elizabeth_oswald

Chapter One hundred fifty-eight – Pick a Pic

The long, sweeping arms of Falconet drew Pandy in like a welcoming embrace, and she flew straight over the intervening buildings, coming to a landing on the steps just as Isidor and Tempest drew into sight.

There was no doubt the tortoise would have beaten her if she hadn’t had to go around, but she did, and Pandy felt an almost embarrassing amount of pleasure at the look of surprise on both faces.

Staring around, Isidor asked, “How did you get here?” but Pandy had better th...

Chapter One hundred fifty-seven – The Tempest and the Hare

Isidor was sneaky. Much sneakier than Pandy would have given him credit for, in fact.

Even inside the bubble of her shield, she could barely hear his footsteps, and he darted from one hiding place to the next with barely any hesitation. Each time they approached one of the knights, Isidor would stop, flattening himself against a wall, or sinking down to the ground, watching the metallic gray figures for a minute or more, before moving again, often in entirely unexpected directions.

Chapter One hundred fifty-six – Let’s Blow This Hop Stand

“Not a ghost,” Pandy told him. Then, seeing his expression, “Not a ghost. An elemental. It just…got enough power to become visible for a moment.”

Or something. She could examine that later. Right now, she had something else to look at.

Holding out the pouch, she motioned for him to take it. She had an empty inventory slot, but if the container and whatever lay inside counted as separate items now – and she was definitely taking that up with Keros – then one ...

Chapter One hundred fifty-five – Seeing Specters

Pandy scrambled backwards, tearing through cobwebs like damp tissue paper. Isidor froze, looking around for whatever had frightened her.

Seeing nothing but dusty cobwebs, he frowned, then tapped the globe on his shoulder, which burst into light. Sudden illumination revealed a cobblestone street, as well as buildings to either side of them, some with glass still remaining in the windows.

“What’s wrong?” Isidor hissed, advancing further. He tucked the spider’s remains back i...

Sunday chapter!

We're going camping in approximately thirty seconds, and today's chapter isn't done. I'll get it when we get home on Sunday!

Chapter One hundred fifty-four – Arachno-phos

When she rejoined Isidor, it was to find him prodding the spider’s abdomen with a complete lack of the horror she herself felt.

In fact, he looked as if he’d just been given a particularly interesting gift, and just didn’t want to damage it. Glancing up at her, he raised his brows.

“Is this one of the spiders that bit Chancellor Blackwood?” he asked, and Pandy realized someone must have filled him in. Professor Beeswick, probably, but possibly his ‘friend’ who could ...

Chapter One hundred fifty-three – Palindrome Time

Once her eyes adjusted, Pandy discovered that it really was fascinating to soar over the city, watching people hurry home from work, or whatever they’d been doing on a cool, drizzly day.

Some held umbrellas, while others pulled their hats low over their faces and hunched their shoulders beneath damp coats.

Then there were the ones who turned their faces, flower-like, up to the rain, letting it soak them. These would have been Pandy’s favorites, except that they were the most l...

Chapter One hundred fifty-two – Counting Stars

When Thaniel and Isidor went to their room to get ready for dinner, Pandy took the opportunity to speak to them.

Switching to Ms. Wellington, she told them that Augustus was sick, and that the reason she’d been so late was because she’d been helping him. She could tell she’d actually surprised Isidor, and when it became obvious that Things Had Happened that she couldn’t talk about in front of Thaniel, the older boy grabbed his jacket and headed off, probably to get some answers ...

Chapter One hundred fifty-one – Changelop

Pandy wanted to head straight back to the Rabbit’s Den, but there were a few problems with that.

The first, but not necessarily the most difficult to overcome, was the fact that she had only the most general idea where it was.

Knightmere wasn’t a large city to someone used to populations in the millions, but it was large, and, worse, sprawling. And, of course, there was the fact that the map of Knightmere in Gacha Love showed only important locations, with everything ...

Chapter One hundred fifty – Bunny Business

The answer was, apparently, that they didn’t. Instead, Pandy shifted back to her rabbit form and went to visit the library.

There, she explained to a very unsympathetic dragon everything that had happened, and he promised to retrieve the necessary medication, though not without some grumbling about impetuous humans getting exactly what they deserved. There was relief beneath the irritation, though, so Pandy hopped back to Augustus.

“But I only have a bit over an hour left on S...

I'll get this chapter done...

Tomor- No, later today. Sorry, folks, things got ahead of me today.

Chapter One hundred forty-nine – Hidden Cache

Apparently, Mistress Rose was allowed to open any door in the school, including the one leading to the chancellor’s private quarters.

That made sense, since it seemed like a good idea to make sure your medical personnel could get to you in an emergency. The doctor ushered Pandy in, told her to, “Sit down and don’t touch anything,” then headed down the stairs to the foyer.

Pandy, of course, did not sit down, and she did touch things – specifically, the doorknob to Augustu...

Chapter One hundred forty-eight – Carotene Ward

Their next stop was Beau Bradorf, who lay on a pallet in a corner together with several others, none of whom looked like they were in good shape.

He was the only one who was conscious, and he was speaking to Healer Sinnett, who now wore a mask over his lower face, along with a pair of suspiciously shiny gloves. They weren’t rubber, but they’d definitely been coated in something.

As Augustus approached, the two looked up, and Pandy could see that Beau had been crying. His leg w...

Fire-free Chat

It looks like Thursday August 28 at 1 PM CST will be the best time for a chat, so I'll be on Discord in a voice channel at that time, ready to answer questions (or at least awkwardly deny having any knowledge of anything you ask about). You can send me any questions right up until then, and I'll try to answer them, or come over and chat!

I am working on edits for Broken Knife, in addition to writing Lucky Rabbit, so I probably won't be able to post the recording until ...

Chapter One hundred forty-seven – Music in the Dark

Eventually, Augustus allowed himself to be led back out of the darkness. Pandy had returned to her rabbit-shape quite a while ago, so he was carrying her in his arms, one hand absently stroking her ears as they emerged into the open air once again. Stars still twinkled overhead, but the moon was worryingly low on the horizon. Pandy needed to get back to Thaniel, and the chancellor needed to get some rest, preferably in the infirmary, but he insisted they make one more stop first.

“Whe...

Chapter One hundred forty-six – Hare’s the Thing

Pandy had to waste two heals on the Boss before he was able to answer Augustus’s questions, and since her Mana still wasn’t regenerating, that annoyed her more than it probably should have.

Several of the thugs were also pretty badly injured, though as far as she could tell, none of them were dead, but since she had just under three hundred Mana left, she wasn’t using it on them unless it looked like it was that or final rites.

Augustus was trying to get something useful out...

Chapter One hundred forty-five – Feeling Punchy

The Boss held still while one of the four men behind him swaggered toward Augustus, waving his weapon menacingly.

The Boss held still while one of the four men behind him swaggered toward Augustus, waving his weapon menacingly. Augustus, for his part, whacked the man’s hand with his metal bar, sending the knife skittering across the ground toward Pandy. Pandy leaped forward, clamping her teeth around the grimy leather wrapping the hilt – so, so gross – and Hopped straight up, land...

Aaaand a chat?

Okay, I'm going to do a kind of nice, fireside chat type thing next week, either Wednesday or Thursday, at noon or 1 PM CST (+5 UTC) I will record this, and post it up here. There'll probably be different versions for different tiers, 'cause that seems like less work (🤦‍♀️). If you'd like to come chat with me (about almost anything, honestly) let me know which time works best for you, and I'll do it! If you just want me to answer some niggling question, drop it below, and I'll add it...

I'm a Legion author!

I am now officially a Legion author, and The Broken Knife will have professional editing, artist-made covers, and (WOOT!) audiobooks! Is it weird that I'm more excited for Kaz and Li and the others than I am for myself? Like, I just want lots and lots of people to read/hear them, and now they will. How cool is that?

No scheduling news yet, and while I don't really want to talk money, I will say that I didn't ask for an advance, so that never really became a discussion. An advan...

Chapter One hundred forty-four – Smoky Pokey

Pandy started out with the best of intentions.

Pandy started out with the best of intentions. She crept closer to the building as slowly and silently as she could, regretting the loss of Ms. Wellington’s Sneaky-Suit. She kept her ears up, her whiskers out, and her eyes constantly moving as she listened and watched for any sign of spiders or humans.

And then she remembered that she was still ‘paying’ to hold Augustus’s venom at bay, and absolutely had to check her stats to ...

Chapter One hundred forty-three – Pulverized Pests

Quick as a flash, Augustus grabbed one of the metal bars Pandy had chomped out of the window.

Quick as a flash, Augustus grabbed one of the metal bars Pandy had chomped out of the window. With a short, brutal thrust, he impaled the spider and twisted, prying it up off of Beau’s leg. The man gasped when the fangs slid free, falling back with his hands clamped over the bleeding holes. Pandy cast Minor Heal on him, which should repair the damage to the skin and muscle, but the real damag...

Chapter One hundred forty-two – Arachnid Antics

“Get them up,” said a voice Pandy hadn’t heard before.

“Get them up,” said a voice Pandy hadn’t heard before. It was deeper than the smooth voice, but with a similar accent. Something about the way the consonants landed sounded a bit familiar, but it took Pandy a few more words to figure out why. “There are only thirteen. I ordered twenty.”

He sounded like Saskia, the seamstress from Lanthorne Court. Or at least he sounded like Saskia might if she was good at langu...

Chapter One hundred forty-one – Welcome to the System

Welcome to the System, v.2.0! New options found since last use. Would you like to view the Changelog?

Welcome to the System, v.2.0!

New options found since last use.

Would you like to view the Changelog?

<No!>

When Pandy was about ten years old, one of her foster siblings discovered that they could make itching powder from maple seeds. Somehow, a child with an attention span of approximately one squirrel ma...

Time to celebrate!

I'm super excited to announce that The Broken Knife now has an offer for all six books from The Legion Publishers! No details, since we're just getting started and I haven't officially accepted yet (they wouldn't let me!) but I wanted to let you all know!

Chapter One hundred forty – Thank You for Your Patience

Several forms huddled against the walls of the large room in which Pandy found herself, and at first Pandy thought they were sleeping.

Several forms huddled against the walls of the large room in which Pandy found herself, and at first Pandy thought they were sleeping. A cold but well-lit cellar seemed like a strange place to nap, but gradually she realized that several of them didn’t seem to be moving. At all. As in, they weren’t even breathing.

Those that were moving did so ...

Chapter One hundred thirty-nine – Why is it Always Spiders?

Pandy already had her eye on a doorway on the far side of the kitchen.

Pandy already had her eye on a doorway on the far side of the kitchen. A grease-stained but cheerful red cloth covered it, preventing customers from seeing in, but allowing the employees to pass through easily. Now, she put on a burst of speed, launching herself toward the dubious safety of the space beyond, and heard swearing as the broom-wielder’s weapon got tangled in the red fabric. This created just enough of ...

Oh my gosh, you guys!

Legion Publishing wants to talk to me! Like, a phone call! (Monday) Even if they don't decide to take on Broken Knife, that's farther than I've ever gotten! Woohoo!

Chapter One hundred thirty-eight – Sneak Squeaked

It took a long time for Thaniel to fall asleep, and Pandy kept waiting for whatever sign was supposed to tell her it was time to go

It took a long time for Thaniel to fall asleep, and Pandy kept waiting for whatever sign was supposed to tell her it was time to go, but none came. It was nearly eleven by the time the boy’s lashes fell to curl along his cheek, and even his fitful tossing stilled into the silence of deep sleep. Only a few minutes later, the door swung open.

Pandy al...

Ask Me Anything?

All righty, folks, I know I left a lot of things open in Broken Knife, and at least one person has Questions. I'm thinking the easiest way for me to answer them is to do a voice chat on Discord, where I talk, and you can type questions. Then I don't have to type, 'cause I'm lazy like that. You can also laugh at me when I fumble questions about my own story 😅

BTW, my Discord is https://discord.gg/FTMCfgGZe5...

Chapter One hundred thirty-seven – Sugar Snap Pleas

Pandy stared from Professor Beeswick to the series of numbers, then back to the Professor, utterly incredulous.

Pandy stared from Professor Beeswick to the series of numbers, then back to the Professor, utterly incredulous. Why was he still here? Surely someone was looking for a man who had been missing for a full day!

She wasn’t sure if the professor picked up on her incredulity, or if he’d just been gathering his thoughts before continuing, but he said, “Augustus ...