“So,” Iuen asked, “what do you think?” Ealia looked over at Iuen. Part of her wondered absently if he would ever get the grass stains out of his grey officers robes. Maybe he’d get ribbed for it back at the officer’s mess, interrogated to find out who his mysterious lover was. “Think of what?” she … More New Love
Are you subscribed to my writing advice newsletter? The latest edition of Writing on Caffeine is now in your inboxes! This month I’m looking at how to edit your first draft! Don’t forget, when you subscribe to my newsletter Writing on Caffeine, you get free access to my fantasy short story The Gateway of Arieum … More Editing your First Draft – Writing on Caffeine and Short Story Snippet!
Nainea held on tightly to her copper badge, curling up around it to stop them taking it off her. The cave floor was cold, still wet with the blood of the guards she had managed to kill. At least the badge still listened to her, it still obeyed her. But now, until she could get … More Expel (From the Archives)
Fenla hummed as she stitched the new symbol into the cloth on the table. This one was a simple order, a quick piece of magic to ward off spirits from the mashlands. Not that the owners would be aware the spirits were attracted to anything that she touched. No one was aware, they thought it … More The Daughter’s Curse (From the Archives)
‘Sticks and stones my break my bones, but words will never hurt me’. It’s an old adage, one which is rattled out again and again to try and say how words are only mere words and therefore are 100% less efficient at ruining someone’s good day than throwing a few stones at them. However, here … More Choosing the Right Words
“I can’t do it,” Felruza slammed her fist against the table. Why was it so damn hard? Why could everyone else do this one simple thing and she couldn’t? “It’ll come,” her mother said from across the table. Her voice was gentle, it always was, the opposite of her innate power which was creating fireballs … More Can’t Do It
“It was all so good,” Tristan sighed, into his drink “before you lot got involved.” The bodies didn’t talk back. They never talked back. “You know,” he said, reaching over the bar and pulling a bottle from under the shelf, “I really wish that time magic was a thing. That I could go back to … More Before (From the Archives)
“You’re orange,” A bit of a state-the-obvious comment from Ryan. Cassie wiped the orange blood of her blade and sheathed her weapon. Monster blood never made for a particularly delightful colour. Least it was better than the stuff they had up North, which was acidic blood. “Stating the obvious much,” Cassie remarked, kicking the corpse … More Like the Sky at Sundown
Junea pulled the reigns of Ceanol sharply, bringing her to a halt. “Why did you stop?” Kanek asked, pulling up next to Junea. Garne, his horse, stamped impatiently. He was an old racing horse, and he hated standing still for more than a moment at a time. “Do you hear that?” Junea asked. Kanek cocked … More Crossing the River Ine (From the Archives)
“Do you have it?” Lauren nodded, hand still tucked inside her jacket. It might not seem much, this little tin box full of blue powder, but it was going to change the world. Their world. Vaskier slipped out of the shadows that spilled from under the arches. Lauren could feel her skin crawl as Vaskier … More Under the Arches (From the Archives)
Alex.J.Cobalt 