Note: I feel like these last few chapters have been downers. That changes soon!
Corvus tumbled through the air, ripping at his burning overtunic and then the shirt underneath it. His fingers stung from the flames, but it was nothing compared to his arms and his back.
He was burned. Maybe horribly, he couldn't tell.
It was the work of moments to rid himself of the shirt... and then he only needed to contend with the fact that he was falling to his ...
2022-04-22 05:52:04 +0000 UTC
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Note: New(ish) month, and I'm coming up from editing hell with a new chapter. Expect the next one on Friday! (And some news, maybe!)
Corvus turned to Hattie. "You know Daff—"
Lightning flashed, followed by a roll of thunder so close and intense that it shook Corvus's teeth inside his head.
That was remarkable because a half breath ago, the clouds had been far away. Albeit, coming in fast.
Charm made a sharp sound and dived to th...
2022-04-07 05:50:16 +0000 UTC
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Corvus supposed he shouldn't have been that surprised that Hattie proved to be a decent rider. Though Charm's neck was much wider than that of a typical horse -- or whatever her water demon was -- she had a light and well balanced seat and seemed to show no fear from falling off.
She sat in front. Corvus was not going to have the demon girl where he wouldn't see her. Though he almost immediately regretted the arrangement. Her arms when he brushed against her skin was unpleasantly cold a...
2022-03-26 06:26:58 +0000 UTC
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Corvus spent the next few hours with the demon girl, excitedly writing out rune after rune from his private dictionary and translating them into words.
This kind of thing — discovery and research — it struck a pure note in his soul. A part of himself he hadn’t fully realized had been neglected until now.
Since the ratkin siege, he had been thrust into a place of leadership. He had risen to the challenge, yes, but he hadn’t liked it.
Grinding up his foreign language s...
2022-03-19 06:08:27 +0000 UTC
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Hey guys,
Apologies for being quiet this week. I've been spending every evening after work stuck in editing hell with Book 2, Nomad. (Turns out I have a lot of typos. Who knew! What was that...? Everyone? Well then.)
In any case, it's all cleaned up and has been officially transmitted to Podium to get recorded. I'll let you know as soon as I have an audio and ebook release date.
Just like with book 1, Exiled, I'll put up a link to the $5 patrons to get a free ebook copy. I'l...
2022-03-18 06:45:44 +0000 UTC
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“You should go on and dive the dungeon without me,” Corvus said. “Level up as much as you can.”
Roan and Starella, especially, needed to increase their levels. They had just begun their Pathwalker journey last week and both were still in the low single digits.
Roan and Starella looked surprised though Gwen nodded as if she had been half expecting this.
“You need to work on your combat skills,” Roan objected. “No offense, but you kind of suck.”
“If my ...
2022-03-08 07:00:31 +0000 UTC
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While Corvus had been busy wrangling the overall management of the city, he had put Starella in charge of the dungeon reconstruction project.
True, Starella couldn't speak with the Nest Guardians, the subterranean species of dragons who lived in secret below the city, but Cosmos could.
And if he could only communicate in simple terms, which made it almost impossible for Starella to build true allies among the Nest Guardians… So much the better.
Sometimes, I really am m...
2022-03-02 06:25:19 +0000 UTC
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A few hours later found Corvus sitting in a meeting, surrounded by nobles and city officials. Corvus sat at the head of the table with Starella on his right side. Both listened politely as Roan, who was still dirty from the road, explained what his father had learned.
Technically, it should be Kale who was delivering the bad news since he was the one who had heard the rumors firsthand. But the man was singularly dedicated to his clan and wanted to receive his Horse Folk as they returned...
2022-02-23 06:13:08 +0000 UTC
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Corvus braced himself for an attack. Connecting with someone else via a party had never felt like much of a risk before, but there was much about the Path system that he didn't know. Even with Perry's assistance over the last few weeks.
There was every chance that connecting with her left him vulnerable.
So he tensed, one hand drifting to his belt where he kept his Deadly Bouquet dagger.
Instead of an attack, he received a flood of information.
Ding!
2022-02-16 07:43:36 +0000 UTC
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Corvus’s mind raced the entire flight back to the Grand Palace. Roan had elected to return at a much slower pace with his father. At the speed a non-magical horse could travel meant it would be hours until they arrived at the city gates. Another hour at the very least until he made his way through the newly cut jungle paths and to the Grand Palace.
The jungle which had taken hold of Meadow City was… problematic.
Some had thought that the dense foliage would die off. After all,...
2022-02-11 07:52:47 +0000 UTC
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Note: Look for a chapter today, tomorrow and Friday as I catch up.
***
Charm pumped her wings to gain speed through the air.
Down below, Corvus heard Roan give a shout and CloudStrike increased her speed too.
Charm made growl of dissatisfaction and increased her speed. Down below, the horse did the same.
“Is that nag trying to outpace me?” she squawked, outraged.
Corvus wisely did no point out that CloudStrike ...
2022-02-10 07:05:03 +0000 UTC
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Note: I fully admit this is one of those rehash chapters to set the stage. We'll get into the real meat of the plot next chapter. (Aiming for tomorrow!)
“Roan is never going to let me live this down,” Corvus observed.
"Good," Charm told him. "It is good know that you can study endlessly in your books and still be wrong."
Corvus rolled his eyes at his dragon’s snark, but it didn’t dim the broad grin on his face.
He and Charm flew high...
2022-02-02 07:33:44 +0000 UTC
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Note: Yesssss it's back.
I thought there was a good chance I would be sick as followed Tiberius down the stairway to the trainer's podium. Distantly, I heard the roar of the crowd around me, but it all sort of blurred in my mind. I felt disconnected, just focusing on not losing my lunch.
In contrast, Tiberius practically skipped down the stairs. I had to call him short and pointed him to the arena entrance so he wouldn't follow me to the trainer's podiu...
2022-02-02 06:26:15 +0000 UTC
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Note: We'll be back to Corvus and company with the next chapter!
Only half of the noble teenagers had chosen to come along with Kassen on this insane venture. Most were boys. Hattie maintained a couple of feet between herself and them, remembering her mother's lessons on trying to walk gracefully while in riding boots, and aware her dress was possibly stained with sweat. Good thing she was small and slight. Today, to be overlooked felt like a saving grace.
2022-01-26 04:40:55 +0000 UTC
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Note: Welcome to the start of book 3! As a heads up, the first two chapters will be prologue. But after that we'll be joining back up with the main story.
Two Years Ago...
Hattie met the other half of her soul on a warm, syrupy spring day. The flowers and trees in the palace's royal menagerie were in full bloom, filling the air with pollen and sweet scent. Hattie barely took notice because what ...
2022-01-26 04:26:52 +0000 UTC
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Rage and humiliation powered Daffodil's flight up north to the Capitol city. As he followed the rough mountain chain that bordered this fractured kingdom, he thought of nothing but Zriah.
He had loved her with the simple, pure love of a hatchling. His heart still ached for her, and he had tried to piece it back together with the princess who had carried her look. But he should have known better. There was no bringing his Zriah back.
And there was cure for his aching heart other th...
2022-01-26 04:14:18 +0000 UTC
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Perry led Gwen and Corvus down to the sublevels of the tower, just above the level to the dungeon. Unlike the dungeon entrance, this was well traveled and guarded by standing soldiers.
A thought occurred to Corvus. He looked at Gwen. "Is Roan still intent on signing with the guard?"
"Nah." Her smile was of a sibling who'd had the pleasure of saying 'I told you so' to her brother. "Everything was in such a mess after the ratkin, he never took the oath. So he told them thanks but no...
2022-01-21 05:45:43 +0000 UTC
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Note: Second of two chapters today! Make sure you check the first... uh, first.
To Corvus's relief, the city was not on fire. And aside from the bones of half a dozen goats and outstanding IOUs from Ratkin Queen bounty hunters owed from the treasury, Charm had not taken too much advantage of her position of power.
Their arrival was instantly noticed. Charm tended to draw the eye... even if she wasn't a dragon.
As soon as she landed on the rooftop ...
2022-01-14 06:00:05 +0000 UTC
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Note: Two chapters today!
"I have a question," Roan said. "If I'm understanding this right, they've protected this nest for how many years? And now they're just going to let you give them anyway to anyone who can afford them?"
Roan, Gwen, an Starella could not understand the Guardians, but it seemed the Guardians could understand human speech just fine.
Granite shifted his great weight from side to side. "Eggs must... be hatched. Now they sit and ...
2022-01-14 05:53:47 +0000 UTC
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Note: Sorry for the wait everyone. News has not been so hot on the family front. One of the aunts is still very ill (though everyone, including myself seem fine!). Times have been tough but one thing that's kept me sane and optimistic is thinking of this book and doing some more plotting for the next. I can't wait to show you all what's in store.
The plan for the moment is to post chapters out quickly to finish this arc up. This one ended up a little short... th...
2022-01-11 06:44:05 +0000 UTC
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Sorry for the silence everyone. Like the title says, I got the plague. Fortunately so far it's a case of the sniffles. Unfortunately it's hit my family a bit harder and the last few days have been full of urgent care visits, waiting in hours long testing lines, and taking care of household business. No hospitalizations yet, so fingers crossed.
Since I'm officially off work for the next 5-10 days I'm hoping to get chapters out and catch up, but family does come first.
2022-01-05 04:23:18 +0000 UTC
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Sorry for the wait between chapters all. Coronavirus has once again struck the Seabourne house. Not me. (So far). I have managed to dodge all the waves like Neo dodges bullets. But mysteriously the unvaccinated members of my house haven't. For a second time.
(If you're sensing frustration in there... yes, there's some frustration in there.)
Since I live in that sterotypical multi-gen hawaiian house, it's time to pull together.
I'm going to get the regular thre...
2021-12-30 03:39:36 +0000 UTC
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Note: Really enjoyed the theories on if Roan and Gwen does/does not get a dragon...
Quick note that I plan on posting another chap tomorrow! Hope you all had a happy holiday if you celebrate and a fun weekend if you don't!
Starella started pushing past nest guardians to get to her egg. “Let me through! Let me through!”
After a gesture from Corvus, they did.
She staggered over a dip in the rock...
2021-12-28 06:50:14 +0000 UTC
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"They can't be dragons," Starella said. "They... simply can't be!"
"What kind of ugly, stunted--"
"Roan!"
Thankfully, the nest guardians didn't pay attention to the three of them. Though they'd come out of their bows, they remained turned toward Corvus as if he were the magnet to their iron filings.
They shifted as a group, several members shuffling positions to let one large beast step forward.
He was clearly one of the oldest, with an odd grayish hide. His skin...
2021-12-24 07:07:43 +0000 UTC
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The walk back to the glen and the eggs seem to take a lot longer than it had going back.
I didn’t say much to my dragons. I wasn’t sure what to say.
For her part, Arcee was a mix of defiant and chagrined. On one hand, she had gotten herself a pretty good new form. Unfortunately, I didn’t know if it would hold up against a Void Dragon. I would have to ask Sienna and Jane, but the sick sinking feeling in my stomach told me the answer.
What was I going to do? These were c...
2021-12-24 05:01:01 +0000 UTC
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Notes: Two quick editing changes. Corvus dislocated his shoulder not his knee. (That got screwed up in the rewriting). Also one of his future subclass options has been changed from Rune Weaponsmith to Runic Soldier.
Alert! Due to sudden extensive bodily damage, you are in a state of temporary shock. Stamina maximum has been reduced by 50%.
Stamina well will not recharge until 3 of the 6 injuries are prop...
2021-12-21 06:46:56 +0000 UTC
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Note: Apologies for the wait. These are the most important chapters in this book and I've struggled to tell it properly. I'm still not entirely happy with it but... I at least wanted to get part 1 out now. Part 2 will be tomorrow. (And there might be a part 3. We'll see!).
Species: Nest Guardian
Level: 31
The nest guardian was about half the size of the demon that Corvus had seen before – approximately t...
2021-12-20 04:44:23 +0000 UTC
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So… I ended up ditching Jane and Sienna behind for egg-watching duty.
I freely admit: It was a little fucked up.
But Arcee was adamant that we needed to get a move on. She wanted her new form ASAP and as her bonded tamer, her chances were a lot better if I went along with her.
Tiberius, of course, came along too.
And someone had to watch the nest. Creepy Todd was still lurking around, and I wasn't going to risk someone from the village stumbling on extremely rare and...
2021-12-18 22:37:30 +0000 UTC
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Roan stared at the message so long that Corvus had to bite his cheek from telling him just to choose already. It would be wrong to rush him. No matter what, this had to be Roan's decision.
"Does this mean what I think it means?" Gwen asked as Roan continued to stare.
"Maybe," Corvus said.
Her hand clamped over his forearm, hard. Her expression was somewhere between excited and stricken. Gwen lowered her voice to a hiss. "But, how? I got my Paths from Charm's egg."...
2021-12-14 05:50:19 +0000 UTC
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Special Saturday chapter! (And perhaps a Sunday chapter too...)
The tunnel out of the dungeon was much shorter than the one leading in. There had once been paintings on the walls, but the images had been ruined by years of seeping moisture. Corvus saw impressions of bright colors – a word here and there – but that was it.
Starella wrinkled her nose. “It smells awful in here.”
She was right. It smelled of damp and years of rot. Outside the ...
2021-12-12 03:16:36 +0000 UTC
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