Welcome to this week’s installment of many micro stories, ranging in length from 100 words to 500 words.

With each story we hope to deliver a little whimsy into the lives of our readers.

A MOUTHFUL OF WATER

Their steel shone cream and lavender beneath the crescent moons. For a moment, the foes stood motionless: man and woman, veiled tribesman and outland adventurer. He raised his blade, hesitated. An amateur mistake.

One stroke of her saber daubed the white sand red. He wobbled, dead on his feet, and tumbled down the dune. While he rolled on and on, she shook her head. Drank the last little bit from her stolen waterskin. What a wretched land, this Sea of Sands.

Arlise had killed her fair share: for crowns and coin, life and love…

…but never a mouthful of water.

 

Austin Worley writes everything from heroic fantasy to romance and poetry. A native Oklahoman, he fills his downtime with books and nights under the stars. His short fiction has appeared in magazines and anthologies such as Fantastic Detectives, Sword & Scandal, and Broadswords and Blasters. Several of these stories have earned Honorable Mentions from the Writers of the Future Contest.

If you enjoyed this story you can find it and more in the Hawthorn & Ash anthology.

AVAILABLE HERE!

 

Welcome to this week’s installment of many micro stories, ranging in length from 100 words to 500 words.

With each story we hope to deliver a little whimsy into the lives of our readers.

ON THE ROADSIDE

Stefan found her beside the road. Blood stained her tattered surcoat dark as wine, and the shreds of mail underneath couldn’t hide four wicked claw marks. Her chest rose and fell, each breath a little shallower. If she didn’t see a healer soon, she never would.

What could’ve done this to a Watch-Sister? He scanned the trees. Primal instincts screamed for him to run. Run far, run fast, and never look back.

Instead, he knelt. This world brimmed with monsters, but folk needn’t turn monstrous themselves. Stefan lifted her from the bed of leaves and headed back to his ox-cart.

 

Austin Worley writes everything from heroic fantasy to romance and poetry. A native Oklahoman, he fills his downtime with books and nights under the stars. His short fiction has appeared in magazines and anthologies such as Fantastic Detectives, Sword & Scandal, and Broadswords and Blasters. Several of these stories have earned Honorable Mentions from the Writers of the Future Contest.

If you enjoyed this story you can find it and more in the Hawthorn & Ash anthology.

AVAILABLE HERE!

 

Welcome to this week’s installment of many micro stories, ranging in length from 100 words to 500 words.

With each story we hope to deliver a little whimsy into the lives of our readers.

THE DRUID’S HUNT

Armed with javelins and shivering in the early morning’s chill, Corius stalked the woods alongside his mentor, the old druid Garos. A sound made him turn, and he stared into the smouldering depths of the fell boar’s eyes, which rose behind a thicket. He screamed at the gruesome sight, while Garos cried for the goddess Abnoba to come to their help. The fiend roared before backing off into the darkness.

Corius couldn’t believe their luck, but despaired again as a new shadow emerged from behind a birch tree. A moment later, both druids bowed as Abnoba stepped towards them.

“Great goddess of these woods,” Garos whispered, his voice faint from the exertion of the night’s walk, “we thank you for coming to our aid.”

“A mighty lord you serve who sends out an old druid and his acolyte.” Abnoba shook her head. She was armed with spear and shield, both coloured in rippling hues of dark green.

“Even with all his warriors our lord could never hope to slay this fell boar, so it is up to us druids, the guardians of the old lore,” Garos explained.

The goddess frowned. “I thought you druids were wiser.” Then she looked towards the shadows of some ash trees. “And who are you?”

“Just a traveller far from home,” a newcomer on a horse murmured. “What are you doing here, great lady?”

“We’re about to hunt,” Abnoba said with a glance at Garos.

The stranger rode ever closer. “Oh, nice.”

Rider and horse surged forward, suddenly transforming into the boar. Corius stumbled back, while the creature aimed its tusks at the goddess’s throat. Just then, Garos stepped into the beast’s path. The boar slammed into the druid, trampling him into the ground with charred hooves. Abnoba used the respite to thrust her spear into the boar’s neck.

Corius spared only one glance at the death of the fiend then knelt beside Garos. “My teacher …” The words fled his mind as the eyes of the old druid broke.

“He knew I’d rather help two druids than your proud lord,” the goddess murmured quietly.

“I apologize for this ruse. But my mentor didn’t see any other way to defeat this creature,” Corius whispered, choking on his tears.

A smile crossed the goddess’s face. “For all his wisdom and bravery, there are still some things Garos has to learn,” she said before disappearing into the forest.

Corius whispered a farewell, then cowered close to his dead mentor, feeling immeasurably lonely. Crying silently, cheerful memories of his years studying with Garos rose before his mind’s eye, which deepened his sorrow.

When he walked home alone, he noticed a doe emerging from behind a hawthorn hedge, accompanied by a stumbling fawn, which glowed in an ethereal light. When Corius looked into the pup’s eyes, he recognised a kindness and wisdom he thought he would never see again, but now they were merged with the sparkling joy of youth and the anticipation of a life just begun.

 

Philipp Mattes lives in Southwestern Germany. He started writing while working as an intern in Kochi, India. Afterwards writing became an important part of his life. Most of his books and stories are in German, however, from time to time, he also also tries his hand at writing in English. After receiving an M.A. degree in English Literatures and Cultures, the COVID-pandemic caused him to change his plans and now he is working as a nurse in a hospital.

If you enjoyed this story you can find it and more in the Hawthorn & Ash anthology.

AVAILABLE HERE!