We are proud to present this novelette-length short story by Sarah Hoyt set in the same universe as her recently released “Dark Ship Thieves” novel.
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Before the first burner singed the air, I had jumped. I didn’t know why. Perhaps I wasn’t truly asleep and heard strange steps in the hallway. Or perhaps a voice whispering […]

Hey.  It’s not like I asked to get set up in the tooth business.
It happened this way: I’d just hunkered down to breakfast beside my favorite rock.  It’s a lovely thing: all crumbling and lichen-covered.  I like it because it looks a lot like me, except it has no feet.  I was taking my first […]

“So we have defeated the evil wizard after fighting out way through the bugbears, trolls, orcs, and rabid sheep, thus freeing these human children from the evil spell that was draining their souls in order to open a demon gate. I guess we’re done, then.” Fenris the dwarf finished tying off his bandage […]

A Letter to Sir Richard Amesbury, from Sir Anthony Grimston.
My dear friend,
It should come as no surprise to you that the kingdom in an intolerable state. In all my years as a professional scoundrel and despoiler of maidens, I have never seen anything to equal this. I simply cannot do business.
The dearth of maidens is […]

The Last Arrow of Liang Xi
By Brian Dolton
The sound of the clay jug breaking disturbed the silence of the mountainside. The arrow had severed the red cord, and only the red one. The five others remained intact, their suspended jugs swinging in the wind that swirled up from the gorge. Jong Huan lowered his bow.
“A […]

Fatecraft
By Lindsey Duncan
Pazia Ke’Lieren awoke flailing and shouting, nightmare recollections of broken locks and the thugs who had grabbed her hot on her mind. With no clear target in the semi-dark, she felt her foot connect with something soft even as she fell forward and landed hard on the planking of an inordinately fussy carriage. […]

 
Dragontrap
by Stefan Ingstrand
The black dragon swooped down toward the mountaintop, enormous wings beating frantically. With a muffled grunt, it half landed, half crashed into the eternal snow outside the cave.
That’s a pretty good disguise, Hrungie thought, stretching her own wings as she watched from the heap of gold and jewels inside. The human-sized halberd that […]

 
Originally published as the “Odd End” feature in the Volume 1, Issue 2 Omnibus.
Dick and Jane are at home.
Dick and Jane sit by the TV.
See Dick play video games.
See Jane play video games.
Play, Dick, Play.
Play, Jane, Play.
Mother wants Jane to set the table.
Mother wants Dick to take out the trash.
“Jane, time for your chores. Dick, […]

Strange Day
by Lorne Kates
Originally published in the Vol. 1, Iss. 2 Omnibus.
They always told me I shouldn’t go to the university.
It’s too much trouble, they’d all say.  Too much work for such a measly reward.  They all said there wasn’t any difference between someone who goes to the university and someone who doesn’t.
Of course, I […]

Doggy Paddling
by Casey Fiesler
Originally published in the Volume 1, Issue 2 omnibus.
“Why am I here?”
Jeremy, too shocked to form a coherent response, just blinked down at Benjy.
For Jeremy, dogs conjured up a set of expectations.  Eating, sleeping, playing, perhaps fetching the occasional newspaper, chewing on the odd slipper.  Therefore, he assumed that their mental lives […]