Category Archives: Fantasy

Lawrence Harding In the caves beneath the surface, those who were wise venerated the Helix. It stood on a plinth of obsidian at the centre of a vast cavern. The cavern was always bright with flame, from bonfires and torches that were ranged along the quartz-veined walls and kept burning in perpetuity, for fear ofContinue reading “For the Helix”

 Lawrence Harding            “No. No. No. The answer is no.”             Kryxan sat down on the stone altar made to him countless generations ago and folded his arms. If he were a toddler it may have been endearing, but he wasn’t. He was the Spirit of Garanos, the genius loci that watched over the valleyContinue reading “An Inconvenient Spell”

Lawrence Harding The Royal Menagerie of Vran was a sight to behold, the jewel in the crown of the great palace of Viaslagad. Its marble walls held a honeycomb of enclosures, in which beasts of every hue and stripe from across the world roamed for the delight of the House of Vran. Those lucky fewContinue reading “The King’s Favourites”

Lawrence Harding “I don’t quite see why we’re doing this,” muttered Jonton as he shovelled more plants onto the bonfire.                 “Not for us to know why,” grunted Gram in reply. “As always with the master, best not to know. Just do what we’re told and keep our heads down.”                 “True enough, true enough.”Continue reading “The Master’s Orders”

Lawrence Harding The negotiations had been going on for hours. They had begun at daybreak, and now the last fingers of this midsummer day were retreating over the horizon. This was not how Ianton had expected things to go. He was the Kingdom of Voeth’s most esteemed negotiator, freshly called back from the eastern frontiersContinue reading “Negotiations Unending”

Lawrence Harding “Well then, what’s all this about?” demanded General Gormorant as he strode into the atrium. “You’d better not be wasting my time, Bastian. There’s a war on.” Bastian, for her part, was unruffled. She met his gaze with all the poise and confidence that her dark uniform designating her a senior member ofContinue reading “Launch Date”

Lawrence Harding You’ve heard of the Nightingales, right? Might seem a bit of an odd name for an elite unit of heroic fighters, but you probably know the reason they’re called what they are. I’m going to tell you anyway, because it’s relevant. They were named after the Nightingale. Now, he was a proper hero.Continue reading “The Blood of the Nightingales”

Lawrence Harding In the Royal Gallery of Heaven, an argument was raging. Again. There hadn’t always been a Royal Gallery – not until enough of the souls of kings, queens and other sundry rulers had insisted that the be one that the Divine Principle threw up the arms it didn’t have and created one. Peace,Continue reading “A Legacy of Worth”

Lawrence Harding   “You must remain still,” they had told her. “Or it will not be able to find you.” That had been several hours ago, when the brethren had left Alaria alone in the woods to await the Coming. Staying still was becoming difficult. The sun had gone down long ago. Now it wasContinue reading “Being Still”