Hell with it, let’s blitz this thing.
These are chapters from an old manuscript, chapter one is available here. The chapter and my annotations are paywalled for people who actually love me and also love freedom and puppies. So. Time to prove some stuff.
Enjoy the first few paragraphs for free!
Chapter 33: How it Goes Instead
Before
“I give it a few more minutes before the Patron Star aligns with the magnascope, gentleman,” Dobkins said to the Korba. He pointed to the spires overhead. At the top, the spiderlike legs came together and held a perfectly round crystal lens.
“Just make sure this works, Andoran,” said Chief Nydark. “We’ve invested a lot of resources in this procedure.”
“I’m only following your Empress’s schematic, my good man. It won’t be long now.” Dobkins stepped away from the scope, stretched, then frowned. “What’s that over there?”
Shackled and muzzled, Redd could only watch what happened around him. Kreeves and his tailors buckled Mom into Prateva’s armor piece by piece. Off to Redd’s left, Dobkins drastically changed the angle on his telescope and turned the magnification down, aiming it at something far away on the ground. Silence filled the air. Councilor Florenshade shifted his weight uncomfortably.
“Councilor, remind me: the real amulet is attached to a Lumian, yes?”
“Yes…why?”
Dobkins stepped back and indicated the scope. “Because he’s over there on the lip of the crater.”
Puk? Redd peered into the distance, but only saw dust clouds…no, there was something up on the cliff. If he squinted, he could just make out a repetitive white flash near the woods. Puk’s amulet, then. Redd could barely contain himself. He wanted so badly to do something, anything at all. His friends and family needed help, and here he was, chained up like a dog...
Florenshade consulted the telescope. “That looks like him...there are others on the ground, I can’t see them clearly. Looks like only two, plus the Lumian. If we can get to him, we can take it back. If nothing else, it keeps it out of enemy hands. Guards! To your vestrusses!”
Glavnar Perforich roared. “No! That is a Korba relic! I will lead my men.” The Commander ran to the edge of the Platform and leapt into open space, disappearing from sight. Redd marveled at his durability. Even Moss let out a low hum of approval.
The Fain had left their flying bird mounts by Florenshade’s carriage at the edge of the platform. They unhitched them from the yoke and took to the sky. A moment later, Redd saw four more flying mounts go after them, clearly some kind of Korba monsters.
Come on Puk, get out of there… Redd thought.
“Right, where were we? Ah, yes, the movements of the stars. As I was saying…”
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