Miles and three of the guards went in while Grace stood outside, where the other two were grumbling about finding this killer.
Her hands trembled slightly as she knew the number of guards would be more challenging if she didn't attack now. Each of these men moved differently than the three she had first killed. Those other men were obviously not as well trained, which scared her.
Levi dies…
Those two words kept playing over and over in her head. The me...
2024-01-05 16:52:04 +0000 UTC
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Grace didn’t expect the gifts that came from each of the other gangs over the next two days. It almost turned into a competition as word spread about what each one gave, wanting to show their gratitude for protecting those who lived within their section.
She even received a gift from the Branded Crew, which surprised her. They were usually very reclusive, members who had been burnt badly in the original attacks, but they still felt it was honorable, and she appreciated the...
2024-01-05 14:00:10 +0000 UTC
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[ 3 Dexterity Consumed ]
[ Consume has Consumed a Skill ]
[ Skill Consumed Cannot be Merged - Rank is equal ]
[ Skill Consumed Cannot be Merged - Rank is equal ]
[ [Dagger Mastery] was discarded ]
[ [Sword Mastery] was discarded ]
Max felt satisfied and frustrated at the same time. He had hoped for more, wanted more.
Why isn’t this enough… just how much do you need?
No reply came, but Max knew whatever it was that had sp...
2024-01-05 14:00:03 +0000 UTC
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Stay back, Amaranth. I don’t want you to risk getting hurt or Tharnok being upset at your presence.
Without complaining, the green dragon turned to the right and circled back, staying at the same altitude but not coming with Pammon and him.
Look at the land. I cannot believe Tharnok has done this.
Kaen nodded and felt a knot forming in his stomach. They had seen traces of the destruction half an hour ago when they got close to he...
2024-01-05 14:00:01 +0000 UTC
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The Sergeant’s eyebrows raised, and she saw his confusion when she looked up at his face.
“What do you mean another murder?”
The man looked at the guards near him, and they all shook their heads. None of them had any idea what Grace was talking about.
“Explain,” the man said. “Where is this other murder?”
“I’ll lead you, but it’s the other way. No, I won’t run, but it is fifteen minutes away from here.”
His fingers began to tap...
2024-01-05 04:04:26 +0000 UTC
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Grace sprinted the last half dozen yards to the wall, barreling through the opening and turning, almost running into a guard who was holding Levi’s arm and shaking him.
“I said quiet!” the man snapped, shaking her brother as he tried to drag him towards a group of other people from the city who were herded against one of the stone walls.
The soldier's eyes snapped up as Grace came toward him, trying to stop, and he reached for his sword.
“Wait!” Grace exclaimed, th...
2024-01-05 04:02:50 +0000 UTC
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Her mind itched as she walked.
Grace focused on what that man had said and how this system would tell her more.
Willing to know more, some words popped into her mind.
“Status,” she whispered as she and Lilly slowly walked down a street.
*****
Grace Akem
Age: 16
Female
Initiate of Balethem
—
Physical: 7
Mental: 4
Spiritual: 5
—
Abilities:
Persuade - Usable
*****
Glancing at th...
2024-01-05 04:01:43 +0000 UTC
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Lilly sat beside her, quiet and not moving, but Grace could see she was like a spring, ready to move in a moment.
Her hand with the dagger trembled as she tried to calm herself.
They would rob or kill me… I need to protect Levi…
Over and over, she told herself everything she was doing for her brother. That smile on his face, those eyes still filled with hope and life. She knew that fire had gone out of her weeks after her parents had died, and yet he...
2024-01-05 04:00:02 +0000 UTC
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Most mornings waking up left Grace feeling sore and stiff, but this morning was different. She felt alive. Her body felt terrific, and inside her was some belief that perhaps she and Levi could actually escape this hell hole and find somewhere safe.
A twinge in her gut told her what needed to happen, and she got up quietly, leaving her brother snoring as he always did.
The water she had fetched and boiled before she drank was doing its magic, and soon, three small silv...
2024-01-04 17:52:42 +0000 UTC
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"The Girl Who Killed a God" is a story for the magazine challenge for RR.
It's based off a story my daughter and I are writing together and we decided, why wait, the tag line works perfectly with what we have been plotting and working on.
So as I write the chapters (getting a small backlog going), I'll post them here first for you all!
She and I are both excited about this story and know that some of what transpires comes from her point of view as a black teenage girl and ho...
2024-01-04 16:11:19 +0000 UTC
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Ignoring the Empower skill, Grace quickly considered the Heal and Persuade abilities. She could guess what each of them must do in some fashion, and with time ticking down, she made her choice.
“Persuade?”
Unsure that would work as she spoke, the red box before her flickered a moment.
***
Persuade Ability Granted: Once a day, you may attempt to use the skill to change someone’s mind or action. Activate the ability by saying persuade and then what you wan...
2024-01-04 16:09:16 +0000 UTC
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The first guard through the door approached her quicker than she recalled the other two being. Yet even with how fast the man moved and the speed at which he started to swing his sword, Grace noticed that she was even faster.
The sword in her hand came up, blocking the attack as the man slashed at her.
His eyes scrunched as he looked at her, confused, wondering how in the world she hadn’t dropped the sword or budged when their weapons collided.
Grace felt the same confusio...
2024-01-04 16:08:25 +0000 UTC
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“Immortality is a myth!” Grace shouted into the soot, spitting blood and saliva as she screamed. “Stop trying to convince me otherwise!”
Laughter filled the burnt building she was in as the bald, old man pulled the sword from his chest. Blood seeped out of the man’s wound only while the blade was being drawn.
At his feet were two of Grimdon’s thugs. They had attacked him after he suddenly appeared.
Those fancy dark clothes of his absorbed the blood like a sponge,...
2024-01-04 16:07:21 +0000 UTC
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It had taken a while to calm Tanila down after he shared that information with her, but eventually, they joined the others in their wagon and slept soundly.
Fowl had stayed up all night, keeping watch over the woman whose only covering was the blankets put on her and the ropes wrapped around her.
----
The following morning had gone about as well as Max could hope for. Lydia had wanted to protest she needed to use the restroom and a few other issues, but after Max’s s...
2024-01-04 14:00:02 +0000 UTC
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Right about what?
Pammon continued to thrum as Kaen regained his composure and stood up, holding his chest still as his lifestone flooded him with its power.
The lifestone that was meant for a king.
A lifestone never meant for a dragon rider.
That dragon rider had broken the world the last time this had happened.
Kaen, you are who you were meant to be. Inside you is a power that threatens these beasts, and you have just awoken it. Loo...
2024-01-04 14:00:01 +0000 UTC
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(Man that Title sounds so epic - mount up!)
I got my email from Podium asking for some help / ideas for marketing stuff. I would love it if you all would help me with a few of the questions! Put your comments / thoughts for Book 1 and help me make this thing great!
1. In one sentence, what is the main emotion or feeling that your book will evoke in the reader?
2. What quote(s) from your book captures its essence? What would be the epic line(...
2024-01-03 21:23:13 +0000 UTC
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The woman nodded slowly as she read Max’s face. She could see that he was not like most men by how he stood there, both swords at his side and ready to be used.
Could Billy have been right? Could this man really have done all that on his own?
She had noticed only Max was covered in blood. The rest looked like they hadn’t done a thing against her crew. Knowing he had taken out three of her men so quickly unnerved her even more. Worse yet, he hadn’t ...
2024-01-03 14:00:05 +0000 UTC
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Who do you think you are?!
Kaen turned and saw Pammon staring at the green dragon that had roared.
He is Dragon Rider Kaen. And who are you?
When Pammon spoke, Kaen felt him projecting a boldness that surprised him. Facing down dragons well beyond their age and containing immense power, Pammon had not flinched. If anything, Pammon was standing taller and making himself seem larger.
A hiss echoed from the side...
2024-01-03 14:00:02 +0000 UTC
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Hey everyone! Need a few more names!
I need the following: (Copy paste works best)
Male Dwarf
Female Dwarf
Male Human (older)
Male Human
Female Human
Female Elf
Male Elf
Looking forward to using them as I can :)
2024-01-02 16:31:16 +0000 UTC
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Ready to get back to writing!
Stay tuned for more name requests! I used most of the ones given already. Just have to wait and see how!
Thanks as always for supporting me!
2024-01-02 16:29:45 +0000 UTC
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“Dear gods,” Fowl mumbled as he held a torch over the corpses they were looking at. “I’m glad the caravan men let us inspect this area. I doubt they would have been able to handle this.”
Max stood there silently, taking in the carnage strewn around him.
Arms, heads, torsos, a leg. Blood everywhere. He wasn’t sure if he was glad to have Fowl's light orb out as the scene was gruesome. Like something out of a horror story.
“I only cou...
2024-01-02 14:00:04 +0000 UTC
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The mountain range Amaranth had mentioned looked nothing like she had described. Neither Pammon nor Kaen could fault her in that the size of it was even greater than the mountains surrounding Ebonmount.
Prominent black peaks rose so high into the sky that neither Pammon nor Kaen felt a dragon could fly that high. Ice covered the top of the mountain, and even with the sun hitting it directly, it provided a glare and reflection that could be seen the moment the mountains came ...
2024-01-02 14:00:01 +0000 UTC
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Max couldn’t help but smile as neither of the men moved.
Unsure if it was from being called out from stealth, his lack of concern at knowing they were there, or the steady stream still flowing, Max lowered his hands and finished up, quickly pulling his chain pants up.
Behind him, Max sensed another person coming toward him. Feeling a grin appear, he put his spear up and pulled out his two swords.
It had only dawned on him a few days ago that things put in the dimensi...
2024-01-01 14:00:03 +0000 UTC
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Kaen sat up when Amaranth finished talking.
What? What are you talking about?
The green dragon shook her head.
It’s late, and I am tired from flying for days. Tomorrow, I will share the little I know. For now, let me sleep.
Pammon started to stir, and Kaen could feel the frustration through their bond.
Let it go. I’m not sure why she said that, but I believe part of it is to rile us up. She enjoys...
2024-01-01 14:00:01 +0000 UTC
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Congrats to Alex Johnson!
Google Picked you as the winner!
I'll Msg you!
**Stay Tuned for More Free Stuff Coming Soon!**
2023-12-30 16:25:30 +0000 UTC
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They had been riding in the cart for most of the day, except for those few times they had stopped.
Tanila and Max watched Batrire and Fowl sleeping against each other. The two of them were snoring loud enough to scare off any wildlife for miles.
“They do make an… interesting couple,” Max said, trying not to laugh as he stared at them. “It’s weird for me. Seeing dwarves like them. My town only had a few, and I can’t say any of them were very friendly....
2023-12-29 14:00:08 +0000 UTC
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As the western edge of the sea turned from water to a land mass stretching from north to south, Kaen let a small sigh out.
We made it. We actually made it.
Pammon grunted in agreement as he flew slightly ahead of Amaranth.
They had taken turns flying out ahead while the other drafted a little off to the side.
Tharnok had taught them this trick, and Amaranth informed them that most dragons only flew together if the council called a gathering.
2023-12-29 14:00:02 +0000 UTC
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Max had tipped the guild identifier a silver coin. The man had been appreciative as most adventurers never tipped.
It had been funny, considering that he had given away the money without thought. He was rolling in money in comparison to a month ago. The idea of giving away that amount would have seemed impossible back then.
Still, the dwarf had taken care of him quickly and made no comments or statements when he finished the process.
----
The dagger w...
2023-12-28 14:00:05 +0000 UTC
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After carefully removing the spears and hooks that had held down Amaranth, Kaen turned his attention to the two prisoners.
He found out there was always a regular dragon hunting party station here. They never knew when a dragon might appear, but they kept a group present and, over the years, had slain dozens of dragons. They took the goods to the north, where they were from, using their organs and scales.
It had been hard for Kaen to keep his rage or Pammon...
2023-12-28 14:00:02 +0000 UTC
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“What do you mean James hasn’t checked in?” Trina shouted at the man who had handed her the paper. “It’s been a week! Have you done anything to find out why?!”
The man bent his head and shook it quickly, visibly shaking even though he was a foot taller and over a hundred pounds heavier than her.
“Not yet, Ma’am! I wanted to mak–”
Jumping to her feet, Trina slammed her hands on her desk, making the stone vibrate from the force. She had replaced th...
2023-12-27 15:00:03 +0000 UTC
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