The stars gave her power. The darkness will give her a crown.
A year after defeating the evil wizard army, the elves of Edira prosper, yet
Luma, the Daughter of Starlight, senses something is amiss. Shadows move where
light should reign, and ominous whispers fill her mind, hinting that this
hard-won peace may be more fragile than anyone realizes.
Soon, attacks by a vicious darkness confirm her fears, and Edira is not the
only world under threat. Malicath, home of the wizards, faces the same
darkness, which drains and corrupts magic, including Luma’s own powerful
starlight.
Faced with a shared enemy, Luma and the elves form a tenuous alliance with the
wizards. Together, they search for the Unseen Star, an ancient magical relic
capable of restoring balance to both their worlds. But as the darkness grows
stronger and time runs out, Luma realizes that all magic demands a
price—and this one may be more than she can pay.
Return to the magical world of Edira in this sequel to the multi-award-winning
fantasy, Daughter of Starlight.
About the Author
Molly is passionate about crafting meaningful moments and heartfelt narratives
in fantasy-adventure stories brimming with magic and mystery. An unapologetic
language nerd, she earned a degree in English and Communication, laying a
strong foundation for her writing career. Not stopping there, Molly pursued a
second degree in American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreting. As an avid runner,
Molly often gets her best story ideas while running and remains outraged that
those ideas do not then present themselves, fully formed, on the page. When
she’s not running, writing, or interpreting, Molly can often be found
taking an excessive number of photos of her dog, Bungee, and her two cats,
Rose and Clover. Molly lives in the beautiful St. Croix River Valley of
Minnesota with her husband and two sons, who bring her joy every day.
Shipwrecked on her way to an arranged marriage, Lyliana McKenzie
discovers that her rescuers are not the saviours she thought them to be.
Amidst the dangers of a pirate coup, she must find a way to keep herself safe
with the help of only a pixie and one pirate captain. After a failed escape
attempt leads her to discover what she thinks are gems, she begins to realise
that the stories she heard as a child might not be all just fantasy.
As Lyliana collects more allies, dark forces rise around her creating yet more
enemies, both at home and in the pirate camp. Despite these hardships, her
desire to escape becomes marred by newfound power and her mirky path grows
complicated. Will she honour her family and friends, or will she accept this
new life of hardship and adversity?
About the Author
I was born and grew up in Leicestershire, UK where I have lived my whole
life before joining the Merchant Navy at 18. I achieved my dream of becoming a
Master Mariner and held the post of captain for more than ten years, working
mostly on the West coast of Africa and the North Sea. Since before my sea
career I have loved writing. It gives me great pleasure to share my
creativeness with the world, but that is just gravy on top of meeting another
life goal. During my off hours I write, read and, occasionally do the odd
degree by distance learning. To date, I have master's degrees in Creative
Writing and Environment, Health and Safety from the Open University and
Sunderland University respectively. My other main interest is tropical
fishkeeping though I have yet to write a story about them.
A child of man treads the path of Hel. The sun blackens, stars fall into
the sea, and as fire licks the life-giving tree, the heavens themselves shall
cleave.
Following an ominous prophecy from the world tree herself, rivalling species
come together to form a treaty. In order to stop an outbreak of war, they
agree to a mutual hostage exchange, sending their most promising children to
grow up amongst potential enemies.
An insecure þórr is brought to live amongst the rough giants of
Jǫtunheimr, granting Ásgarðr the cunning Loki in his stead, whilst
a proud elven empress sends her uncontrollable heir to be hidden away amongst
the Vanir gods in exchange for the arguably more valuable twins Freyr and
Freyja.
Meanwhile in Miðgarðr, where humanity resides far away from the lives
of gods, a young girl's nightly hunting trip is interrupted by the arrival of
a mysterious divine child.
In an intricate tale where numerous life-strings collide in an interwoven
search for family, identity, and purpose, can the smallest of mortal actions
alter the destiny of even the greatest of gods?
After a decade long deep-dive into ancient mythology, Viktor Rydberg wrote one
of our world's earliest fantasy epics in 1887. Reimagined today by C. Beskow
and E.P.W. Tell, his tales of the Old Norse World come to life once more.
About the Author
Born in Southern Sweden, not far from where his debut novel Birds of
Ásgarðr begins, E.P.W. Tell developed a keen interest in history.
His article "The Curmsun Disc: Harald Bluetooth's Golden Bull?" then sparked a
fascination for Norse Mythology, leading him into Viktor Rydberg's extensive
research on the subject. Thereafter, the Old Norse Saga began taking shape.
Recognising the need for a strong literary partner, Weman Tell initiated a
collaboration with C. Beskow, who turned out to be the ideal co-author for the
ambitious project. After five years of working together, Birds of
Ásgarðr emerged as the first of four books in the Old Norse Saga
series.
Weman Tell's professional career is just as notable. He holds a Master's in
Economics and a Bachelor of Laws. For ten years, he worked as Chief Financial
Officer at Svenska Bio (Swedish Cinema chain) for the legendary manager Peter
Fornstam, with whom he continues to maintain a close relation. He's also fond
of sports, serving as Strength & Conditioning coach for Swedish fencing
and acting as General Secretary of the Swedish Multisport Federation.
His varied experiences, combined with his deep passion for history and Norse
Mythology, has shaped the foundation of the Old Norse Saga, granting Birds of
Ásgarðr a distinctive new voice in historical fantasy literature.
Growing up in the company of books, C. Beskow spent a large chunk of her
childhood roaming the forests in search of adventures, huddling up each night
with a bedtime story. As she reached adulthood alongside an ever-growing
collection of cluttered notebooks, she decided to turn her extensive
imagination into a career worth pursuing.
Fascinated by the visual aspect of storytelling, Beskow was initially drawn to
film and television, and hence began her writing journey on the island of
Gotland, learning how to write for the screen. In 2016, she started her own
company, working on everything from translations and transcriptions to
tv-pilots and ghostwrites.
When first approached by E.P.W. Tell, ancient mythology was but a fascinating
childhood interest, but as the Old Norse Saga called for a deep dive into the
subject, Beskow found herself falling in love with its wild world and intense
characters. What more, the extensive research led to some rather intriguing
ties to her own family history as C. Beskow does not only have ties to the
renowned children's book author Elsa Beskow and the once equally popular
author Elisabeth Beskow.
In a time lost to memory, Etana is born with the Sight and a rare gift
whispered down through her bloodline: she can speak with elephants. When her
father promises her in marriage to an older man, Etana chooses the
unthinkable--she flees. Escaping the ritual that broke her sister, she slips
into the wilderness under the watchful eyes of the Beastgod.
Alone but guided by ancestral spirits and a bond with a mysterious elephant,
Etana journeys into the realm of myth. A powerful ruler summons her to tame a
ferocious elephant meant for war. But to claim her future, she must master
more than beasts--she must face enemies, survive betrayal, and confront a
court that thrives on secrets and blood.
As kingdoms clash and gods murmur in dreams, Etana rises from fugitive to
warrioress, from outcast to commander. In a world where loyalty is eternal and
power demands sacrifice, who will she become when everything she loves is
threatened?
Told through the rhythms of oral tradition and infused with magic, myth, and
cultural memory, The Weight of Dreams is a luminous tale of spiritual
resilience, feminine power, and the living bond between human and nature.
For readers of magical realism and literary historical fiction who believe the
past still speaks--and sometimes, it sings.
About the Author
Nicole writes tales of magical realism while splitting her time between
Texas and the rural Midwest observing various species of wildlife and dodging
alien cows. An annoying cat (with the highly original name of Kitty) and a
four-pound Yorkie (named GiGi) keep her company. Nicole is the author of The
Art of Living, a romance mystery series written under the pen name Coline
Oseille.
To find her latest releases and upcoming novels, visit www.NicoleSorrell.com.
Two dragons are pulled into a murder mystery when their lover is
targeted.
The blind grandson of the world’s most powerful dragon matriarch wants a
male and female dragon in his bed. He’s bold enough to get what he
wants. Unfortunately, so is the serial killer hunting his family.
A male-female land dragon couple long for their matriarchal society to be
equal across the board. As they fight for their needs, they meet the water
dragon who will change their lives.
Now a serial killer has these three in his sights.
EXCERPT
There had been another death, this one of a female dragon Joel had never heard
of. She was a distant relative, though, a water dragon who lived in Central
America, trying to stay under the radar, as it were, by thriving in the
coastal waters of Costa Rica. Or at least she had been thriving. Lady
Claudette had called to warn their mother to keep Joel and Jules close.
“Rumor has it this monster is on the move north again.”
Joel Junior, whose name was pronounced in the Spanish style, Ho-el,
hadn’t actually meant to disregard his grandmother’s orders, but
his twin, Jules, was out swimming and Joel didn’t want anything to
happen to him. Jules was an impulsive dragon, and he would have probably gone
swimming even if he’d been there to hear the phone call.
With Jules most likely already in the water, Joel couldn’t use his sense
of smell to find his twin. Instead, because Jules wouldn’t give a crap
about a telepathic sending -- wouldn’t bother to reply, in other words
-- Joel stripped on the Alaskan shore, shivering slightly even though it was
May and the ice here had largely melted. He assumed his scaly form, all eight
feet of sapphire-blue scales, and walked into the water. For humans, he
understood, this would have been a Polar Swim despite the fifty-degree
weather, but for him, it felt like coming home. Eyes open but blind, he
submerged completely and used his other sense, the one honed by years of
blindness and necessity, and sought his brother’s large presence in the
water. It was almost like sonar, but not quite, being a combination of sound
and psychic sense.
He encountered a pod of orcas closer in to shore than usual. He knew them to
be members of the dolphin family rather than narwhals because of the amount of
water they displaced. Orcas were almost twice the typical narwhal’s
length. Now using his telepathy because the sea mammals disrupted his ability
to “listen” to the water beyond them, he reached beyond them to
see what had driven them toward the land. Orcas weren’t afraid of much.
He found his brother and another dragon devouring a school of fish. He swam
toward them, giving the pod a wide margin even though he wasn’t a threat
to them. Either the orcas could sense the dragons’ magic or they knew
something the dragons didn’t know about the deeper water. With the
enigmatic and relatively new interlopers into the Alaskan waters, it was hard
to tell. Unlike narwhals, which had shifters among their numbers, Joel
didn’t know if that was true of any other sea-going mammal.
He approached and recognized the shape of his brother’s mind. He sent
out a blast of sound, a snort through his nose, and realized the other dragon,
whom he’d taken for their friend Jean Pierre, was a female dragon. His
brother wasn’t hunting, then, or not just hunting. Like Joel himself,
Jules was bisexual, although he mostly flirted only with female dragons.
Jules snorted back at him and flicked his tail, stunning several fish. These
he gobbled up before heading farther out into the bay. The female dragon went
with him.
Joel vaguely recognized her as a distant cousin and wondered at his initial
assessment. Water dragons weren’t exactly inbred, but they were
connected by strong ties that meant they couldn’t lightly date those who
might even bear a strand of similar DNA.
Deciding his brother wouldn’t listen just now, and telling himself no
dragon had yet been accosted while in the water, he used his sense of the
current to lead him back toward land.
Surfacing, he shifted back to human and walked out of the Arctic Ocean. If any
human had seen him, doubtless they would have screamed, or run to get him a
blanket. But there were no humans here in this part of Alaska. Sparsely
populated as the state was, this little cove and the land that touched it was
private property, where no one except the sons of Lady Nicole and all the
servants played. Joel’s and Jules’s grandmother hadn’t even
been here, afraid as she was that whoever was killing members of her family
would find their way here.
Joel used to wonder if she thought he and his twin, nearly seventy years old,
couldn’t take care of themselves. Yes, they were blind, but, no, that
didn’t make them helpless. The two of them hadn’t been permitted
to leave the area around the palace for over a dozen years.
He made his way to the large rock where he’d left his white cane. But
when he was a stone’s throw from the place he always used to hold his
clothes and cane, he sensed someone there. He paused, listening. He heard
nothing. He reached out telepathically and found a shielded mind that he
didn’t recognize.
“You’re Joel,” the stranger with an American accent said,
although he pronounced Joel’s name correctly.
Wary, Joel took a step back. Despite his bravado of a moment ago, he was
anxious. This male dragon was a stranger to him.
Male dragon? He processed that knowledge, realizing he’d gained as much
from scent as psychic feel. “Who are you?”
“I guess I’m your uncle.”
That didn’t comfort Joel, not in the slightest. “What are you
doing here?” Was someone in their family killing other dragons?
He’d heard stories of dragons who ate others of their kind.
He tried to calm himself. If this was indeed the one stalking his family, he
sounded awfully casual. Not at all like a serial killer, in other words.
Although, beyond reading braille books and listening to the television crime
shows, how would Joel know what a mass murderer sounded like?
“I’m trying to decide if I’m really the best person to be
guarding you and your brother.” He shifted on the rock, the sound of
denim scraping against granite making Joel take a second step back.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Taking out my cell phone. It’s time I let your mother know her
defenses were easier to breach than she thinks.”
Joel gained his eight feet of height, putting on his scales. If this was the
one who’d been threatening his family, the last thing Joel wanted to do
was present him with an easy target. He channeled all his telepathic ability
into a single word and sent it to Jules. Danger. Then he settled himself for
hand-to-hand fighting.
“Why are you…” The other male dragon sounded flummoxed.
“I’m not a threat to you. I’m here to protect you.”
About the Author
Emily Carrington is a multipublished author of male/male and transgender
women’s speculative fiction. Seeking a world made of equality, she
created SearchLight to live out her dreams. But even SearchLight has its
problems, and Emily is looking forward to working all of these out with a host
of characters from dragons and genies to psychic vampires. And in the
contemporary world she’s named “Sticks & Stones,” Emily
has vowed to create small towns where prejudice is challenged by a passionate
quest for equality. Find her on Facebook at Shapeshifter Central or on her
website.
Luck and love await the D’Vaire family at the newest dragon resort.
Blurb
In these five previously unpublished short stories, the D’Vaires are invited to the newest dragon resort, the Deck of Cards.
King of Clubs: The King of Clubs restaurant boasts a menu ranging from flavorful steak to exotic fruits. Grab a seat at a table and dine with many of the beloved couples from the D’Vaire series.
Diamond and Dollars: The heart of this Vegas resort is the casino, and the D’Vaires are ready to discover if the odds favor them. Past the slots and tables is a vast shopping area, and the stores have plenty to tempt even the most discerning customer.
Goddesses Wild: The goddesses are keeping an eye on their treasured D’Vaires from the realm of the dead. Unfortunately, their jovial chat is interrupted by a sudden death with a few clues left to unravel.
Heathcliff’s Heart: Brynewielm Duke Heathcliff D’Vairefenix wants a quick beer, so he escapes to the Hearts bar with a book. When he gets there, Heath finds his mate. Young bartender Brinley Brimstone is saving every penny for an uncertain future. When the phoenix and fire mage meet, flames will surely follow.
Double Spades: For Bard Ashby D’Vaire, everything centers on his career, family, and garden. But Ashby is missing the love of a partner. It is with great reluctance that Seltivare Tristis takes a job at the Deck of Cards. But the elf’s misgivings are lost on his first night at work when he crosses paths with a jaguar hybrid who is determined to make his dreams come true.
Excerpt
Moving ahead of his family so he could open the tall door designed to look like an ace of hearts, Heathcliff smiled. “We’re D’Vaires. If we aren’t weird, we’ll get kicked out of the mansion.”
“That’s definitely not how that works,” Scheredin muttered.
Laughing, Heathcliff waited for everyone to walk into the bar. His chuckles died the second he followed them inside. Thanks to his elven ancestors, he’d lacked sexuality until that moment. To Heathcliff’s horror, his cock tented his trousers, and the sharp spicy scent of pink peppercorns consumed his senses.
Somewhere in the bar was his mate. Desperate to find him or her, Heathcliff looked around. His gaze unerringly landed on a man with shocked blue eyes and brown hair glowing a little red in the bar’s moody lighting. Heathcliff’s phoenix screeched with delight and a desire to know everything about the ignis mage staring at them.
“Heath, what’s wrong?” Kieran asked.
Too busy staring at the man, Heathcliff barely heard his brother’s question. His mate was in dark pants paired with a black-and-white shirt with giant red hearts down the right side.
“Wrong?” Heathcliff repeated dumbly as he edged farther toward the mage. Although he wanted to run to the man Fate had given him, Heathcliff needed his body to calm first. The last thing he wanted to do was point his erection at his other half as they spoke. It was mortifying to have no control over his hormones, but Heathcliff understood the overwhelming attraction.
The sorcerer was pretty with his nearly pouty lips and the slight upturn of his nose. He’d enhanced his dark lashes and added a bit of liner to give his eyes a smoky look that suited a man born to manipulate fire.
“Heathcliff, why the fuck are you still standing near the door? What’s wrong?” Kieran demanded.
With some blood finally returning to his brain, Heathcliff blinked heavily and glanced briefly at a concerned Kieran.
“Ignis mage,” Heathcliff said. “Do you see him?”
“Tall hot guy with blue eyes?” Scheredin asked.
“Tall is relative, I guess,” Kieran murmured.
“Yeah, yeah,” Brexton retorted. “Our people are short. So, I’d guess the mage is maybe eight or nine inches over five feet. Tall to us. Not to the towering phoenix shifters with us. Anyway, what about the mage, Heath?”
“He’s my mate,” Heathcliff answered, though the reality of the situation was far from settling in.
Kieran cheered and the other three clapped, which drew the attention of everyone in the bar. The guests were family, so questions would be asked later, but Heathcliff didn’t care. His lone concern was learning more about the mage.
“Let’s go introduce ourselves,” Scheredin insisted as he led the charge toward the startled sorcerer with Kieran in tow.
To spare the man from being interrogated, Heathcliff followed his family, and his phoenix grew calmer the closer he stepped to the ignis mage. As astonishing and frightening as it was to find the other half of his soul, his beast’s instincts were already screaming for him to claim the man with a bite.
“Hi, I’m Scher, what’s your name?” Scheredin asked.
The ignis mage swallowed thickly and kept his blue gaze locked on Heathcliff’s face. “Hi. Yes, hello. Um, my name is Brinley.”
Heathcliff was desperate to touch him, so he stuck his hand out to shake. “Hi, Brinley. I’m Heath.”
“Brynewielm Duke Heathcliff D’Vairefenix,” Kieran muttered.
“Oh, nice to meet you, Your Grace,” Brinley said as he slid his elegant hand into Heathcliff’s. The touch of his mate soothed Heathcliff, and his anxiety dropped by several notches as he smiled at Brinley. The ignis mage offered him an enchanting grin.
It sucked to pull his arm away, but it would’ve been weirder to hold on to Brinley forever, despite Heathcliff’s phoenix begging him to do just that. Heathcliff introduced the rest of their group, and Brinley greeted them, but his captivating gaze kept returning to Heathcliff. He’d take that as an excellent sign.
“I know you’re working now, but maybe we could talk later?” Heathcliff asked, almost pissed at himself for nearly rushing upstairs to read a book. If Scheredin hadn’t talked him into staying out for an hour, he would’ve missed meeting Brinley.
“I’d like that very much, Your Grace,” Brinley said, pulling out his phone and giving Heathcliff his number.
“Please call me Heath.”
Brinley cocked his head. “Aren’t you going to give me your number?”
“Yeah, sorry, I swear I’m usually not scatterbrained, but I’m overwhelmed. I wasn’t expecting to meet you.”
“It definitely hasn’t sunk in for me that I’m standing here talking to my mate right now.”
“I nearly missed you,” Heathcliff confided, then gave Brinley his number.
“Yeah, my brother is desperate to read a new book and wanted to ditch us,” Kieran said.
“I can handle this on my own, thank you,” Heathcliff told Kieran.
About the Author
Jessamyn Kingley has published over forty titles and refuses to pick a favorite among them. With an extraordinary passion for her characters, Jessamyn eagerly crafts new tales and avidly re-reads them whenever her schedule allows. Jessamyn shares a home in Nevada with her husband and their three spoiled cats. When she is not writing or adding new ideas to her thick stack of beloved notebooks, she is gaming with family and friends.
Standing at Heaven's Doorstep is a book of 31 short stories. They are of
fantasy and science fiction. I have revised old fairy tales. We will travel to
new worlds and assist in solving their problems. You will meet three devils, I
have known. Tooth fairies and dreamers are waiting. Join me... Judy
About the Author
My name is Judy Cohen. I taught kindergarten, and new teachers for 27 years.
During that time i was a blogger and a part time writer. My family encouraged
me to write my book. The question they posed was, what am i waiting for?
Standing at Heaven's Doorstep was born..
In a kingdom where magic is forbidden, Sashki lived an ordinary
life-until the day she begins having visions of a destiny she never imagined
was her own. The visions reveal a shocking truth: she possesses a rare,
powerful magic, and her twin brother, whom she never knew existed, wields a
dark and dangerous magic of his own. As the kingdom of Carserae teeters on the
brink of destruction, Sashki is faced with an agonizing choice-use her magic
to save the kingdom, even if it means destroying her brother.
But magic comes with its own dangers. To protect herself and her newfound
powers, Sashki must keep everything secret, including her growing feelings for
the prince of Carserae. Though magic is banned in Carserae, Sashki persuades
the prince to assist her in fulfilling her destiny, all while keeping her
abilities a closely guarded secret. As they embark on a journey to confront
the kingdom's fate, Sashki finds herself torn between her heart and her
responsibility.
In a world where love and duty collide, Sashki must confront the truth of her
identity, her powerful connection to the prince, and the heartbreaking
sacrifice required to save her people. Will she destroy the brother she never
knew, or can she find a way to save both him and the kingdom without losing
herself in the process?
Sword of Hadrian is a captivating fantasy romance novel that explores the
complexities of love, magic, and destiny, where every choice comes with a
price.
About the Author
Chloelia Salome initially wrote and published the first version of the Sword
of Hadrian in high school, which is now revisited and reimagined in this
newest release. Now the author of nine titles, Salome blends epic fantasy with
emotional depth, creating a story that’s as moving as it is thrilling.
Eska’s life has been shaped by the constant threat of the
wilds—and the even greater danger posed by the church.
In their secluded home beyond the city walls, Eska was taught the skills to
survive in a world teeming with monstrous creatures, her childhood marked by
rigorous training, resourceful hunting and unyielding discipline.
Beneath her exterior lies a dangerous secret: her mastery of Bloodcraft, a
rare and forbidden magic that allows her to manipulate her own blood as a
weapon.
The church views her power as heresy, branding those like her as abominations.
Their relentless hunt for Bloodcraft users has forced Eska and Oblea to live a
life of quiet exile, far from the safety of the towering walls that protect
humanity.
But the wilds are unforgiving and no amount of isolation can keep Eska hidden
forever. As whispers of her existence reach dangerous ears, Eska's carefully
constructed world begins to unravel and her survival skills are put to the
ultimate test.
About the Author
Tessedan Devalere writes fantasy fiction, exploring narratives rich with
magic, romance, and heartfelt tragedy. Before turning to novel writing,
Tessedan spent nine years as a software engineer, with much of that time
dedicated to indie game development.
North, a rural water farmer, has come to the big citta to be trained in the
art of deep-water treasure diving. A man can make enough in a season to take
care of his family for years -- except as a novice and a country boy, North
can't find anyone willing to teach him the job.
That is, until he finds a mentor in the wild, sexually charismatic
"Storm." Storm promises to teach North everything he knows, from
navigating the dangers of the hunt to submission in bed -- but only if North
is willing to give himself over completely.
Praise for North Storm
"Will Okati has once again written a book that will capture you
attention from the first page, with the rich world in which this story
unfolds and with the lava hot sensuality that the characters express. The
love that these two share will leave you flushed and reaching for something
to cool down!"
For someone who had been raised on the sea, North was beginning to hate the
sight of it. Blue waters, green, aqua, all of them stretching as far as his
eyes could see. He'd been rowing for two weeks now, the winds too calm for
his small sail to pick up much of a breeze to help propel him forward.
Lucky for him, then, that he'd almost arrived at his destination.
Just ahead, North could see the tall, stone turrets and walkways of the
Citta del'Acqua, the massive capital of his world. There were other boats
not too far away, fishermen dangling rods over their sides and glancing up
in interest at North, scruffy from his fortnight's travel and pale with
exhaustion.
"Ho!" one of them shouted, his voice carrying across the water.
"Where are you bound, boy?"
"I'm no boy!" North fired back automatically. True, he looked
younger than his years, but he'd passed boyhood five years back and was
fully an adult. He hated it when people thought him younger than he
was.
"Oh, oh, a temper he has, a fine temper!" The fisherman and his
cronies laughed. Still others lifted their heads to watch. "Well,
firebrand, where are you going? Come to see the sights of the
citta?"
North sailed in a little closer, careful not to lose control of his small
craft and bump into one of the fishing boats. "I'm looking for the
master clamsmen," he said, once he didn't have to shout. "The
divers. Can you tell me where to find them?"
The fishermen laughed. "A boy from the country, come to be a
diver?" One of them hooted. "Boy, have you ever been deeper than
eight feet below the surface of the water?"
North stiffened. "I'm not a boy. And yes, I have been further down.
Fifteen feet, last I counted."
"You'd have to go a distance more to hunt the clams," the
fisherman said, his weathered face crinkling in amusement. "What are
you really doing here, anyway? Run away from home, did you, boy?"
North's jaw tightened. "Just tell me where I can find the
divers," he said through gritted teeth. "I'll be on my way,
then."
"Why, when this is so much more fun?" The fisherman gestured
toward his boat. "Come on, we've a spare rod and reel. You could help
us out with the day's work, and we'd split the catch evenly. Give you a
little money to help you through your first night here. Plenty of wine,
song, and women, eh?" He winked and splashed his oar into the water, to
the great amusement of his mates.
North shook his head. "I prefer men. And I'd rather not stay and
fish." His back was still bristling from their calling him boy.
"Do you know where the divers are or not?"
"Well!" The fisherman drew himself upright, as if taking offense
at North's rejection of his offer. "There's no need to get all
hoity-toity with me, young man. Of course I know where the divers are, but
why should I tell you? You haven't earned the right to the knowledge
yet."
North sighed. If this was the way they operated in these parts, he'd just
as soon go home. But he couldn't, could he? He'd come to the citta for two
reasons: one, to learn how to dive for the giant clams that had bizarrely
migrated to his village, and two, to learn how to be a Man Hand, one of
those who taught others how to give sexual pleasure. And how could he teach
if he didn't know himself? "Fine," he said, taking out his own rod
and reel. "If I catch a fish for you, will you be happy then? Will you
tell me where to find what I'm looking for?"
The fishermen nudged each other, grinning. "A big fish," their
leader clarified. "Larger than my hand, and thicker than my arm. None
of this penny-ante stuff for us, thank you. Then we'll send you on your
way."
"Good," North said, as he reached into his nearly empty bait
bucket and pulled out a scrap of dead fish innards from the last meal he'd
caught. "Storm is waiting for me. Or at least his letter said he was
supposed to be."
The fisherman's jaw dropped. "S-Storm?" he asked after a moment,
voice wobbling. "You're supposed to report to Storm?"
"Why?" North cast his line. "Is there more than one?"
He grinned wickedly at the fisherman, who looked completely taken aback,
mouth moving in a useless motion up and down. "No worries. I'll be sure
to tell him what good care you took of me." He laughed to himself,
softly, as the fisherman began to curse underneath his breath. No, indeed.
He was no callow boy to be played with.
About the Author
Willa Okati (AKA Will) is made of many things: imagination, coffee, stray
cat hairs, daydreams, more coffee, kitchen experimentation, a passion for
winter weather, a little more coffee, a whole lot of flowering plants and a
lifelong love of storytelling. Will's definitely one of the quiet ones you
have to watch out for, though he -- not she anymore -- is a lot less quiet
these days.
This anthology blends science fiction, fantasy, and literary brilliance,
showcasing thrilling adventures, fresh perspectives, and thought-provoking
themes. Paired with stunning illustrations, each story immerses you in
boundless imagination. Step outside the norm and explore worlds of
wonder—order your copy today!
Authors
L. Ron Hubbard; Jody Lynn Nye; Tim Powers; Robert J. Sawyer; Sean Williams;
Tom Wood; Seth Atwater Jr.; Randyn C. J. Bartholomew; Barlow Crassmont;
Andrew Jackson; Ian Keith; Robert F. Lowell; Patrick MacPhee; Lauren
McGuire; T.R. Naus; Joel C. Scoberg; Sandra Skalski; Jefferson Snow
Illustrators: Craig Elliott; John Barlow; Cam Collins; Haileigh Enriquez;
CL Fors; Dwayne Harris; David Hoffrichter; Gigi Hooper; HeatherAnne Lee;
Marianna Mester; Daniel Montifar; Breanda Petsch; Jordan Smajstrla; Tremani
Sutcliffe
