Sela looked at Lana, and considered letting her die. It made sense. Lana had her uses, but was ultimately replaceable. And just proving to Gianna how little she cared, that could be well worth it. But still…Lana was her friend. That was supposed to mean something. It was simple enough to slash her bonds with Sir Violet. In seconds she was free. A dash, and the blade was pressed against the mayor’s throat. The guards

“Gratitude is corrupt. I know it, you know it. The fish in the harbor know it. We are filled with scum, radioactive beasts, and lawyers. It is a wonder some passing God hasn’t taken pity on the planet and just obliterated this city down to dust. “But with that corruption, there comes great profit.” The mayor looked to one of the tapestries. A map of Gratitude and the surrounding areas, it weaved in new roads

Lady Violet Sela woke up strapped to a chair. Her eyes flickered open. The leather around her wrists and ankles was tight, barely allowing blood to flow. Any attempt to escape them was going to require losing the use of an arm for a long time. Too long if she wanted to escape. Instead, she inspected herself. Down to her underclothes, smart. Easier to bind her up without all the folds of her loose clothing,

Darkling             There were others. Freaks, monsters, abominations to sight and mind. Other people like her! Lana flew up to the sky. Past the tall buildings of stone and wood. Yesterday she had tried to hide in fear. She had to hide, had to run at any sight of anyone who could see her too. Anyone who wasn’t Mel or Sela was going to hate her, hurt her, maybe even kill her. But no! That

I opened my eyes. Merryl glared back at me, but this time she had brought friends. A quick count gave me about a half-dozen adults. They were all in business attire. Blacksmith aprons, shop shirts, bakers and butchers, the last of which was carrying a rather large cleaver that I didn’t want any closer to me. They all followed Merryl, and were glaring at me too. Not again. I groaned, and looked up at the

The Green Witch Wrong. It was all going wrong. I was wearing the cloak. After I found a launder and stole some soap, it was easy enough to clean. My staff fit beneath the folds, and with the hood off my head I looked like just another girl in the crowd. Not a hero. Certainly not a threat or worth anyone’s time. I just kept walking. I had walked out of the bar, and turned