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 […]

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 […]

12: Of Truth

“Curse it to all the hells and back again,” 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 […]

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 […]

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. […]

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. […]

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 […]

7: Of Letters

6: Of Sunlit Pain

*Content warning: severe injury, post-trauma and depression. “Niamh?” The voice sounded muffled and far away. It said nothing about keys. It made no threats. Was she finally safe from the nightmares? “Can you hear me, Niamh?” Niamh struggled until she could force her eyes open. The world was too bright, everything so blurry. “Easy. Take […]

5: Of Life’s Cost

An hour later—how was it only an hour?—Jeron perched on a crate in a Mageguild tent, recovering. Kate and Moya had joined him, hunkered on their own crates, one on each side of him. They looked as bleary-eyed and exhausted as he felt. “It was a miracle, Jeron. You said those words about healing, and […]