Greetings!

Sorry to have missed out last weekend—Saturday came and went before I realized it! But this week I’m on the ball and getting ready ahead of time. I’m continuing with Radiq, my swords and sorcery story, so if you need to catch up, click here.

The House of the Red Mages rose to dizzying heights to dominate the Qedoqi skyline; towers and minarets with gilded roofs adorned the building, which looked like nothing so much as a great crown atop the Mauravi’in Hill. Its gates, black and solid and streaked with rust, were barred now during the midday rest.

The First Sword of Thessalia reined Jessel to a halt within the deep shadows of the great entrance. His nerves crawled with the sense of being watched; that discomfort angered him, and he called out sharply to the guardhouse, “Make way for the envoy of Crown Prince Vadim, heir to the throne of Thal Thessaly!”

“We know who you are, Radiq, son of Thorrim,” replied a voice from the shadowed gate house, “and we know why you have come.”

Hearing his father’s name on the tongue of some lout only irritated Radiq more. “Then give me the answer I seek, and I shall be on my way,” he shouted back.

“The answer is Guild Master Marron’s to give,” replied the faceless voice as the gates slowly rose.

Marron? Guild Master? Great gods—what have I gotten myself into? He should have run when he had the chance.

Thanks for reading!

Be sure to visit the other Seductive Studs and Sirens:

‘Til next time!