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Bards and Sages Quarterly (July 2016)
Bards and Sages Quarterly (July 2016)
Bards and Sages Quarterly (July 2016)
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Bards and Sages Quarterly (July 2016)

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Since 2009, the Bards and Sages Quarterly has brought fans of speculative fiction an amazing variety of short stories from both new and established authors. Each issue sets out to introduce readers to the wealth of talent found in the horror, fantasy, and science fiction genres. In this issue: Carl Alves, Chris Dean, Myke Edwards, A.J. Flowers, Milo James Fowler, Matt Hollingsworth, Ty Karnitz, Simon Kewin, Damien Krsteski, Bret McCormick, and Jennifer R. Povey.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateJun 30, 2016
ISBN9781533706409
Bards and Sages Quarterly (July 2016)

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    Bards and Sages Quarterly (July 2016) - Milo James Fowler

    In This Issue

    The Drowned Prince by A.J. Flowers

    Dark Magic by Chris Dean

    The Definition of Johnny by Damien Krsteski

    Behind You, in the Corner by Myke Edwards

    A Midwinter Sacrifice by Simon Kewin

    Voyage by Jennifer R. Povey

    Cogs by Matt Hollingsworth

    A Coyote's Revenge by Milo James Fowler

    The Bug Followers by Bret McCormick

    A Fairy Tale by Ty Karnitz

    My Kingdom by Carl Alves

    Book Announcements

    About the Authors

    The Drowned Prince

    By A.J. Flowers

    ––––––––

    Aurielle lay still on the sands, waiting for her gaping wound to close. He lay next to her, her ever-faithful Shadow. No, not a literal shadow. Her horse, her familiar, her friend.

    King Tridon’s fallen form bled sea foam, glinting silver moonlight off each bursting bubble.

    Will I ever forgive myself for killing you, father?

    In a dream, Shadow revealed it wasn’t the sea-witch who killed Prince Enrich, but her father. That’s when she awoke, an enchanted dagger in hand.

    When Shadow endured her father’s wrath so Aurielle could plunge the dagger through the Sea God’s chest, she didn’t consider the cost. But now, Shadow’s weak neigh broke her heart.

    You’re all I have left of my love, she said, searching his dark eyes for some hint of Enrich’s soul, but only saw the roiling clouds’ reflection.

    Wound nearly sealed, Aurielle stumbled to her feet. She reached out her hand, drawing up her neglected Sea Goddess' powers. Father could suppress them no longer.

    The black sea churned. Aurielle sought out a memory of love and heartbreak for strength. Enrich’s death, and Shadow’s birth. Luna had gathered the remnants of Enrich’s soul and formed his Shadow. The waves finally responded, heaving and breaking on the coast toward her magnetic pull.

    The water steamed as she took one step forward. The smoky tendrils danced around her legs.

    It’s rejecting me. Why?

    Shadow’s hooves scraped against the sandy rocks as he bumped against Aurielle’s back.

    Unlike you, father, I’m not alone.

    With Shadow’s muzzle against her spine, Aurielle drew from his companionship. The sea foam transformed from dark sludge to white cream.

    But just when the skies started to part and the seas began to clear, Aurielle’s legs swelled with pain. She cried out and collapsed to her knees, clutching at her thighs.

    The sea-witch emerged from the waves. Her dark curls clung to her arms as she spread them out wide. Pink shells adorned her head in a crown and her lips were red with brine.

    Sister. You have freed me, Luna said.

    Shadow galloped between them with a protective neigh. But as he paced, black wisps flickered, twining over his slick hide. Shadow buckled and transformed, his agonized neigh turning into a man’s screams.

    Lying naked and panting, her lost love stared back at her with pained, blue eyes. Forgive me. It was the only way.

    Luna’s cackles stung like jellyfish as Aurielle’s legs sealed together and grew over with slimy, green scales.

    It wasn’t you, father. What have I done?

    Luna flashed a wicked smile before sweeping away on a throne atop a wave, spearing a trident to the skies.

    Prince Enrich scooped Aurielle up like a lost treasure. As the waters embraced them, pink gills sliced across his neck and his legs merged, forming a majestic, blue fin.

    He handed her the rusted dagger. There’s still enough power to kill me.

    Auriellel’s eyes brimmed with salty tears as she let it sink to the bottom of the sea.

    Dark Magic

    By Chris Dean

    ––––––––

    Wasn't cold, the corpse remarked casually, its flesh-dappled skeletal hand careful to keep the loose jaw from sliding down again, Not like you'd think. One shimmering eye squished in its socket as it moved. The other eye was rotted away. Funny thing, the low voice went on. I was hungry. Its neck creaked as it jerked its head sideways and then the eye gleamed with a question. Now, isn’t that funny? You'd think-

    Snapping his fingers, Josh broke the spell and the corpse collapsed back into the coffin with a wet slap. I let out a startled yelp as I scooted away from the grave. Josh shook his head with a frown. He pointed a few yards away and barked at me, That one.

    I stooped and recovered my shovel. Moving to the new grave, I offered a weak protest, Josh.

    What? The moon was full overhead and I could see the gleam of irritation in Josh's blue eyes.

    Shoving the blade of my shovel into the grass, I muttered, You didn't even ask him.

    Weren't you listening, Robert? That man was a doctor. Did he sound like a doctor to you?

    I was dumping sod into a pile now, while I evaluated the question. No, the corpse had sounded more like a drunken construction worker, but what did that matter? I grumbled, I don't get you.

    Josh toed a clump of sod that threatened to fall back into my new hole. His brain was half-gone. Understand? He's absolutely no use to me.

    I understood what he meant, but I didn't agree. We weren't there looking for Albert Einstein. We just wanted to find some dead guy who could help Josh around the attic with his spells and other thing he was doing up there. The transcendence, whatever the hell that was. I tossed another shovelful of dirt on the growing pile. They're all going to be the same, Josh. They're freaking dead, okay?

    Refusing to answer, Josh stalked away into the graveyard. I stopped and called his name. I was getting tired of him treating me like some idiot and I was ready to have it out. But when he turned back, the acid tone of his voice cowered me, I need someone who can read the spell without making a mistake. Somehow Robert, I don't believe Dr. Benjamin was up to the task.

    I resumed my work with fervor, madder than ever now. Angry because he was probably right, but mostly mad at Josh for being so bitchy all the time. Ever since we found that book in the attic he acted like he was so damn important. Hell, I could have just as easily been the one with the book and Josh could have been digging the hole. But no, Josh was the wizard and I had splinters in my palms and a sore back.

    As I continued to dig, I mumbled, It's half mine.

    Josh's snapped, What?

    That book. I glared at him. ’When are you going to let me take a look at it?

    Really, Robert. A breeze came up, whipping Josh's long black coat around him as he strode toward me. If you think you can understand it, you go right ahead.

    I sagged onto my knees and looked up. He held out the weathered book. Its scarred black cover taunted me. I'd looked in there once before. Josh knew the complicated phrases were just gibberish to me. I resumed digging without another word.

    It took almost an hour of hard work before the next coffin was exposed. I crawled out of the hole, sweating despite the cool night air. Collapsing nearby, I watched as Josh began the incantation.

    "Nyatt ar," Josh began softly. "Nyatt ar. He splayed his fingers as he knelt beside the grave. His voice rose, reverberating with power, Ramus ti bilank! His eyes glowed eerily and a crackling aura of energy surrounded him. Ramusmus ti bilank!" A puff of blue smoke erupted from his palms.

    My heart was racing. I was afraid, of Josh's power and of what I knew was about to happen. And then I heard it. That awful creak from inside the grave.

    A soft laugh escaped Josh's lips as he looked down into the hole. I followed his gaze and saw the skeleton struggling to sit up. The woman had been dead awhile, and there were only scraps of skin clinging to her bones. Stringy dark hair hung over the tatters of her dress. A bug crawled in an eye socket and appeared again to perch inside the other one. It was horrible.

    The woman's jaw creaked and she tried to speak, but only soft whispery sound came out, Albert? Her bony hand touched the side of her skull. A finger bone broke, clattering into the coffin. She looked down at herself and began to whimper.

    Josh snapped his fingers and the corpse fell. It rattled down into the coffin and the lid closed with a thump. Josh muttered, This isn’t working.

    I felt dirty and exhausted. Pushing myself up, I brushed off my clothes. I'm going home.

    "What? We just

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