faith

All Flames Cast – Harael III

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A quick update on All Flames Cast: I went back and re-titled all of my chapter posts on here, because naming them “Chapter One”, “Chapter Two”, etc. was a bit misleading. Instead, I’ve gone with the character names and where the chapters fall into their specific sequences. I think I’m going to post, at most, two more chapters after this, as I’m really starting to get into the meat of the book and I’m nearing completion of the first draft. As that is, enjoy Harael’s next chapter—it’s a long one!

Harael awoke to pounding on the Dawn of Embers. He was confused, at first, as it seemed come from everywhere. When he forced himself to sit up in his bed, he realized it was really only in two locations: the door to his quarters, and the very intimate inside of his skull. He groaned, and flopped back down onto his pillow. He began to burrow his head underneath it when the shouting outside started. Continue reading

All Flames Cast – Harael II

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The roar of celebration was overwhelming. Harael and Teramus cheered, mugs of ale held aloft, as a group of young red-robed apprentices linked arms and danced in the street. A four-piece band played on the nearest corner, and their pace picked up when they saw the youngsters dancing.

The increased speed led to mistakes, and one fresh-faced lad stumbled over an uneven cobblestone. The whole line of apprentices went down in a pile on top of and around him. Laughter erupted from the bystanders, and more drinks were poured. Serving girls from the taverns on the street wove through the crowd, collecting empty cups and mugs, passing out pitchers of ale and wine and more potent drinks. It was pandemonium, and it gladdened Harael’s heart to see it. If anything could redeem his friend in the Faith, it was a display like this. Continue reading

All Flames Cast – Harael I

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The next chapter is here for all to read. This follows the second major character in All Flames Cast, the priest Harael.

The late evening spread out over the city of Letaal, trailing shadows over the streets of the Fourth Tier. Harael stared up at the slim slice of the setting sun, just visible over the wall far overhead outside of the Tenth Tier. Below him, he could just see the last light shining upon the uppermost spires of the Cathedral, three tiers down. It felt odd to be traveling so high in the city, but then, this night was not a normal night.

Harael smiled at the thought. No, the winter solstice was far from a usual night in Letaal. Here, in the seat of Imperial power—and the seat of Pirinism—displays of faith were common; only on this most holy of nights, however, did every citizen show his fidelity.

His blue robes swishing around his legs, arms folded into the sleeves, he nodded at the hawker pushing a cart past. A lantern, flickering fitfully in the balmy winter breeze, hung from an awning over his wares. The man beamed back at Harael, clearly overjoyed by the acknowledgement from such a high-ranking priest.

Continue reading