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 25: The Ghost at the Well
Safely sheltered by a canopy of titanic trees, Puk perched beside a pool of crystal clear water. It looked like it had been built there intentionally, framed with smooth stones, yet it had a natural quality as well. Puk studied his reflection, thoughts wandering, while Avarak worked on her armor.
She had removed the two-piece breastplate that covered her torso, leaning it against a tree. The forest was silent, save for the ping of a hammer on metal as she pounded dents out of the breastplate.
There was one big dent right in the middle that resisted her hammer. Avarak pursed her lips, thumping the spot over and over again. As she was just wearing her trousers and cotton tunic, several bruises were visible on her light blue skin.
“Do those hurt?” Puk asked, rocking on his heels, occasionally dipping a canteen into the well and sipping the cool water.
Avarak squinted. She'd lost her goggles in the river, but even with them Puk couldn’t read her eyes. Was she bored? Angry? He had no idea. She went back to the breastplate.
“I’m sorry about Miss Golene,” Puk said.
“Me too,” Avarak grunted. “She is a lifelong friend, and I failed her. Instead I was on the ground, nursing a wound like a weakling. That’s the only reason the rebels were able to drag me away.”
Puk’s jaw dropped. “Weakling? Miss Avarak, you took a Korba super-punch to the chest! I’d be splattered if one of them hit me like that, even with the amulet!”
“It’s different for my kind. No offense,” Avarak added.
“I don’t think I ever said thank you,” Puk said finally.
Avarak stopped hammering mid-swing. “What?”
“Thank you, for protecting me like you have. I guess I thought it was just your job and that you didn’t mind, but now your friend is missing and I feel bad,” Puk said.
“Why would you feel bad? You didn’t make the Korba attack us,” Avarak countered.
But like you, I also failed to stop them, Puk thought.
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