By Nathan Marchand
February 7, 2015
For the next few weeks, we’ll be publishing flash fiction stories that examine small, emotional moments in our characters’ lives that don’t fit in the normal narratives. We hope you enjoy!
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Crush
Read more about Jaysynn in our first collection!
Jaysynn climbed the three stairs leading to the marble portico of the Emperor’s Palace feeling like a man five times his age. His clothes, darkened by sweat, clung to his aching body. I swear Dracon is trying to kill me with this training, he thought. It’s only been a month, but I don’t know if I can take much more.
Guards with magic pistols and ceremonial swords hanging from their belts stood on either side of the ornate gold-trimmed doors. They ignored him, like always, despite the fact that he had a sheathed knife on his hip. Jaysynn crawled to the door and leaned against it, pushing it open.
The young prince’s eyes widened. Gathered in the middle of the vestibule encircled by the half-staircase was a small crowd. At the center was his brother Bulon, who tossed a handful of gray pebbles in the air by and with a wave of his hands made them hover around him like a swarm of insects by manipulating their molecular energies. Clapping around him were Talynn, Casseo, and Jilla, most of Jaysynn’s other siblings. Amidst them stood a girl with long golden hair, whose face Jaysynn could not see.
Arrogant showoffs! Jaysynn thought, huffing. It was one of those moments he could not decide if he loved or hated his family.
Looking away, he slunk toward the staircase to his right. Just let me slip past them….
But when he had ascended only a few stairs, an unfamiliar voice called, “Who are you, boy?” (more…)
