The Gallows – Part 8

We pulled our boat to shore under the cover of darkness. Rage boiled up within me the moment I stepped foot back on the mainland. But startlingly, a kernel of fear resided in my heart. I reminded myself that I was the one with all the power now. The tables had turned. That brought a vicious grin to my face. […]

The Gallows – Part 7

We flew out of the tunnel entrance, and staggered to a stop when we reached Linzer. All four of his eyes from both heads were wide eyed and fixed on me. “We got it!” I wheezed, and motioned toward the silver axe. I was about to tell Linzer everything when I followed his gaze towards my arms. My fingers were […]

The Gallows – Part 6

To read from the beginning, start here. If you missed Part 5, click here. … Dyanis smiled at me. “I was right about you Aleryn. You are truly noble at heart.” Behind the smile was a sadness I couldn’t understand until he continued. “But you’re naively optimistic. We both know the logical choice here.” Before I could stop him, Dyanis […]

The Gallows – Part 5

To read “The Gallows” from the beginning, click here. … We awoke and had a small meal before setting out again. Linzer was ripping into the flesh of a rabbit he had caught but urged us to eat quickly as more creatures would surely be tracking us.  “So you’re tasked with protecting this temple?” I inquired after swallowing the last of […]

The Gallows – Part 4

To read “The Gallows” from the beginning, click here. … “I’ll send Linzer with you, but you’ll still need weapons. Most of the creatures wouldn’t dare attack you with Linzer around, but there are some that consider him a traitor to their kind for befriending humans,” Brayden says, as he hands us each a pack of supplies. He offers a […]

The Gallows – Part 3

I squeezed my eyes shut and instinctively jumped clear of the creature’s path. I rolled, bracing for impact. My body was still tense when I heard laughter. Confused, I opened my eyes, and Brayden was embracing the creature like a pet. It had tackled him to the ground, and he was scratching its belly as its tongue lolled playfully out […]