THOKMAY, by Dennis Mombauer Up ahead, the monastery rose into the snow-veiled sky, a solid shape amidst the whirling whiteness. Thokmay, Ngari und Dorje had wrapped themselves in layers of fur-lined cowls, but the cold still crept in, rasped over their skin and made their bones feel brittle. “Thokmay, our most promising pupil.” The high […]

THE THING WITHOUT COLOR, By Aidan Doyle   The vast whiteness of the mountains marked the empire’s northern edge. If it wasn’t for the sword farm, no one would choose to live in such an isolated location. Akamiko trudged along the path towards the wooden building that served as the outpost’s barracks. It was more […]

HEART OF TASHYAS,  by Raphael Ordonez       Light-headed from hunger and sun-smitten, the vagabond conquistador Francisco Carvajal y Lopez eyed the rattlesnake with something more than indifference. The insistent buzz of its tail filled the still, sultry air. A few bits of armor and three blades  —  a poniard, a rapier, and a […]

THE PRICE OF MOKERY IN DALLIUM, by James Rowe For a thousand years it has been a crime in Dallium to insult a philosopher in public without proof of the veracity of the insult. The law stemmed from shortly after the time of the philosopher Placles and was occasioned by the explosion in discourse this […]

LETHE’S CUP AND THE WHITE SWORD–Part 2, by Cullen Groves  (click here for Part 1) The Argument: Upon the Empire’s pale, a dreadful battle Had broken Christian knights, for all their mettle; Retreating thence to Gereburg’s high castle, Surrounded by the pagan spears a-bristle, They looked for Freydegar, who Scathnung wielded, The White Sword, Scathnung, […]