Author: Hob Goodfellowe

“Your speaking demon-servant is right. I learnt this particular art in the court of the Emperor-Magi in the lands of the Sungilt Stone. Far away, yes, over seas, in the blessed lands of the south where the summer reigns long and sure, and the days are bright.” He seemed to gather up some concentration then….

“But wurum poison,” said one of the women with books and donkeys, “it’s not easy to cleanse.” “I don’t know about poisons,” said Caewen, “but we know how to hurry.” She climbed up into Dapple’s saddle so fast that she almost slipped off the other side, then steadying herself, she turned to Keri and said,…

In the aftermath, it felt as if the world had slowed down. Time crawled through a few halting and fractured seconds, before urgency and noise and movement all fell back into place. The sister threw a cross sort of look at her brother and said, “What were you playing at? You stepped left when you should…

All around the upturned wagon, ruin and confusion stumbled and scattered itself everywhere. The cage had toppled directly onto several travellers, crushing them dead without a chance. Caewen tried not to look too closely, but it seemed to have been the procession with the dragon-armoured man and his taggers-along in robes. Two or three of…

“First,” he said, “Aslaug the Vainglorious has left his lair for the first time for four hundred years. Don’t know why. Don’t know what’s prodded him into action. But he’s up and about, and looking for trouble, I dare say.” “Aslaug the…?” “Vainglorious,” said Twit. “A dragon. A fire-drake of the ancient days of yore….

With oddly jolting, sudden motions he waved a hand at the forest and said, “You came out of the Crow Hall. I saw you. Blimey. That is something. I mean, not many people are willing to walk through there. Herself of the Deathly might take an interest in you.” And then he looked at Dapplegrim…