“Captain, we are in orbit around Vliets,” Lieutenant Shannon Fournier reported. “Excellent.” Captain Jason Ayers turned to his communications officer. “Mister Simmons, see if you can raise this Royce Halsey in Bertram.” “One moment, sir. Got ...

“Sam, you’re a leaf drifting to the ground,” Sam’s boss, Charles, told him as he and the other laborers finished unloading the river boat. “You’d be content to land anywhere. But you’re so much better than that, Sam. I don’t see why you don’t change...

For all but one coming into the city of Bladeport that day, it was a day like any other. It was a sunny but otherwise temperate day. There wasn’t the great rush into the city that happened at festival time, nor was there the trickle that marked wint...

Aileen stared at the waves striking the shore, waiting for Calum to return. She’d been there for untold minutes; she’d been going there for untold days. Her face was as still as the dry sand she stood on, but her heart moved like the sea. Calum had ...

Captain Conner walked into the office and saluted. “Sergeant, I mean, Captain Conner reporting, sir.” Major Rafe saluted back. “Why the confusion, Captain?” “Getting used to my new rank.” He handed over a folded piece of paper. “My orders, sir.” “Th...

“We have arrived at our destination.” Jake Bonner took in a deep breath. “Okay, Odin,” he said to the computer that controlled his ship, “take a look around. See who wanted us to meet them here.” “Scanning. A Mule-class light transport is approachin...

Inga looked around her cottage for what seemed like the tenth time in half as many days. It was a good cottage. It belonged to her. But it was too quiet. Looking around it, the cottage reminded her of her past, which really wasn’t all that far away ...

“You can’t treat my brother like that!” With that, Princess Anna punched the boy directly on the nose. The impulse to defend her brother made her feel good. The blow against the boy felt good. An instant later, when pain surged through her hand, the...

Kat curtseyed before the throne. She wanted to bow, but she worried about getting a disapproving glare from His Majesty. “Welcome, Katherine of Tall Glen,” King Clarran said. “I prefer Kat, Your Majesty,” she said. “I’m sure you do.” “Will you call ...

He was just stepping onto the walkway leading to the house when he remembered he’d left his jacket in his hovercar. He was always doing that. He knew that he always did that. Numerous times he told himself to remember not to leave his jacket behind....