Fane stood inside a massive wood-panelled hall with a high elf, an orc, and a mouse person. Tables crowded with a variety of beast people, elves, and other races sprawled across the big room. A few waved and called out to Ishan and the team. “Who’d you invite into the Jeweled Lantern, Bostock?” A tall…
Tag: military
Subject 15: Ch 20
Fane and Ajay stood in the hallway with Zahar, Chaitan and the other bodyguards for the royal family. The King, having answered to Chaitan’s knock and noting the congregation of men waiting on their charges, closed the door in their faces, telling them that it was private business amongst the family. “Calm yourself, newbie. You…
Subject 15: Ch 19
“Miss Griyashi!” Fane called to the prince’s amanuensis upon approaching her desk the next morning. A meeting with the other bodyguards was slotted on his personal calendar and he needed to coordinate Orlov’s schedule. The woman, no more than a grass blade in a droughted desert, beamed a welcoming smile. “Mr Anson!” “Hi. Um, Ajay,…
Subject 15: Ch 18
Fane shifted, his skin prickling at the heavy embroidery rubbing along his scars. He still wasn’t keen on the new clothes, though he was getting used to them. He studied himself in the mirror hung on the inside of his wardrobe. Black kurta, black churidar, black leather jutti. He had to admit, it all moved…
Subject 15: Ch 17
Having returned to Ishan’s offices, Fane was at a loss regarding what he was supposed to do. He was no bodyguard. He was neither certified nor trained as one. He was an ammo tech and dive instructor. He monitored the armoury. He cleaned and accounted for everything. He taught people how to not drown when…
Subject 15: Ch 16
Slime. Sludge. A black inky depth loomed beneath him. Grey tentacles reached out from the infinite oblivion, grasping for him. A hideous odour of rotting fish and fermented fruit permeated his senses. Screeching, like that of thousands of people dying in fire, grated at his ears. An air raid siren pierced through the terror. It…
Subject 15: Ch 15
“Come on! We need to get going!” Shelly popped into the room unannounced. The instructor and Fane flinched, glancing up from a children’s workbook. “What’s wrong?” Fane rose, his hands clearing every vest and pocket in succession as he subconsciously checked for his armaments. Shelly grabbed him, pulling him towards the library door. “You’re supposed…
Subject 15: Ch 14
The guns were laid out on the side table, along with about half his stash of knives. Ajay had insisted that he respect his employer enough not to come to the lunch table completely clothed in metal. He had half met the request, reiterating that he was a trainer and temporary bodyguard, not a companion….
Subject 15: Ch 13
A light rapping at his door woke him. Thankfully he had slept through the rest of the night, and dreams had taken a hiatus, to his relief. “One minute!” he called as he scrambled to get up. The door opened to reveal the giant bodyguard, Ajay, peering in cautiously. Fane froze, halfway untangled from his…
Subgalaxia: Ch 1
She sat rigidly in her chair, her corset pinching at her ribs. This was not comfortable in the least. What had ever possessed her to go from her folks farm in Kansas to Manhattan of all places was beyond her now. She had enjoyed the adventure of getting from Kansas to New York, but now…
Chapel Orahamm 