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16: Of Monsters
Niamh arrived at the Mageguild Demesne gates to find Captain Hawke waiting for her in the gathering night. He removed his helmet and was sweating and sickly pale in the magelamp light. “Greetings, sir,” Niamh said and looked at him, concerned. “Are you well?” “Keeping on, soldier,” Captain Hawke replied with a tight smile. “I…
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15: Of Good Days Gone Bad
Niamh and Jeron drew up to his place arm in arm. Niamh noticed a large parchment envelope conspicuously stuck in the crack of his apartment door. “What’s this?” “No idea,” Jeron said. He grabbed the envelope and tore it open as they walked into his sitting room. He raised one hand absentmindedly as he muttered…
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14: Of Sparring
“We’ve extended your post with the Easthaven Valiants Corps indefinitely,” Captain Hawke said as he stamped Niamh’s evaluation papers with the official seal. He handed her the sheaf of parchment with a respectful bow. Only two weeks had passed since she had received Jeron’s and, really, all Tanahr’s gift to her. The mechanized truesteel leg…
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13: Of Dire Dreams
Niamh trudged along the sidewalk, trying to dodge the far too many people who were out and about. It was nearing midday bells, and the city noises pushed against her like a physical shove. She staggered, taking an off-rhythm step. Her satchel slid onto the crook of her arm with a violent lurch, and she…
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12: Of Truth
“Curse everything,” Niamh grumbled as she dragged her satchel-strap into place on her shoulder for what felt like the thousandth time that day. She hated to admit it, but getting around in a huge, foreign city as a recently healed amputee was hard work. She had never liked crowded streets to begin with, and today,…
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11: Of Tinkering
Jeron waited outside Niamh’s lodging, even more nervous than he had been with Captain Hawke. She had promised via courier messages to make time for him after her recovery training. Now, he knocked on her door, butterflies and snakes and all other wriggly things in his stomach and an absurd grin on his face. Niamh…
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10: Of A Welcome Surprise
Niamh slung her pack over her shoulder and looked around the hospital wing where she had stayed for the last three weeks. Sister Hilde watched her, eyes shining with tears. Niamh forced a stoic smile. Everything had changed so quickly, but now here she was, standing on the threshold of yet more newness to come.…
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9: Of Sweets And Sweetness
Niamh gazed down at her breakfast, veggie hand pies (her favorite) and a little bowl of lush red brambleberries sprinkled with sugar. Unlike on previous days, she did not push the food away. She’d already had one guest. A woman called Loremaster Olangah had examined her top to bottom, checking her for any magical maladies.…
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8: Of Nightmares and Lore
Jeron arrived at the Mageguild Demesne to find a group of armored Valiants flanking the gate. “A guard detail?” He had never seen so many soldiers on the normally peaceful grounds. “Of a sort,” a familiar voice hailed him. Jeron turned to find Niamh’s commanding officer approaching. “Did you get my note?” “Captain Hawke,” Jeron…
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7: Of Letters
“Home again, home again.” Jeron stood at the door of his lodgings, staring at nothing. He’d waited two weeks to return to Easthaven, toiling at the expedition site to repair the last of the mage-carts and help with cleanup and investigation. The worst part was how far he was from Niamh, who was probably alone…