AFTER THE BATTLE, by Devan Barlow   After the battle forgive, or don’t it’s really up to you   Stare at the scuttling scurrying life remaining on the sand watch hermit crabs replace shells that witnessed conflict   Consider what if anything you might shed   Step into the surf until it’s up to your […]

THE KING’S BLADE, by Aidan Redwing, art by Lilith Graves I am your blade bloodied and broken. I am your word harsh and unspoken. I am your angel of mercy, your hand outstretched. Spilling all in your name I am a bloodstained wretch. I am your servant blessed and unholy. Making kings into gods I […]

RULES FOR A MAGIC SWORD, by Mary Soon Lee, art by Simon Walpole Maintain a proper appearance: no rust, no cracks, no notches. No unauthorized engravings, no costume jewelry, no dye jobs. When wielded by the rightful, slay enemies without question. (Drinking the blood and soul of the enemy is permitted.) All law-abiding members of […]

MERCY AND THE MERCENARY, by A.J. Dalton     Silent hisses of sellsword! assail him as he takes his measure from the tankard and watches them through hooded lids, though none dares look in his direction save the newly arrived holy man Are you proud, my forbidding fellow, of what you have done? Pride does nothing to […]

FORTUNE, by Scott T. Hutchison, art by Miguel Santos     Revered Old Ones tossed bones to read the ominous certainty of futures and dark change; the man regards signs in the rawness and rarity of his circumstances. A long life, in the modest, remote village of Utterby–that’s never known war. Not in his time. […]