by John March
He picked up another log and placed it upright on the centre of the cutting block, hefting his axe. The wood came from a wyre tree, nasty knotted stuff which never seemed to dry completely, barely fit for burning, and nothing else.
Raluf split four more logs, and managed to wedge his axe in a fifth, before the man reached the top of the road. From thirty paces the stranger looked ill, with dirty clothing, and dark staining around his mouth. A few paces closer he looked hurt.
“Need help, friend?” Raluf asked.
The man said nothing, but stumbled forward the last few paces, and grasped Raluf's shoulders.
He'd heard tales about men from foreign parts, greeting each other with a kiss. Raluf tried to push the man away. “Hey now, we'll have none of that here—”
A hand grabbed at his hair, pulling his head forward, forcing their faces closer together. Dark, questing threads burst from the other man's mouth, and forced their way up Raluf's nose.
Afterword
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Notices & Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, businesses, or events are entirely coincidental.
First edition. July 1st 2015.
This entire work is copyright.
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.
Table of Contents
Twelve Years Earlier
A Visitor
Sarl
To Wassenard
Fla
The World Ship
Palona
Shipboard
Sash
Vergence
The Dragon
Sketik's Workshop
The Westerwall
Test Day
The Test
Tenlier
Vittore
The Ambassador
De'Argent
Quentyn
Tranquillity
Ben-gan
Plyntoure
The Menagerie
The Great Library
The Weatherstone
First Lessons
The Eirie
War Lessons
Addae
Respite
Wayfarers
Maps
Rest
Swimming
Fla and Romain
Alobria
Affinity
H'nChae
The Stilts Dance
Fire
Muro
Arrest
Phar Salsa
The Hunchback
Hunting Yale
Conspirators
Yale
The Spike
Help
Jaquit
Lost
Running
Home
Brothers
Return
Fyrenar
Table of Contents
Twelve Years Earlier
A Visitor
Sarl
To Wassenard
Fla
The World Ship
Palona
Shipboard
Sash
Vergence
The Dragon
Sketik's Workshop
The Westerwall
Test Day
The Test
Tenlier
Vittore
The Ambassador
De'Argent
Quentyn
Tranquillity
Ben-gan
Plyntoure
The Menagerie
The Great Library
The Weatherstone
First Lessons
The Eirie
War Lessons
Addae
Respite
Wayfarers
Maps
Rest
Swimming
Fla and Romain
Alobria
Affinity
H'nChae
The Stilts Dance
Fire
Muro
Arrest
Phar Salsa
The Hunchback
Hunting Yale
Conspirators
Yale
The Spike
Help
Jaquit
Lost
Running
Home
Brothers
Return
Fyrenar
