred years, swords and soldiers were its primary export; the standing army, fifteen thousand strong, routinely strained the coffers and kept the legion of tax […]

FATHER-OF-RIVERS, A TALE OF AZATLÁN, by Gregory Mele, artwork by Justin Pfiel.   Rain fell. As it had yesterday, as it would tomorrow. “At least it’s a warm rain,” Kabil said with a wry grin, slipping his wide, straw hat from where it hung against his poncho-covered back, and settling it over his thinning hair. […]

THE ORB OF SEMERKHET, OR SATHANO THE WANDERER, by Jeremy Farkas, artwork by Gary McClusky     In the Hall of Semerkhet, darkness ruled as it had for many thousands of years. It was an inky blackness, deprived of any light, any warmth, any detail. The weight of time only served to deepen the dark, […]