The Dragon King’s Medic (pt. 6)

I hope no one expects me to be able to find my way back, thought Mario as he stole a wary glance over his shoulder, because I won’t be able to.  The palatial labyrinth of massive menacing double doors gradually gave way to passages of smaller and less elaborate doorways. Normal sized doors, by Mario’s …

Skill, Luck, and Terrible Ideas (pt. 7)

I can't sleep. Exhausted, Lally scowled at the dark ceiling with an hour remaining before sunrise. He didn't normally dream when he slept, however ever since Captain Green's crew hurt friends, his subconscious replayed the nightmare of that day every time he closed his eyes. In his dream, the broken bodies of his friends were …

The Frying Pan (pt. 7)

Every TV news station, radio station, and streaming service across the globe covered the last chance redemption challenge between the infamous sorcerer bent on world domination and the magical frying pan. Bars and restaurants---any place with a large screen---were packed with patrons who watched together in riveted silence. Teachers turned on the match in their …

The Dragon King’s Medic (pt. 5)

Captain Helias had been present at the crowded Lord's Meeting when Dragon King Vanentin excused himself from the stately room in the same breath as his ruling, resulting in a tumultuous stir among the attending lords and nobles. Vanentin's sudden exit alarmed Helias. Where are you going? Something's happened. He straightened from where he leaned …

Skill, Luck, and Terrible Ideas (pt. 6)

With Miss Hunt hovering over him like a breaking tidal wave, Zvonko dropped his eyes to the bronze pint of ale on the table. The downward tilt of his face in the candlelight underscored his dark circles and bruised eye. Calm down, girl. Hunt took a step back. She hated snapping at Zvonko. He meant …

The Frying Pan (pt. 6)

The high-tech digital backdrop of the massive stage was transformed into a scoreboard. High behind the kid's podium, the word HOME was the emblazoned in white letters inside a blue rectangle. Below it, read the challenger's name "Pan". Behind the sorcerer's podium, the word GUEST was enclosed in a white square above the word "King". …

The Dragon King’s Medic (pt. 4)

The golden lizard man farthest to the left withdrew a scroll from his robe's white bell sleeve and unfurled it to read. “The hearing for the settlement of debt for the Debtor named Kyle Thompson---”  Mario blurted. “Kyle?!”  Cayn hissed faintly to warn him to be silent. The muscle of jailer’s square jaw bulged. His …

Skill, Luck, and Terrible Ideas (pt. 5)

Miss Hunt glared in betrayal and disgust. “Zvonko...” I glanced emphatically at Zvonko. When he leaned in, I said, "She must be convinced." Nodding, Zvonko elbowed past me and went to stand before the bar's owner. Just then, I heard my name among the conversation somewhere behind me. Someone who knew me had spotted me. …

The Dragon King’s Medic (pt. 3)

Inside the cell fifteen minutes later, Mario looked on curiously as Cayn was crouched over a colossal pile of manacles of various sizes, shapes, and weights. The metal restraints clinked and jangled as the jailer handled one after another. He was searching for a perfect pair but none of them appeared to have been made with …

Skill, Luck, and Terrible Ideas (pt. 4)

I sat down cross legged on the bare floor as Zvonko lit a candle on the nightstand. Wearing only his trousers, he was perched on the edge of a bed that looked as comfortable as rocks. His entire torso was bound in bandages. Irregular blotches of blood had seeped through in several places, dried black, though …