Darkness settled over Chaika, and the last vestiges of bright light from Apollo’s chariot vanished from sight. The lake reflected the life in Chaika, but it made for poor illumination in the fading day. Myrtle shook involuntarily. They were fools,[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
“What’s going on, here? Why didn’t you tell me you found Simona?” asked Myrtle. “You know I had questions for her!” Nicyes shrugged and looked at her with a blank expression. Simona wore a smug look of immense self-satisfaction. Alquis[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
“There’s been a great deal of silence lately. Not a lot of discussion. Some loud thinking, perhaps, but not conversation,” said Alquis. “If thinking counted for conversation, we’d be greater socialites than sages.” Mercer stopped digging. “I’m no sage.” “True[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
“What if we get caught?” asked Mercer. “Isn’t it easy enough for them to overpower us? If even half of what Simona said about this place is true, there’s no way we should expect to just walk in and out[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
“You are beyond the point where anyone will believe you,” said Simona, “you are far beyond the point where your individual efforts can do anything. Even if you were to stop the cult of Pan now, you would not undo[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
“With Simona gone and the Gilded Flame in disarray, I believe that leaves you without leads,” said Valare. “You are at a distinct disadvantage if you were hoping to do any good here in Chaika — not that I believe[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
“It’s a shame Arturo ran off the way he did,” said Mercer. “You know he was worried something awful about those Gilded Flame thugs. He’d be pleased to know they’ve been chased off.” A silent sigh passed through the room,[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
“Arturo!” He could hear their yells, and he wanted to yell back for them to be quiet. He knew he’d seen Esther in the cave, and he knew he’d heard her call out to him. Arturo scrambled over the rocks[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
“If they went to all the trouble to protect it, there must be something important behind it,” said Nicyes. “You’re making an assumption, there, Nicyes. We don’t know that they were trying to protect anything at all. We don’t even[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
“Have you figured out anything yet?” asked Arturo. Alquis was poring over a scroll, and he looked up, a little annoyed and confused. “You’re all quite mad, you know?” “Happens to everyone, I’d wager.” “I’m sorry?” “What were we talking[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…
