He was easy enough to ignore on the train, sitting near enough to keep an eye on me, but not encroaching. If I'd had a good book, I daresay I could have blocked thought of him entirely. Unfortunately, all I had was the 'improving stories' Aunt Diddy had pressed into my hand that morning, and …
Three hours later, Tobin headed for the second sitting room, in dire need of a drink, and some peace and quiet. The Queen had not taken the news of Sandar’s imminent departure well and had wailed and demanded and threatened. In truth, she behaved more like a petulant toddler denied a toy than a monarch. …
Rowena stood on the castle wall, on the little tower section where the west wall met the left side of the gate-wall and waited. He had to wave. If he didn’t turn, didn’t see her, didn’t acknowledge her silent farewell with one of his own, then it was over. He didn’t care, and she would …
The following afternoon, she presented herself at Maggie’s front door, and was handed the spindle. “Best get this out of the way before the horde arrive. You can do your carding while you’re weaving tales.” She’d lost the knack in the short time she’d been away. It took several false starts before she managed to …
It wasn’t so much a book as a tome. Sitting smugly on a carved wooden stand that, even with a pedestal thicker around than Gregor’s thigh, seemed to stagger under the weight of the paper, ink, and ornamented leather surmounting it. Jin looked it over, arms crossed, attitude unimpressed. “That’s what he sent us to …
Crown Prince Tobin watched his siblings file into the audience room from his not-quite-a-throne, next to his father’s actual throne. They looked variously scared (Sandar), angry (Melenique), cynically amused (Jaspar), and bored (Ysabel). Julianna was already in tears, not a good example to set as the eldest, but she’d never had much steel in her. …
"This way. Remember, you have to be really quiet." Luke nodded and pinched his lips tight together. It wasn't often his cousin Doren even spoke to him, let alone showed him a secret way out of the family wing of the palace. Doren was thirteen to Luke's ten, and had other, older, friends and interests. …
Eleanor placed a tentative hand on the cover of the book. “Are these your recipes?” Sarah nodded. “I don’t let on to many that I can read and write. Some in this village made life hard enough that I came from Away, let alone had education. Well, you know a little about that. ‘Twas worse …
“Well, since I’ve been so … inconvenienced … I think I should be entitled to a little … compensation.” The customer’s oily smirk made Jessia want to heave. She gave him her most patently fake, pinch-lipped smile. “Certainly, sir, would you prefer a sample pack of our top-selling perfume, or a five-dollar gift certificate?” He …
Elsie continued to squawk, and Betula, seeing the maid caged, began wailing. The noise was ridiculous in such a small space and managed to overturn even Captain Kergan's determined calm. "QUIET." Charlotte’s two tedious companions turned shocked gazes on the captain but at least they were silent, for the moment. Of course he took that …
The DNA of Stories 