Stories tagged “master”
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An Important Purchase
The final slave market before snowfall was the only one of the year held after dark; therefore it was the only one Signore Umbrae could attend himself, and this task was his alone. No one saw the man arrive, none of the handlers heard his cart, but the...
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Trick and Treat
Hers were the same words she spoke every year, neither habit nor ritual, but trained. “Will you accept the guidance of the Master?” she asked, reciting, her voice as empty of inflection as her face of expression. His were words never spoken...
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Born to be Roman - Failure
The master was stalking along the rows of studious persons, their minds bent and shoulders arched artistically like the paint strokes. The softness of his presence behind them edged into their reality, building a comfort-fraught pressure that gave them...
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Jhendayre, A Portrait Part 1
The young Eladrin stood at his full five foot nine inches. As far as Ramar could remember, he’d never slouched. Even when lunging, he’d kept his back ram-rod straight. He never misplaced a foot, even when practicing the most difficult sword...
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Clearing the Rubble of the Past-
“It’s never too late to pass on knowledge, Maven.” Jhendayre said gently. “You were the father I had always hoped my own father would be. I spent many a day wishing you were my actual father…” Though it pained him, R...
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-To Build Anew
Both Eladrin looked away from each other in the ensuing silence. Such words and emotions were unbecoming even in private." Jhendayre spoke first. “I apologize if I upset you.” Ramar rubbed one calloused hand through his hair. “No...
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Different Book, Same Page
Ramar sank back into his chair, cradling the rare wine, and propped a foot up on a stool. He sighed in relief as some of the pain ebbed away. “Is it bad?” “It’s not good but I’ve been living with it for a long time now....
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Distinguished Vintage
It didn’t take long for the wine to be split between the glasses that Jhendayre set in front of them. Ramar noticed that when his former student sat, he took to the edge of his seat, still on guard, never relaxing, ever-vigilant. Ramar raised his...
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Unraveling Past and Present
“I’m told you knew my mother well.” Jhendayre said, swirling the wine around in his glass. The liquid left a pink trail as it re-centered. “I did.” Ramar said cautiously, ignoring the tightening in his chest. Jhendayre dra...
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Measure for Measure
Ramar looked up at his student with disdain. “You were going to blackmail me into giving up my greatest accomplishment to you? A student that didn’t even bother to finish his studies?” “I have great need-” “I donR...
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When Words Fail
“If you’re waiting on my approval, then you’ll be waiting a mighty long time.” Ramar said dismissively. “I was afraid that you were going to be unreasonable.” “I don’t think I am being unreasonable. You a...
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Acceptance does not mean Encouragement
Ramar locked eyes with Jhendayre and shook his head. “We will never be evenly matched- but this will help.” He reached out and called upon the bond, the first application of magic that every sword-mage learns. The sword hanging above the fi...
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Perhaps some things should be left just as they are.
And I remember quiet evenings trembling close to you… It was still the greatest ever finishing line for a song. Ever. From the moment he’d heard Tom’s beautiful illuminations illustrating to him such a powerfully touching story, he ha...
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A Step Away from Oblivion
When Whittle came home that night he was not pleased to see my most recent manifestation. The wizard’s face grew hard and he slammed the door behind him. “Where did you learn this? Was it from the forbidden texts, boy?” “I thoug...