《Death Theory》part three.3
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SUBJECT // avon averline // valkan ambassador //
THEORY POTENTIAL // clouded //
I'll get her to crack a smile one of these days, just see if I don't. Not that I don't relish a dour girl. Far from it. I am nothing if not a connoisseur, and as such appreciate—nay, demand!—variety.
"May I raise a small point?" I ask, slowing my pace a touch—dear Gillian's camp isn't far and I'd hate for this conversation to be cut short by anything so dull as communal safety. "Because although it's certainly true that nothing imagined has ever removed your lovely head from your admirably sturdy shoulders, Briya, it's also true that nothing real has succeeded in doing so. My conclusion being that whether real or imagined—"
"What was that!" the boy Finn yelps. "Shush! Something!"
For goodness sake, I was building to a rather fun little climax there.
"We're close to the others," Tro mutters, can't help but note the knife he's of a sudden holding. "Could be something's stalking us."
I look to Briya, because given the alternatives on offer, well. She's doing her swamp hen impression, head twitching about, thick shaggy rather oily hair moving in an interesting way, bits of it sort of clump together while certain strands fly counter to the main, fascinating really. What colour would we call that, would we be so unimaginative as to call it brown? Do you know, given a wash and a brush and another wash and the right sort of light I think you might very well be able to call Briya Thorn's hair 'sable'. I'd be excited to confirm that suspicion.
"No," she mutters, familiar annoyance in her tone. Too familiar, perhaps? Have we grown weary of her constant low grade peevishness? Not quite yet, I would say. Not quite yet.
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"No? Nothing out there?" Tro sounding worried, as well he might. "Finny boy, think your ears are playing tricks?"
"I, I thought, I really thought ... well maybe not," Finn says, poor lad, how awful to be both correct and disregarded. Confidence, my boy! That's all you need! "I think the camp's close anyway. Uh, camp? I don't know the right word. Not like we've got shelter or, or even a fire or anything, too wet—"
"Shut!" Briya snaps, shut up? I know these are desperate times but live a little, Miss Thorn, indulge in that extra syllable. She's glaring at the boy now, why does HE get a glare? I haven't received so much as a scowl. Lucky little bastard, or perhaps it's more that he's her type. Younger. Vulnerable. In need of her protection and grateful for her aid, relying upon her more and more until one night that reliance becomes something intimate—curse me for a fool, I've been playing this all wrong.
Strangled yelp from lucky young Finn as something leaps upon him, a straggle of brown and darker brown and other brown, Briya's there to deal with it of course but what about me? Not so much as a glance to assay my condition.
"STOP IT'S A KID IT'S A FUCKING KID," Tro overexcites as usual. I realise that's an assumption given that I've only known the man seven minutes but he seems the type to consistently overreact. Enough of him, Briya's being interesting. She tore the child from Finn and has it upon the ground, knife not an inch from its throat. Might she complete the murder act? Even knowing that this is a child?
But no. She's not so cold as all that. Still a woman, beneath all that black cloth and rank leather and patinaed copper and filth and blood. Mmm.
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The child's sobbing, as children do. Hideous sound. Soiled too, squelchier by far than any of us and I'm veritably coated in muck. Already beginning to wish Miss Thorn hadn't spared the screeching thing—oh? What's this, young Finn joining the tear brigade? Cunning little sod!
"Marigold," he's sobbing, for what earthly reason I couldn't begin to guess. Except ... no, it couldn't be—all of us, we came here alone, did we not? But the child's mouth is open, either in preparation to feast on Finn's jugular or in a kind of wailing smile just what the unholy fuck is going on here—
"Shut it, both of you," Briya says. Shut it, yes, that was bothering me, she doesn't seem the 'shut up' type. Shut it. Far more Briya-ish.
"This, this is my sister, my little sister—"
"Nah, what?" Tro says. "So you got grabbed together? But that don't—"
Finn's shaking his head, all snotty and teary and repulsive. "Haven't seen her, two years gone she was, but here ... it's a miracle. It's a miracle!"
And now Briya spares me that glance. As well she might. I've never heard of a curse that allows the mimicry of another. Never once in all my travels have I heard so much as a whisper of that manner of power.
Even so.
My gaze flicks down to Briya's knife, then back to those sleepy dull enticing eyes. She works her jaw then gives a single sharp shake of her head. Not for my benefit. Shaking out an impulse, a foul demon of a thought.
"Up," she grunts, I do adore her grunting. "Move."
The child has said nothing, clings close to Finn, huddled into him and giving the very impression of a small scared child reunited with her big brother.
Another glance from Briya, all for me. My response is a shrug and a smile. 'Whatever I do, follow'. Those were her words and I have taken them to heart. She has my faith, does Briya Thorn. I shall trust her judgement and follow her lead.
Wherever that path may take us.
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I was Reincarnated as Bai
The young boy opened his eyes, what he saw was something that he never expected. He was sitting on a chair in the middle of the dark room. And in front of him was a computer monitor. "What is this?" The boys uttered as his dark eyes opened wide. "A script?" The young boy even surprised at what is displayed on the computer screen. "The author of { Legend of the Perfect Emperors }." The young boy narrowed his eyes and read what he saw. "I'm Bai. The best author in the world. No one can criticize me or fool me. I'm perfect." Spoiler: Spoiler This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental."
8 167Phire Chronicles
For a century, it has been foretold Ebskil will be a hero. First-born in the chief's family, coming from a bloodline of warriors and growing white hair, which deeply connects him to nature, his destiny would be to protect the world. However, Ebskil lives a lie. At eighteen, he has no achievements except for his inability to conjure a phlame and talent at finding trouble. Unable to stand in his father's shadow or fulfil the expectations set by the clan, he runs away with a group of unusual travellers. However, on this path that seeks a peace and clarity, trouble pursues him and pushes him closer to his true destiny.
8 122Walking With Jesus A Daily Devotional
A daily devotional to encourage you with your daily walk with God. I pray this book helps you learn more and grow closer to God. Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy!
8 197Cultivation Game: Players vs NPCs
As the only cultivator left on earth while he was already 1500 years old, there weren't many things that caught his interest. Even the recently trending virtual reality games could only entertain him for a while before he got bored again. How could he possibly feel the sensation when the supernatural powers that could be used in those games weren't as strong as his in the real world. He was only interested again when his neighbor told him of a new game called World of Cultivation. This game has 7 worlds each of which is a thousand times bigger than the earth where every place can be visited. An old man in that game world destroyed countless mountains with just a single snort. "The world I dreamed of and a power that's more than mine? I have to feel the sensation even if it's just a game," he said. While the game's description attracted him to play it, once he arrived in the game world, he was filled with disbelief as he looked at the status window. - Pangu Splits Heaven and Earth - Zues the King of All Lightning - Athens' Laws of War - Nuwa's Laws of Creation and Life - King Arthur's Holy Light Etc. - Light Erases Darkness - Infinite Sword Domain - Kun-Peng's Wings - Rain of a Thousand Spears Etc. All the merit laws and techniques in his memory, which he had inherited from the ancient gods had also entered the game world.
8 70Magic meets Progress
Have you ever imagined what a world full of magic might look like, when it reaches the era of industrial revolution? Have you thought about how people live, when they lose their job to runic machines, producing more, cheaper and faster than they ever could? Follow Myra and Alicia two women living completely different lifes. Alicia is the heir to one of the most powerful families in the kingdom. Myra is an orphan, and one of the few people born without any magical talent. Dire circumstances reveal her special talent. No one knew she possesses it, but everyone wants her for it. What can those two people achieve when they work together? What adventures will they face? How will they deal with the increase of kidnappings? What about the rising tensions in the population caused by the suffering of the masses? And who had Alicia’s grandfather assassinated? This is a fantasy story with magic, placed in the era of industrial revolution.
8 175Krowe's Nest
Caught up in a life of crime and violence, gang leader Krowe must lead his gang to the top of Venus' underworld whilst avoiding the law and a trouble that was searching for him.
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