He’s gone when her water breaks. The pain yanks her into the open, impales her in her body and the cell around her. She’s bound, as always. The force is terrible — a series of rhythmic blows from the inside that warp her frame. It grips her by the nape, shakes her over and over, […]
Another episode of Man Raised by Spiders, the coming-of-age story of Valentine Shelawn. A masked assassin bursts through the doorway. There are three more behind him, all armed with daggers. They must have been counting on some combination of surprise and weight of numbers to overcome their victims. Inglorion disarms his opponent with the first […]
He enters carrying a tray with a branch of lit candles and a jar of the viscous, violet-scented liquid. He’s quiet, but there’s a sense of barely restrained excitement about him. He feeds her quickly, and leaves her arms and neck strapped to the cot, the feeding tube taped in place. He watches her for […]
Another episode of Man Raised by Spiders, the coming-of-age story of Valentine Shelawn. Valentine is sworn to Lolth, and the ceremony is truly strange. The priestess administers a strong drug beforehand, so Valentine remains uncertain about what actually happened, and what was a hallucination. He remembers being covered in spiders, but surely that didn’t happen. […]
Another episode of Man Raised by Spiders, the coming-of-age story of Valentine Shelawn. There’s no way to mark time in their cell. It seems like it’s been more than 12 hours but less than 24 when Inglorion returns. He brings a candle, which he lights as he enters. He locks the door behind him. He […]
Sleet begins to fall as they approach Hill #81 two days later, and the storm brings dusk early. Their hands are cramped and frozen in their gloves, and they can see their horses’ breath as they pick their way over a trackless jumble of bare limestone and thorny brush. Cave air wells up from cracks […]
Another episode of Man Raised by Spiders, the coming-of-age story of Valentine Shelawn. Their plan is simple. Valentine and Aramil had already arranged to leave well before daybreak. Once they reach Amakir, they’ll park Valykria at a respectable inn on the outskirts of the city for a long luncheon. Valentine will plead urgent personal business […]
