Kindling: A Standalone Epic Fantasy Set in a War-Ravaged World

by Traci Chee

“I got lucky,” you say, although you’re not sure if you mean it.

Or will you see what you always see from all the tops of all those mountains you’ve already climbed? (More of the same?)

With Leum, silence is just silence. No weight, no expectations. She’s exactly who she is, and she takes you exactly as you are.

Someone is shaking you, someone is shouting, and you know you’re dreaming now, know you’re asleep, but you can’t wake up, can’t move your limbs, can’t open your eyes. You have to breathe, but you don’t remember how, something wrong with you, with your lungs. You wonder if you’re dying.

Every time i feint it's like this :)!!!!

There’s a twinge of guilt in your belly, but you choose to ignore it, choose anger instead. (You’ve always been better with anger than guilt.)