INTRIGUE IN AVIENE, by Steve Dilks   1 “You have a keen eye for swords, soldier,” said the blacksmith, setting down his hammer and moving to the front of his stall. Squinting out into the midday sun, he saw an imposing figure stood there, an ebon giant dressed in mail shirt and high strapped sandals. […]

KING YVORIAN’S WAGER,  by Darrell Schweitzer   On the morning of his father’s funeral and his own accession, King Yvorian had a vision. It came to him as he rode in solemn state on the golden throne of the Eagle Kings, borne aloft at the head of a procession of priests and courtiers by the […]

A NIGHT IN THE WITHERLANDS, by Daniel Stride, artwork by Simon Walpole   I sank my teeth into another sour marsh-apple. It’d been that, and little more, since the previous night. Donkey-cart journeys are dull affairs, and while there are worse ways to spend a fortnight – the silver clinked in my purse – I hungered […]

WIGHT, LONELY WEEP THOU, by Oliver Smith Old Grim blew in on a black winter gale, crows at his shoulder, the wolves at his heel. Beasts of the snow followed over the fields; they left trees like bones and rivers of tears, the land hidden between fog and dead years. The white wolf of winter […]

LESSONS IN SPELLCASTING, by Colleen Anderson   Vortex formed, sucked into the Abyss Exited into a blizzard, ice biting like millions of insects Created orb of all-seeing light Reached a new understanding of Spellcasting Tripped on stone before the Temple Hand landed on hidden release Door ground open, decay’s breath touched me Stumbled down stairs into […]