Sworded Tales

“Your time is up, Merinde,” the voice knifed through the chattering din, carrying enough smug malignance to fill a keg.

“We’ll see about that you ignorant basilisk,” Merinde replied from the edge of her seat, fingers steepled on the table on either side of her considerable frame.  Matters were grim, that much was certain, but she had seen worse.  Hadn’t she?  One calloused hand rose and descended in practiced rhythms over a small crock, transporting the singeing liquid within to her lips.  She wiped the spittle from her mouth and slid the vessel away.  A bottle tipped to refill it before its momentum subsided. Continue reading

How does a lovely young lady like yourself always manage to get into so much trouble?  Easy enough, I suppose, when you go looking for it.

For once your stupid oaf of a brother, Glenn, had made some pretty good sense.  The two of you had been running a smooth con game up and down the Mississippi ever since your momma passed on from the yellow fever twelve years ago.  When you started landing some big scores by bilking well-mannered, upstanding citizens out of some of their inheritance, you also gained some notoriety.  The sheriff who recognized you in Memphis was none too pleased when you took Glenn up on his suggestion to pack up your things and head out west to get a fresh start.

Everything seemed to blow over quite nicely until you crossed into Nevada. Continue reading

As the odd group assembled and then began preparing their makeshift shelter, an unassuming figure on horseback watched from a distance.  The times were perilous and a sure notion of the places one walked into was a precaution that was not a luxury.  Still, the hooded rider knew when to just let what may be run its course without excess planning and undue wariness.  He urged his riding steed to begin their descent down the rolling series of knolls, mindful of the slick grass and lifeless muddy patches which riddled the area. Continue reading

“If the dice don’t get you, then the cards certainly will.”

Those were the last words your pappy spoke to you as you left behind the Arkansas farmhouse where you had grown for sixteen summers.  For years after that, you scoffed at the stupidity of such a statement, the utter impossibility of your luck ever going that bad.  After all, you had the gift.  Everywhere you looked, opportunity stared back, and lady luck was always on your side.

Well, gift or not, the years that kept on rolling by had a way of making you wonder about the truth of the matter.  Was the magic of your youth truly a blessing or more like a curse in sheep’s clothing?  There were always ups and downs in the game, good times and bad, but the lucky lady never failed to come through when it really mattered.  Never!  So how in God’s name did you wind up sixteen grand in the hole to that bloodthirsty wretch, Hollis Sawthorne? Continue reading

Throne

Seat of power, regal throne
How many have claimed you as their own?
Many have come, more have gone
Claiming to be kings, when in fact just pawns.

Can you show me the present fool
That treats you as little more than a tool
Not granting the honor you rightly deserve
Nor the legacy of heritage you preserve?

Show me where to find him, that I may plan
On how to provide you a true king of a man
To lead you to glory as in days of past
To relight the balefire and rebuild your kingdom at last. Continue reading

The Company has reprogrammed your mind so many times that you don’t even remember your real name anymore, only your codename:  Rupture.

So what the hell is going on?  One minute you’re running an op for Colonel Lincoln, despite what a bastard he is.  The next thing you know, there’s a flash of bright green light and then a whole lot of nothing.  You’re used to a few memory gaps with each new assignment, but come on, this is ridiculous!

You take a moment to assess what you now. Continue reading

Ripped from a dream where you were soaring high above the clouds on powerful wings, the frigid air caressing the ancient scales which for eons have protected you and your family, your eyes scrape painfully open.  The wailing of harpies assaults you as you fight to see through the blood red haze that engulfs you.

Where are you?  What has happened?

Your newborn son, strong and healthy, being tossed up into the air, laughing and giggling, returning to your strong, sure hands.  Those same hands, now claws, held out in front of you, gently clasping the claws of your mate during your Eternal Blood Rite.

Staggering forward, your mind and your vision begin to clear and sharpen.  Flashing red lights cast a fiery glow over the figure standing beside you and across another laying at your feet. Continue reading

The command was a simple one, and perhaps the most convincing he had ever heard.  Run.  But from what?  Was there a point in running from such a creature, that could rip and rend through the very foundations of the earth?  Gerard continued to search the ruins below as the thoughts raced across his mind.  Silence smothered the scene, and the survivor inside knew that his rationalizations were little more than dangerous delay.  His heart wanted to climb down and search.  His head knew better, and his feet, had they been more independent, would have been half a wheel away by now. Continue reading

If this was his first meeting with the woman he knew as Erellia, Kurn  may have been taken aback that she readily knew the name of the handler he had brought along to assist with the horses.  In the way of things, he accepted that she knew the name in stride and did as she bid, first accepting Erellia’s mount, then making the offer to the dwarf, Katarina and Borlak.  “I will lead them, or you may ride them to Haron if you prefer.”  Continue reading

Helix, Inc. is one of the big players in the area, but they have been under siege of late.  The scattered news feeds have been filled with the aftermath of the corporate warfare, and in a bid to regroup, Helix has recruited a number of renegade Chromes from the district.  A handful of these special individuals has been assigned to the Urban Response department.

New members of the primary Response Team are assigned to investigate and suppress an unknown element that has been setting fire to various Helix assets.  Team members are informed by the department’s handler, Mr. Avix, that this mission is as much a tryout as it is an objective.  Performances will be evaluated and one of the new recruits will not continue to serve as a Helix operative.

Times are tough and Helix could be a solid meal ticket for some time to come.  Only one unlucky bastard wasn’t going to make the cut. Who is it going to be? Continue reading