HEART OF TASHYAS,  by Raphael Ordonez       Light-headed from hunger and sun-smitten, the vagabond conquistador Francisco Carvajal y Lopez eyed the rattlesnake with something more than indifference. The insistent buzz of its tail filled the still, sultry air. A few bits of armor and three blades  —  a poniard, a rapier, and a […]

THE PRICE OF MOKERY IN DALLIUM, by James Rowe For a thousand years it has been a crime in Dallium to insult a philosopher in public without proof of the veracity of the insult. The law stemmed from shortly after the time of the philosopher Placles and was occasioned by the explosion in discourse this […]

LETHE’S CUP AND THE WHITE SWORD–Part 2, by Cullen Groves  (click here for Part 1) The Argument: Upon the Empire’s pale, a dreadful battle Had broken Christian knights, for all their mettle; Retreating thence to Gereburg’s high castle, Surrounded by the pagan spears a-bristle, They looked for Freydegar, who Scathnung wielded, The White Sword, Scathnung, […]

THE MAN IN CHAINS, by Harry Piper   This happened many, many years ago, when I was still young. When I still had fire in my blood and thunder in my soul. It was the spring after the death of High King Llewellyn. Bad times for our nation. Anglisc men were coming over the border […]

EYES OR NO EYES, by Martin Rose   There is no magic left in the world, nor much left of heroes to go with it. Lest you think the post of ‘wizard’ to be venerable and worthy, let me assure you otherwise, for I am the most miserable so-called wizard of the Thirteen Keeps. I […]