The Piecemeal Cake

“By accepting this challenge when you are so obviously unready for it, you are jeopardizing the peace meal—“

“No, you’re jeopardizing the peace meal,” Jae said, as she took a step toward her challenger.  “By your obvious poor example of what peace means.  There is no graciousness or humility in your demeanor.  There is no generosity or compromise in your attitude toward those who have been chosen—or even those who did the choosing.  By questioning me, you are questioning, doubting, and disrespecting those who chose me.” 

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The Map of All Worlds

I have seen the tears of a unicorn. I have squinted through shielded lenses to watch bright white stars spinning out plasma. I have seen the battle of mouse armies. I have seen the glowing green heart of the oldest oak in my home realm.

A map led me to all of these and more. Not a static map drawn on a scroll or printed on glossy pages in an atlas. Not even the sometimes-changing ethereal maps created on the worldwide web. This map was ever-changing. It drew itself. It did not learn or know. It simply appeared when commanded to, if the commands were the right commands. Technology, enchantment.

It all started with a scavenger hunt.

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Siren’s Song

“Have any of your heard of the Song of Stars sapphire? “

The question was posed—as such questions usually were—by Cecil. We were having drinks on the back patio after dinner and admittedly the conversation had grown somewhat dull. But Cecil was no storyteller. His mention of this exotic-sounding sapphire most likely had intentions beyond livening up a chat among friends.

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