Taraji paused with his hand on the cubicle curtain. Every time he entered the space created by it was more difficult than the last. By the staff’s accounts, this time his brother’s injury had been grim. Sonaji had lost two limb: he left leg, and his right arm. He would be waking up, soon, and … Continue reading Similar
Tag: Short Story
The Inspector
“Inspector,” Torgald said, bowing respectfully. “I’m glad you could make it out today. “No you’re not,” the woman said. She had a severe cast to her face, with the sort of mouth you could tell at a glance was eternally downturned. Her clothes, wrapped tight around her body, looked as stiff and uncomfortable as her … Continue reading The Inspector
Exploration: Tool
This references characters seen in White Marble and Cold Metal. Like them, it's not really a self-contained story so much as an exercise in thinking about a character. Regrets grow best by moonlight. For Leoth, this night held no exception. He had many in his life, now, that should have made him happy, and yet some small part … Continue reading Exploration: Tool
The Diamond Library II
The Diamond Library I Ley was not meant for this kind of work. After only two hours of her allotted time, she began to wonder why she had believed she could do this. She pushed on anyway. She was not a scholar. Her son was the scholar — she felt great pride at his achievements … Continue reading The Diamond Library II
The Diamond Library I
She came alone, for the very thought of anyone knowing she had come here of her own will brought great shame and fear down upon her. It wouldn’t matter to others how desperate she felt for the knowledge. It wouldn’t matter what the knowledge did to help or aid the world. She would be seen … Continue reading The Diamond Library I
History
What follows is not a myth, though it has echoes of those you may have heard from cultures that predated our own. There are those among us who claim that it is myth; there are those who wish that it was; and there are those who believe that, if our society admitted the truth, chaos … Continue reading History
Ballet
Over the years, I’ve learned how to respond when something bad happens. Some people break down and cry, some softly, some so hard they can hardly speak. Some people curl up in bed and lose the ability to function for a few days. Some people get angry, and they punch something or someone. Some people … Continue reading Ballet
Fissure
“How familiar are you with history, General?” Lord Aurctur asked. He sat back on his haunches, his tail curling under him for increased balance as his lifted his hands from the ground. Aurctur’s ears and eyes turned toward General Zamrou in a way that tempted him to bear his teeth. “Not very,” General Zamrou admitted. … Continue reading Fissure
Genesis
Amala held her arms out in front of her. Her muscles trembled throughout her body. She felt heavier, as though something pressed in and down upon her chest. Yet at the same time her mind felt so light that she feared it might float away, out of her ears and into the sky above. She … Continue reading Genesis
The Harpist
The carriage trundled to a stop. Hawke sighed at what he saw through the window. The inn at which they would stay the night, though large, would likely have little in the way of the comforts to which he had long be accustomed. Namely, running water and indoor plumbing. His nose crinkled at the thought … Continue reading The Harpist