Nic had decided that he didn’t mind some parties. The celebration had begun as soon as the duel had formally concluded. Food and drink materialized from nowhere, carted about by the automatons. Nic barely had time to get his rig off before the crowd swarmed him, dozens of people, everyone who had been in attendance … Continue reading Duel Ch.11 →

Nic flinched. He didn’t freeze as he once may have but time unquestionably passed between his rig being released and Nic beginning to cast. No more than a second, barely a blink, but enough that it left him scrambling, unbalanced during the vital first exchange. If Arthur could get something off fast enough, he’d get … Continue reading Duel Ch.10 →

“Will you stop fidgeting?” Isabella’s words were annoyed more than anything else, though she didn’t let it show on her face. To any onlooker, she was the picture of grace. “Oh, trust me, I’m trying,” Nic said. For the second time in as many weeks, the young techne found himself back at the Worthington estate, … Continue reading Duel Ch.9 →

A routine emerged at Greytower over the next several days. Nic would wake to an array of bruises and aching joints from the day before. Some days were worse than others but a quick shower was usually sufficient to cure them, leaving him free to return to his rig. A good hour or so of … Continue reading Duel Ch.8 →

“Are you ready?” The answer to that question was no, but Nic nodded instead, doing his best to look the part if nothing else. “You’re a terrible liar,” Isabella said, casting Nic an amused smile. “That’s a bad thing?” Nic asked. Isabella shook her head. “No. Might make your life easier if you learned though.” … Continue reading Duel Ch.7 →

It was two days later when Isabella Hemlock came calling at Greytower. Her arrival had been expected, the wards raising only a brief challenge before allowing her to cross the threshold. As she stepped into the front hall, a burst of wind came howling from within, carrying a spherical drone down from above. It made … Continue reading Duel Ch.6 →

Official statement of intent, Worthington-Greytower Let it be known that the signatories of this document, Arthur Tiberius Worthington, and Nicholas of Greytower, do enter into legal and honorable combat. Both parties hereby swear to abide by the tenants of City Law and agree that all dispute at issue shall be settled by its conclusion. Both … Continue reading Duel Ch.5 →

Nic had decided that he didn’t like parties. Or at least not this party. So far as he understood the concept, parties were supposed to be fun. This party was not fun. This party was nothing but an endless parade of confusion, frustration, and good old-fashioned embarrassment. For a while Nic had wandered the main … Continue reading Duel Ch.4 →

Never in his life had Nic felt so aggressively out of place. He stood just inside the front door of the manor house, staring at the grandest room he’d even seen. Sweeping and grand in its construction, the main floor alone large enough to contain the entirety of lesser buildings. Multiple staircases ran up the … Continue reading Duel Ch.3 →