THE WAILING KEEP, by Tim Hanlon, artwork by Miguel Santos Foscari the Gate-Keep swung from the straw pallet in the corner of his room and stood. Naked, he limped to the door and opened it to the tumult around the Merchant Baldovinetti’s compound. Riders crashed through the gates and shouts crested the high walls. Foscari, scratching […]

THE PHYSICIAN’S TALE, by Jonathan Duckworth, artwork by Gary McClusky   ONE   JORGOS Jorgos of Kandreva could barely move his fingers, partly from the unseasonable cold, partly from fear. The tropadoro’s lute was an onerous weight in his trembling arms. The three Blighted looked down on him, pallid faces split with horrid grins, eyes […]

THE SCEPTER OF ARAM NAZHAR, by Dariel R. A. Quiogue, artwork by Simon Walpole There is nothing like a beautiful day at sea to assuage an old man’s misery. I sat on my usual perch at the prow, watching the dolphins gamboling in our bow wave and basking in the welcome heat of the sun, […]

THE LATEST ATTEMPT, by Devan Barlow, artwork by Miguel Santos   One vial of tears gathered from the milliner in the town’s least-haunted shop   I must have my memories back, please let this be the recipe that finally works   Two hours of pestle-work with shed swan pinions and crystallized moon glow   So […]

THE ELDER’S LULLABY, by Ngô Bình Anh Khoa, artwork by Andrea Alamanno   The Elder sits inside her home, Crouched on her creaking chair– Her figure like a vulture’s, which Roosts by the fire there.   Her fingers weave some shadow plays That dance across the room To illustrate her whimsical song, Whose echoes pierce […]