Something Spacey this way Comes

Coming this Summer, the third and final installment of my Scifi-Drama:

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Almost a year after the Mars Fever had been cured, the Altum Crater Station had finally returned to a proper routine. Cecil quickly finds himself stuck between working random tasks and fending off boredom. When a new ship from Earth arrives bringing with it more workers as well as a group of civilians to live there, Cecil discovers that he must take the role of watching over them. His suspicions of his own inadequacy hold him back while these new arrivals continue to look up to him as some sort of infallible system of support.

Meanwhile, out in space between the Earth and Mars, a ship sent by a separate country looms closer, offering no inclination that they wish contact.

Pre-order here!

If you haven’t read the first two in the series, Mother of Mars will be free all next week, the 18th-22nd, and Above A Whisper will be free the 25th-29th.

Eye to Eye

Of Armor and Bone: Chapter 22

Bently had removed the suit of armor and hid it under the woven blanket that had been provided to him in his room. He could feel the familiar sense of lethargy in his body as the magical forces ebbed from his limbs. Downstairs, he could see the woman- the one who had addressed herself as the Arcanus- pacing about the head of the long stone table at the end of the room.

The spry man named Shiloh sat at one side of the table, with the mage at the opposite. Chin sat back in the chair, quietly smoking his pipe while Shiloh stared daggers at him.
Both Charlstine and Shiloh stared at Bently as he descended the last few steps down towards the ground floor. “Mr. Bently of Xiandol, please have a seat.” The Arcanus offered, a hint of insistence in her voice.

Bently quickly took up one of the wooden seats beside Chin, glancing at the mage tentatively. “Tell me, when you put on that suit of armor, what do you feel?” Charlstine called out. She placed her hands on the hard stone of the table, peering across the surface at Bently.

“Power.” The soldier remarked.

“That power…” Charlstine pursed her lips. “Is the same that runs through our veins. Is that right, Mr. Chin?”

The mage hesitated, taking one last deep inhale from his pipe. “It is similar.”

“Lady Arcanus!” Shiloh spoke up, slapping his palms on the cold, hard stone surface of the table top. “I must tell you of these men, those who wear this armor of magical power.”

Charlstine propped herself up and began to pace once again. “You know I wish not to hear it, Mr. Shiloh.” Her voice held a tinge of distaste. “You should have known to leave behind your urges for violence once you came through the gates of this city.”

Shiloh slumped back in the chair and avoided looking in Bently’s direction.

“As a Tuleforian, I’m sure you can recount the brief history of bloodshed we’ve had to endure here,  suffered by these people of Arkyan.” Charlstine posed, her gaze pointed to the back of Shiloh’s neck.Continue reading “Eye to Eye”

The Raising

Of Armor and Bone: Chapter 21

Kensley marched up the stairs perched along the crag up to Edrian’s hut. He pushed aside the fur covering across the door and peered into the dim tent. Inside, Edrian crouched at the side of the smoldering embers of the fire pit. The General pushed around the black and white powdery cinders with a long stick, hoping to quell the heavy smoke escaping from it.

Kensley cleared his throat.  “You called for me, Sir?”

Edrian tossed the branch into the middle of the pit. He stood up and extracted the well-used handkerchief from it’s place tucked into his belt, wiping his shiny forehead with it.

“Yes, yes. I apologize for calling you out so late.” He grumbled in a low voice. “It’s simply that I’ve made up my mind, and I wish to hear your thoughts.”

“Anything, sir.” Kensley nodded and stepped inside. Respectfully, he planted his feet in place, and his arms crossed behind his back.

The general examined the stern stance and waved him down. “At ease, Mr. Kensley.”
The lieutenant took a deep breath and slumped his shoulders.

“Good, good.” Edrian continued. “Are you familiar with that pass to the south of here?”

“Yes, sir.” Kensley nodded. “We used it to return from our attack on Tulefore; Bently, Scarborough and myself.”

“I figured so. Just over five years ago, Tulefore passed its forces through there for the first of their attacks on this land.”

Kensley nodded slowly. “I cannot remember the event more clearly. My squadron was one of the first on the battlefield.”Continue reading “The Raising”

The Neutral Zone

Of Armor and Bone: Chapter 20

Shiloh looked out over the edge of the balcony of the building down at the flowing river. The bed he had slept in the night previous was uncomfortably soft, and the breakfast rich and overfilling. Down below on the street running beside the central hall, two women passed by nonchalantly, glancing up at the soldier before giggling amongst each other. Shiloh quickly retreated to the chamber, his ears red.

The guard quickly walked through the simple room and out to the inner veranda and down the rickety wooden stairs. The central hall was an open space, containing a massive table carved out of stone, surrounded by chairs and cushions of random shapes and sizes. Above, the lieu of a roof and ceiling, the space peered up at the canopies of the trees covering the area. A smoldering pyre at the center of the table spat gray smoke up and out into the sky.

Shiloh spied one of the servants wandering across the veranda opposite him. “Have you seen the Arcanus?” He shouted out to her.

The woman, sporting a long reddish robe, shook her head. “The Lady is busy.” She called out. “No doubt welcoming other emissaries for the trial.”

Continue reading “The Neutral Zone”

Reinforcements

Of Armor and Bone: Chapter 19\

Kiaren had set up at the gate of the encampment at the first sign of the arriving troops. The afternoon sun glinted off the metal weapons and armor carried by the horse-mounted soldiers. The Commander’s eyes focused on the leader of the pack, who steadily guided the group towards the gate.

The man peered down at Kiaren as he guided his horse under the gate structure. “About time.” The Commander prodded at the man whose identity was still hidden under the dull metal helmet. He quickly dismounted the horse and leaned in close to Kiaren, nearly meeting face to face.

“Is that how you talk to those who have come to your aid?” The man grumbled, sliding off his helmet.

Kiaren’s eyes went wide and she recoiled one footstep. “Silvus!” She stammered.
The man, only slightly taller than Kiaren, held out his hand as if expecting to shake. The Commander swatted away his hand and quickly turned around.

Slivus quickly faced his troops and waved for them to enter into the settlement through the gate. Before Kiaren could look back towards him, he grabbed at her arm and pulled her to the side, out of the way of the path. “You’re blocking the way.”

“Release me.” Kiaren snarled and pulled away. She paced towards the wall and silently leaned back against the thick timber, sulking.Continue reading “Reinforcements”