Illuminated Manuscripts

Hell Forge By Darwin A. Garrison

Marsh waited with his back against a scorched sandstone boulder. His cloak shielded him from the noonday sun, but his nose still wrinkled as the scent of brimstone wafted by with every breeze. He cursed the heat of the day, the brimstone, and the delay, but he had no choice. He had to deal with his pursuer now, in a place of his choosing.
A scrabbling in the loose rock on the trail behind the boulder brought him back from his reverie. He held his breath, and waited to see what would enter the pass.
A figure moved from shadow into light and Marsh' eyes narrowed as he estimated the threat. Could this filthy, shambling wreck possibly be the child he had first seen following him from the ruins of Dunfeld three days ago, or was it some spawn of the Forge sent to hunt him He kept still, confident in the enchantment of his cloak.
The figure lowered itself to the ground and examined the trail carefully, its ragged clothing flopping forward as it bent down. A portion of the creature's back was bared, revealing fair skin, the welts of burns, and the ridges of its spine.
Then it collapsed on the trail and sobbed.
"Gone...he's gone..." came a choked girl's voice from the huddled pile of rags. The sobs continued for a handful of seconds before a coughing fit set in.

The Northwatch By Cheryl Peugh

"Tell me, little man, why should I not freeze you where you stand and add you to my collection "
Kien peered around the edge of her hood, her feet slipping a little on the ice-covered ramp to the barbican. She could see nothing and her heart leaped into her mouth.
"Many creatures have dared the Northwatch only to be frozen to pillars of ice for their trouble," the voice's elusive owner said. "Why should I spare you "
"Only you can decide that," Kien said, swaying on her feet. Having won this far, a bone-tired feeling gripped her limbs so that she could not have fled had she desired. The voice sounded powerful and as if it originated in the thin air above her. Male, she thought. The voice sounded male.
Something huge and unseen sighed, frosting the ice in front of Kien, plastering her furs to her and causing her to grip her sword-hilt so tightly her fingers ached.
"A woman. It has been long and long since a woman tried to best me. The last one's frozen corpse lies somewhere to the right of where you stand."

Destiny's Choice By Kate Paulk

"Ow!" Gem slapped at her behind. The biting insects seemed to think she was delicious.
She sighed and rubbed at the sore spot. She was supposed to be in a meditation trance but everything in the glade conspired to distract her. In two days she'd barely managed to slip into a trance, much less keep it up for long enough to call her Companion.
This was Gem's third Companion Quest, and her last. After three failed quests, she would be outcaste, banished from Eilithia. Only if she found her Companion would her adult life begin.
She didn't want to think about Elder Patritson's assertions that she would fail again. He was a dirty old man anyway, pawing every girl he could -- and more. His Companion rarely came near him any more. Although it was unseemly for a mere girl to judge an Elder, Gem couldn't help thinking that Patritson s Companion was dying of a broken heart. The Elder was so wrapped up in himself he probably wouldn't even notice poor Torren's death.
Gem's thoughts drifted as they always did when she was supposed to be concentrating. What would it be The King and Queen were still young, so a lion was unlikely. A dog or cat, for domestic life, would probably be her lot, but... Her stomach tightened and tears burned behind her closed eyes. What if nothing came
She'd always wanted to explore the world beyond the ordered lands of Eilithia, but not as an outcaste... Not alone. And not with Elder Patritson pretending to be sorry she was outcaste.
"Why don't you just tell the old fool to keep his hands where they belong "