Kwaza, Slave – Part Two

Misty white clouds flowed across the hills, a rolling, silent shroud that blanketed the land. Rocky outcrops stuck up here and there, emerging from among the heather that grew thick, while tarns and small flowing waterways dotted the landscape about.

Follow this link for Part Two of Kwaza, Slave

Kwaza, Slave – Part One

The tribe had all gathered. They were ranged about a great roaring fire that burned in the meeting commons, in the centre of the village, beneath stars at once familiar and yet at the same time strangely foreign. They were the stars that Nhaqosa had grown up with but at the same time stars that he had not seen for a great while, stars at odds with the ones that he had observed over the recent years. Whenever he glanced at them, he expected them to be different, to be the ones that he had become used to.

Follow this link for Part One of Kwaza, Slave

The Sleepers of the Marsh – Part Nine

A low rise looked down over the misty marsh, one upon which the fading sun still shone. Atop it squatted Renkheqen. He had set his smoking brazier down beside him while he leant upon his staff with one clawed hand. With the other he scratched markings into the ground around him, patterns that spiralled outwards, in complex, esoteric designs that pained the eye to gaze upon. As he did so, he whispered words that seemed more sounds than actual phrases.

Follow this link for Part Eight of The Sleepers of the Marsh

In the Lair of the Bloody Handed – Part Ten

The gathering in the early light of the following morning was a sombre affair. Traces of mist wove about them, yet to be burned away by the rising sun. Nhaqosa, Abasan, Niati and Lakach carried their kit, ready to depart. Katako and the others who were staying behind had gathered to bid their farewells, and not a few of the villagers attended as well, led by Tolvir.

Follow this link for Part Ten of In the Lair of the Bloody Handed

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all.

Yes, I am still around.  This place isn’t dead yet and will be starting up again soon.

After the excitement of NaNo, I plunged into the madness of December and of holidays.  I am currently still visiting family and won’t be home for a couple more weeks.  That means reduced writing time and internet access to even do much with.

The good news is I have a number of new short fiction ready and waiting to go, including Kwaza, Slave, the final instalment in The Chronicles of the White Bull, two new Cahuac Cycle stories – Cahuac and the Fisherman and The Seven Sons of Cahuac, the next instalment in the Sir Richard Hammerman Adventures, called The Hammer and the Detective, as well as working on a new Ray the Robot story and a new, unnamed horror/weird story.

There are also a number more Deeds of Peregrine and Blade stories either in the words, or complete, including the 25,000 word The Heart of Forever novella and the 18,000 word The Curse of the Black Lights novella.

November Hiatus

As may have been noticed, I have been a tad quiet so far this month.  The reason for that is NaNoWriMo.

I have attempted it a number of times previous, with no success, but this year I am determined to succeed.  So far it is going well – I’m on track and still have ideas to get down.

I will be adding a couple of posts soon I hope, to conclude the two current ongoing stories – The Sleepers in the Marsh and In The Lair of the Bloody Handed.  Plus, after the nanowrimo story is completed and tidied up some, I hope to share it as well.

The Sleepers of the Marsh – Part Eight

The mists once more began to thicken out across the marsh, rolling onwards in waves. Again the silence began to descend over the region as the gloom of the shrouded sun took hold. Peregrine stood atop the small island that Ket and his kin had lived upon, looking out, still half expecting trouble. After a short time Blade joined her, his sword sheathed.

Follow this link for Part Eight of The Sleepers of the Marsh

Echo of the Ages – Book 1 – Part 3 – Chapter 8

Echo of the Ages

Book 1 – The Crown of Fire

Part 3 – Scion of the Wyrm

Chapter 8 – The Veiled

The building to which they made their way was secluded far from the rest within the Old City, off to the north east, where the walls climbed up through the hilly ground. Trees grew in thick profusion around it and if not for the path that led towards it, it would have been almost impossible to know of its existence.

Continue reading The Crown of Fire Part 3.9

In the Lair of the Bloody Handed – Part Nine

A much larger group accompanied them on the return journey than had left two days earlier. While some of those freed had gone their own ways, seeking out family who had been captured and taken to other camps and villages that Keturhi had controlled, most followed Artor, wanting to see Keturhi pay for what she had done to them.

Follow this link for Part Nine of In the Lair of the Bloody Handed

The Sleepers of the Marsh – Part Seven

The band of mercenaries forded forward through the waters of the marsh, following in the wake of the burning footsteps that walked across the surface of it. All around them the mists rolled away, forced back by the dark magics of Renkheqen.

Follow this link for Part Seven of The Sleepers of the Marsh