A deep melodious bell rang low throughout the caverns. Vana and Lala looked at each other and slowly rose out of the bath. "Come, Master Gar. The feast in your honor will commence soon." The women helped him into a long soft robe and then donned sweaters of white fleece that barely reached their bottoms. They led him up a long spiral staircase to a lavish chamber hung with tapestries and lit by warm glowing lanterns where...

A blast of warm steam scented with exotic fragrances enveloped Gar's senses as Luna led him by the hand through a great wooden door to the baths. In the dim light, Luna bid Gar to remove his boots while she bent over to undo the straps on her clogs. They placed their shoes in an alcove before she led him down a rock-hewn hallway into billowing steam. They arrived at a small chamber which was lit by large, roughly shaped c...

It was not uncommon to see the carriages of the Spire traveling the dusty road that led from the mountain citadel to the riverside village. Drawn by massive horses of pure white, they were elegant vehicles of polished metal and wood with wide curved windows, opaque to the outside. Imposing metal soldiers strode stiffly ahead and behind. Those who had seen the carriage guardians up close claimed they were empty suits of ar...

“You alright?” Tonya asked, slowly sticking her head through the door to Will’s room. Janie was sitting on the bed using her rosary like a worry stone. She wasn’t even sure why she still wore it, but somehow it was comforting. At the very least it gave her hands something to do while her mind was having trouble focusing. “I’ll be fine,” she answered. “I just… didn’t enjoy the conversation.” “Yeah, it was a little weird,”...

“I really appreciate this, Mister Kaduska,” Janie said as she accepted his hand and sat up from the canvas sack she’d spent the last hour hiding in. “Oh, my pleasure, my dear. Anything for you, you know that.” The big merchant grinned. “Besides, any opportunity to be a thorn in the side of the Teach gang is one I’ll take.” Janie swung her legs off the table Kaduska had set her down on, and let the rest of the canvas bag f...

“Bella!” A lilting woman’s voice called her name from the darkness. She jolted unexpectedly at the noise, then smoothed her skirts to sweep away the spike of worry. Her heart was suddenly pounding, which annoyed her. She sighed at her own foolishness. She was obviously still just jittery. “Yes?” she answered back. Jack’s tent was still lit from within and threw off enough light that Bella was able to recognize Doctor Kalf...

“You think he’s still down here?” Jack asked. “I can feel him,” Bella explained.  They were in the ship’s hold. It felt like a tomb. Everything was still, and quiet, and lifeless. Bella slowly wandered down the hallway and found herself in front of the Quartermaster’s hold. The bars blocked her way. “He’s in there?” Jack asked.  Bella nodded. “I’m honestly surprised he didn’t run off into the jungle as soon as we got here...

“Get out!” Belita yelled as the door opened. “Nope,” Danica said, walking in and shutting the door behind her.  “I said leave!” Belita snarled, pushing herself halfway up into an unsteady, angry crouch. “And I said no,” Danica shrugged. She walked over and sat down against the wall next to the Captain. “Part of my job is to tell you no when you need it. Right now you need it. What’s going on?” “Insubordinate… I’m going ta...

The crew began rousing themselves around noon. It was just too hot to sleep comfortably any longer. The shipwrecked survivors moved slow and gingerly, trudging through their tasks with stoic determination. There was a lot to be done. The ramshackle camp was mostly just strewn hammocks and bedrolls at the edge of the lagoon. There hadn’t been time or energy for much else, so the day’s first priority was to set up a more or...

Dawn was breaking. The storm had passed and the eastern horizon was slowly swelling from black to purple to herald the coming of the sun. The crew of the Kestrel was finishing roping hammocks between trees. The wounded were mostly already asleep. Others were unloading the smallboats they’d used to get supplies ashore. They were all exhausted but still managing to trudge along. Lord Morant and his porters had set up tents...

“So there was something under the water?” Captain Vex asked.  “Yeah,” Will nodded, as he bolted down the last of the spotlight-lanterns on the railing next to the ship’s wheel. The other three hadn’t survived the fight on the prow. Captain Vex wasn’t thrilled about that, those lanterns were expensive.  Will’s hands hurt badly, but he still had a bit more to do before he could let the doctor look him over. Besides, there w...

Grindylow were starting to crawl up the Kestrel’s sides, cresting the railings toward the midship, flanking the defenders. At the helm, Captain Vex cursed. They were running out of time. “Danica, Coleman, get us free!” “Aye, captain!” came the answering calls. Coleman and Danica North led their gaff hook wielding swabs toward the prow, but the fighting was too thick. There wasn’t going to be any safe way to employ their h...

A loop of rope dropped around a pale neck. The screaming head attached to it didn’t seem to notice. The makeshift noose went taught. A pale, rag-clad body was yanked thrashing into the air.  Lace Webber swung down like a boom, counterbalancing the weight of the creature she’d just lassoed against her own. She crashed into another grindylow with both feet, feeling a satisfying crack and sending the clumsy creature sprawlin...

She led Mandy back up the stairs, and into the west wing of the mansion. They went through a door that led into a long hall with four doors. Each door had a name tag on it, Cassie, Amber, Jeanie, and the newest one, Mandy. Stopping in front of Jeanie's door, Cassie waited for Mandy to open it. She helped Jeanie into the bedroom and helped her lay on her bed. Jeanie's eyes closed and she fell asleep.  Cassie caressed her o...