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. The next few days of travel are uneventful. Though Aramil tries to take an interest in his surroundings, he’s subdued and sad as he reflects on the consequences of his actions. Valentine, on the other hand, is profoundly relieved to be freed […]
Another episode of Man Raised by Spiders, the coming-of-age story of Valentine Shelawn. Valentine shows up at the breakfast table the next morning. His shoulders and neck are sore, he feels weak and fragile, but he’s determined to resume life. When Sieia sees him, she sets down the coffeepot hastily, with a thud. “Valentine, what […]
The next day, a footman delivers an elaborately folded note from Aramil. “What the fuck is this?” Valentine asks, “an origami swan?” The footman shrugs. “His handwriting is terrible. Can you make this out?” “He’d like a rapier lesson this afternoon, if convenient.” No valid excuse rises to mind, so Valentine scrawls a time early […]
Soundtrack and Video: Lo Fidelity Allstars, Battleflag Zero hour comes early. Inglorion’s instructed Theo to walk by whistling “Singing in the Rain” when the other slaves are gone and he’s leaving Antigone’s residence open and unguarded, with her alone inside. If anything goes wrong — if Antigone has visitors, or decides to attend the festival […]
Soundtrack and Video: Fatboy Slim, Weapon of Choice Inglorion is pleased but unsurprised when he ascends easily to the top of Lucius Junius Brutus’ classes. Collatinus has trained him well, and he’s made his living from swordplay for decades. The book work comes easily to him, too — he’s longed for formal instruction in military […]
Soundtrack: Tool, Jerk-Off Live Inglorion’s trance ends around 11:00 on Friday, his day off. He doesn’t make a deliberate decision to fast — he does it thoughtlessly, out of habit. By noon he’s in the gardener’s quarters, training with Collatinus. After an hour of strike drills, he finally starts to settle down, to feel calm […]
