Lazette Gifford's Blog, page 41

Flash Fiction # 337 -- Connor of Northgate/21

Pomp and ceremony.  Connor had never seen so much of it in his life.   He'd heard the local fae preparing nearly two hours before dawn, and if he hadn't felt as though he would be underfoot, Connor would have helped in whatever way he could.  He didn't like waiting for something to happen.The breakfast bell rang.  Food wasn't top on his list for the morning, but joining the others

Flash Fiction #336 -- Connor of Northgate/20

The room had gone silent at Liam's words.Ordin's face reddened, and he reached for Liam. Connor caught his arm.  It would have gone to blows if Antisha and Nylia hadn't arrived.  Antisha grabbed her comrade by the shoulder and propelled him away from the table.  He almost swung back but got himself in control."Go sit down.  Now.""You know he cheated, Tisha!""I know no such thing.  Connor

Flash Fiction #335 -- Connor of Northgate/19

Chapter Five

The next day was not as bad as Connor had expected.  In fact, the physical tests let him work off some of the anxious energy he'd built up since dinner the night before. Liam and Nylia had both checked his breakfast. Druce had stopped and thanked him for not creating trouble over his own stupidity."You lost your temper, that's all," Connor said with a bit of a shrug.  He could

Flash Fiction # 334 -- Coonor of Northgate/18

"You trust your friends," Lord Northgate said, and his head turned to look a little to the right.Druce, of course.  Druce saw Lord Northgate's glance his way and looked appalled.  Druce bowed his head, his face pale."That altercation Druce and I had really had nothing to do with me, you know.""Not you?" Lord Northgate asked, surprised by the answer.  He looked confused.  "But --""Not me, not

Flash Fiction # 333 -- Connor of Northgate/17

"True," Liam agreed and smiled again.  "But tomorrow we do the physical tests --""And that is when I'm bound to not do as well," Connor replied.  "I can't match a fae using magic, you know.""No, you can't," Liam agreed and looked straight at Connor, his head tilted slightly.  "But you can be yourself."Connor started to ask what he meant, but Liam shook his head.  Then he stood and gave a

Flash Fiction # 332 -- Connor of Northgate/16

Chapter FourThe Testing turned out to be an interesting event in far too many ways.  First was the ceremonial aspects; the fae did love pomp, especially when they had a reason for a show of display.  Lord Northgate spared nothing on making this an exceptional event. Magic glittered everywhere, and the Lord of the Keep had hired the best fae chefs for the meals, featuring cuisine that Connor

Flash Fiction #331 -- Connor of Northgate/15

Liam sat for a moment in silence before he looked at Rendon.  "I don't do favors," Liam replied, his voice steady.  "Not when it comes to seeing things."Rendon gave a decisive nod, and the look of distrust cleared from his face.  "No, I suppose not.  Too dangerous."Liam nodded before Connor said anything, and he hoped that would be the last of that kind of trouble.  Connor didn't want people

Flash Fictoin #330 -- Connor of Northgate/14

"I suppose I better start preparing for the testing, then," Connor said, realizing now that he couldn't get out of it.  "I doubt I'll do well since I have no magic and they'll be using theirs.""Maybe," Liam said.  "I honestly don't see what happens there.""So nothing drastic goes wrong.""I'd like to think so, but you can't trust any vision of the future filled with blackness and holes. 

Flash Fiction #329 -- Connor of Northgate/13

Connor started to say something, then thought through what he'd just learned.  "You don't want to change things, but you just told me about Druce.""After the fact.  I'd seen Nylia and Druce a long time before I came here. I saw myself sitting here and talking to you, though I hadn't seen much else.""What sort of work do they expect you to do?" Connor finally asked."To make certain the fae

Flash Fiction #328 -- Connor of Northgate/12

Connor turned back to his classwork, intently staring at the page, and trying to parse words that danced around in his head and made no sense at all.  He finally closed his eyes. The class passed quickly, and the group headed down to sword practice.  That suited Connor better today.They changed partners daily. As luck would have it, Connor drew Druce who glared before they even started. When