FICTION FRIDAY: Making the Seen

     “Look, I have to climb the wall a then walk across a yard filled with gravel to get to Darkhaus the Dire’s dungeon door.”      “Yes, sir.  And those Slippers of Silence will get you across the gravel without disturbing a single pebble which might alert a watchman or guard dog.”      “I don’tContinue reading “FICTION FRIDAY: Making the Seen”

FICTION FRIDAY: Ancient Scrolls

     “Well, that was more than I expected to spend.  But if it helps me keep track of the wench and those seven little….”      “Ma’am!  Look out for the…..”      “Oh, insult and incinerate it!”      “I really should have moved your broom farther inside.  Are you hurt, Ma’am?”      “My old bones haveContinue reading “FICTION FRIDAY: Ancient Scrolls”

FICTION FRIDAY: There Will Be a Reckoning

            “What do you seek, mortal?”             Kellek tried to see where the voice was coming from, but could find little farther in the murky cave beyond the spiked knees of the demon, high above him.  “Vengeance,” he said, through cracked lips.             “On whom, mortal?”  The voice of doom sounded a little bored.            Continue reading “FICTION FRIDAY: There Will Be a Reckoning”

FICTION NOT-QUITE FRIDAY: Soaring Prices

     “Is this your entire stock of flying carpets, shopkeeper?”      “As far as I know, ma’am.”      “What’s THAT mean?”      “I suspect three or four may have floated to the ceiling over the years, but it’s hard to be sure.”      “I like that.  No need to suspect the maid is sweeping dustContinue reading “FICTION NOT-QUITE FRIDAY: Soaring Prices”

FICTION FRIDAY: Virtual Game Replicator

     “Deluded human!”      The skeleton swung its gladius and slashed a dozen pictures pinned to Debbi’s kitty bulletin board.  She pulled to the left, jamming a thumb down on the console.  Armor clanked and Dirk struck out with his claymore, slicing the creature in half (and severing the bottom two feet of the HelloContinue reading “FICTION FRIDAY: Virtual Game Replicator”

FICTION FRIDAY: Walking Into a Barmecide

     The knock on the door of the unlikely little shop was thunderous.      “Good afternoon, sir.  How may I….”      “Remember me?”      “Certainly, sir.  You are Galliga of Coyne, who set off to defeat the Dragon of Mount….”      “You sold me the magic tablecloth of Queen Clothilde.”      “True, sir.  An excellentContinue reading “FICTION FRIDAY: Walking Into a Barmecide”

THE MIGHTY ARREN, R.N. AND THE IMPEDIMENT MONSTER

     “She’s back!” whispered George, one of the male nurses on night shift.  “She’s back!”      Whispers became cheers as the tall, iron-thewed warrior strode along the corridor, her starched uniform rustling to attract her followers.  One by one they fell in behind their mighty hero, knowing she could not fail a second time.     Continue reading “THE MIGHTY ARREN, R.N. AND THE IMPEDIMENT MONSTER”

FICTION FRIDAY: RCFT

     Apps just appeared on the screen without warning, sometimes, begging you to pay for them.  Howard swiped past what was either an elderly woman with chickenpox or a slightly decayed horse’s head.      “It’s down here.”  Bob nodded, quickly easing from polite interest to polite boredom.  By the time Howard had swiped to whatContinue reading “FICTION FRIDAY: RCFT”

FICTION FRIDAY: Sending It Back

     Bernard was one of those shoppers who spends more time than money.  A friendly chap who liked to talk, had a treasury of stories which were not all pointless: he was pleasant enough on a slow day but at other times kept work from being done.      The keeper of the dark, dim antiqueContinue reading “FICTION FRIDAY: Sending It Back”

FICTION FRIDAY: A Smell of Leaves

     Mike straightened his back with only minor effort, and stretched.  That was a respectable pile of leaves, and the weather was perfect for raking: cool with a light breeze not quite strong enough to go through the cloth jacket he was thinking of taking off if Carol wasn’t watching him through the kitchen window. Continue reading “FICTION FRIDAY: A Smell of Leaves”