189) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 24 -- The Seeds of Hate
Despair sunk into her chest. Another Art of the Infernal flashed into her mind. The Art of Sacrifice. Sacrifice? Isn’t that what I’m trying to avoid?
188) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 23 -- The Unintentionally Flying Squirrel
“Not NOW, squirrrrel!” Grob growled, more threateningly, setting her back on the ground again.
A moment later, Squirrelly was on his shield, right in his face.
“Why don’t you listen to Squirrelly?” Lenny suggested. “She‘s really smart.”
187) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 22 -- It seemed like a good idea at the time...
They knelt, placing their foreheads on the log. Kohra closed her eyes. She felt helpless, neck exposed like she was about to get beheaded. There was nothing, at all, that she could do.
186) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 21 -- The Hooded Man
Keeping to the shadows, he crept up beside Beacon and out of Kohra’s range of sight. She snuck toward the front of the wagon, barely daring to breathe, eyes straining to find something, anything, in the darkness to explain what Gorb was doing and, hopefully, placate the mad hammering of her heart.
185) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 20 -- Kinship and Friendship
When in doubt, if you threw your head back and laughed, took another drink and pounded the person’s back beside you, then it was all good; you’d fit right in.
184) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 19 -- The Embodiment of Power
It was like a feeling of conviction, a “yes,” but in her body, in some subtle place behind, or underneath, her stomach. It felt mostly numb in there, frozen, like it was an empty space. But she knew, something happened in that space when she “initiated an act of will.”
183) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 18 -- The Seat of the Will
She remembered how much she loved, as a little kid, sitting in a dark closet or an old shed, watching the shiny specks dancing in shafts of soft light coming through a crack in the door.
I hope we never get rid of dusty places. I think that’s maybe why I still believe in fairies. How could dust motes be anything other than some form of sentience?
182) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 17 -- Shaping: Connecting the Inner and Outer Worlds
Kohra laughed, throwing her head back, looking up at the skyflows. They were so bright tonight, incredible, like they were ten times closer than she had ever seen them.
What IS that stuff Gorb smokes?
181) How to Slay in Chess — From 1200 to over 1850 in 1 year (without in-depth study, coaching, or training): My System, Part 1
Will this turn you, or me, into a Master? I highly doubt it. But it took me, in one year, to the top 99.8% of players on chess.com. That’s not a boast; it’s just straightforward statistical evidence.
It turns out, a few good “strategic heuristics” can take you pretty far.
180) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 16 -- Kohra gets intoxicated
He gestured towards the mug she was now holding. “Drrrink! Tis d’nectarrr o’ d’gods, y’know. Drrrrink! An’ we talk about death.”
Death?
179) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 15 -- An old friend, and a new one
Stupid Silver Lady. Lenny didn’t even want to think about her anymore. She didn’t care where that woman was, as long as it wasn’t here.
178) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 14 -- The Silver Lady
Lenny, finding it impossible to produce coherent speech, said nothing, busy as she was in that moment praying that the earth would swallow her whole.
177) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 13 -- Snakey & Squirrelly
This wasn’t the first time Lenny had caused them to make a quick exit. He figured he’d find out the whole story on the road. It was probably stealing something, lighting something on fire, or trying to saddle and ride some pigs. (Yes, she did that. Twice.)
176) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 12 -- Lenny's Surprising Wisdom on Surviving in a Foreign Land
“You can’t just make up a lie on the spot!” Kohra protested. “It won’t be believable!”
Lenny fired off, “I’m Wilma Featherstein, from Carding’s Corners, I work in the Pale Boar Inn as a bartender. I’m Jessica Smithson, from High Ridge; I work on the Kempton’s Hog Farm, about three miles outside of town, right along the banks of the Spokane River. I’m Bonnie Billingsley, from Jordanville; I’m on a research trip, studying the migratory patterns of rare butterflies.”
175) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 11 -- A Different Way to Fly
How in the Hells were they going to get out of this? Would they ever be safe? And what happens if you’re being chased for so long that you just really, REALLY have to go to the bathroom?
174) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 10 -- Goo Zombies
Kohra bolted out of her chair. Dominic flung open the door and…they stared. What was happening outside was impossible.
173) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 9 -- Good Things Coming to an End
She smiled inwardly, imagining living in a little cabin in the woods, listening to the wind, watching the sky, making potions, having chipmunk friends drop in for tea.
172) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 8 -- The Present and the Past
The chipmunk raised his teacup for a cheers, downed it, then pointed rather pointedly his cup. Kohra noticed that the refill came from a wine jug, not the teapot.
The critter made a brief chittering sound and flicked his tail.
“You said it, Faeron,” Mcklein shook his head sadly. “If only we all lived like animals.”
171) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 7 -- Old Man McKiller
Kohra’s first moments of awareness suggested that she was stretched out on the softest bed, with the softest blanket, and felt as comfortable as ever in her life. Yawning, stretching, she opened her eyes. She was sleeping on the bare wood floor, although she did have a soft, thin cotton blanket. Sitting up, she looked around. Her pillow looked like a rock. She poked it with her finger. It was a rock.
170) Hallowe'en, Ancestors, and War: One small way you can take action
For Hallowe’en this year, I decided to start a new tradition, in the spirit of Dia de los Muertos, a personal ritual of honouring my ancestors at midnight tonight, and welcoming them back into my life. I am humbled at their sacrifice and strength, and I am proud to have done my part in breaking the cycles of trauma, violence, and more trauma that result from such horrific experiences as war.