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 →

“Stop fidgeting.” Master Orlin’s words were sharp and pointed, spearing straight through the air to where Nic sat opposite him in the car. The young techne made a noise somewhere between frustration and dismay, hand lingering over the buttoned collar of his shirt. He so very much wanted to pull at, maybe loosen it just … Continue reading Duel Ch.2 →

“Again.” Nicholas only just managed to hold back his annoyed mutter. The momentary satisfaction he’d get from telling Master Orlin where he could stick it just wasn’t worth the cost. He had learned that the hard way.  Instead, the young techne turned to the screen Master Orlin had indicated. It displayed code; a lengthy program … Continue reading Duel Ch.1 →

The noise grew deafening in Nicholas’ ears as he climbed to the fifth level. From the deep metallic groans, he guessed that the swarm had finished with the surface and started cutting into the tower’s main support beams. It would take them time to get through those, but Nicholas had no desire to find out … Continue reading The Techne’s Apprentice Ch.5 →

Leaving the mess where it lay, Nicholas turned and sprinted back to his room. Kicking the door open, he descended on his desk and began frantically digging through its messy contents. Zephyr followed lazily at his heel, seemingly unconcerned about their very recent brush with a killer robot. “Whatcha looking for?” the little sprite asked. … Continue reading The Techne’s Apprentice Ch.4 →