1. Merle

    Open Glitterwake

    A scream echoed out from some other room, whatever other pleasantries forgotten in the urgency of it. The servant that the steward called after did not stop. The young man slipped away with sure step, blending into the calm parts of the crowd, nearer to the conversations that had not been cut...
  2. Merle

    Dare Tell of Tomorrow

    The wind was not of this world. With all his strength, Merle couldn't close the doors again. He'd invited something in. It had accepted his invitation. Cold terror seeped in to his bones and made him brittle. The laughter that rolled over him, relentless, nearly shattered him. It did not melt...
  3. Merle

    Dare Tell of Tomorrow

    There was something about Jeb that irked Merle. Maybe it was his unkempt beard, or those darkling eyes that always seemed to be looking for the next cruelty. Maybe it was because the other villagers acted like Goode Jeb was always part of the village, though he had no cousins nor wife, and...
  4. Merle

    Open Glitterwake

    The insult lobbed by the approaching man rolled off of Merle a lot cleaner than the wine had. "Ah," he said, as he hefted himself up to standing. The hem brushed against the tile, not much better off than it had been before Merle's attention. "I'm glad to see someone has the Lady's interest at...
  5. Merle

    Open Glitterwake

    Of course she took the disgrace like a proper lady. Which of course, made Merle feel worse about the blunder. If she'd gotten mad and caused a commotion, well that would have been easier to handle than the tortured little smile he was met with. "It's just a jacket*. The only shame here is my...
  6. Merle

    Dare Tell of Tomorrow

    How pleasant the fire was, rising in his chest. The heat of the cold, pale drink worked its magic through him, a balm more ancient than any alchemist's brew. As the story wove around them, Merle could see the faeries gathering to peak inside -- a swirl of frost and snow tapping at the windows...
  7. Merle

    Open Glitterwake

    The Undergrove family stood at a crossroads. One cobbled way lead into town, while the other wound up the hill to the Iron Gate. Merle hugged his two children goodbye, while a rigid woman in armor stood watch next to their carriage. "Papa, will you bring us back something from the castle?" His...
  8. Merle

    Prompt Love is Blind: Shopping for Love

    Merle's cheeks were already always sort of red. His ears turned to match as the halfling continued to tease him. Well, he deserved as much. Maybe she could swat him a few less times, though. The vendor didn't have an answer, in fact she barely seemed to notice as the little woman waved up at...
  9. Merle

    Prompt Love is Blind: Shopping for Love

    Puzzled, Merle looked down at the two delicate hands that cupped his own. They curled his fingers back 'round the stone. "But you paid for..." He moved his gaze to those big green eyes of hers, then toward the stall. The vendor had gone back to her business, paying them no mind now that her...
  10. Merle

    Prompt Love is Blind: Shopping for Love

    There were now two women aghast of him, the halfling staring needles and the over-puffed vendor reddening in the ears. And they were both still trying to make a sale! The mighty little woman shoved him aside, and Merle had to stumble back to catch his balance. He was all rustling fabric and...
  11. Merle

    Merle Undergrove

    "It's another petition from that country alchemist, syr." "Gods, again? He must have applied a dozen times by now." "This is the seventeenth letter, I believe." "What was his name? Underbalm?" "Undergrove, syr." "Well deny him for the seventeenth time, Buckley. We aren't a labor temple. If...
  12. Merle

    Dare Tell of Tomorrow

    Plates clattered and people shifted out of their seats, as the communal meal came to a close. Mothers put their children to bed in the corners of the long hall, where reed mats and furs were laid out. The storm rattled stranger against the hall's exterior, a keen white wail singing through the...
  13. Merle

    Prompt Love is Blind: Shopping for Love

    For the first time, Merle made an effort to soften his features. The halfling woman did not deserve his wrath, and she might need his help. "I'm afraid you're already apart of this," he said to her. Merle pulled the corners of his handkerchief over the stone, tucking it out of sight. "A curse...
  14. Merle

    Dare Tell of Tomorrow

    The gravy-soup and the spirits were twisting in his gut, a tangle of strange food that fought like enemies. Covering his mouth with a hand, Merle let a burp of air out under his breath. He would stand strong against the onslaught, an alchemist's pride keeping the concoction from coming back up...
  15. Merle

    Prompt Love is Blind: Shopping for Love

    The halfling woman gave him a cross look, and called him a mushroom. "There are worse things to be," Merle said, only sparing her a downward glance. "Dead, for example." Merle took the handkerchief from his face and covered the "jade" piece with it. Picked it up gingerly, careful not to touch...
  16. Merle

    Prompt Love is Blind: Shopping for Love

    This stall... Merle had been drawn to it like many other passersby. But unlike the other market-goers, he was not impressed by the variety of the display. His eyes had a hard tilt to them as he stepped closer. Pulling out a handkerchief from his pocket, he pressed it over his nose. If he had...
  17. Merle

    Dare Tell of Tomorrow

    The gathering of new names and the passing around of cups went on around Merle without much notice from him. It wasn't until Jeb gave a toast to his health that he looked up from his notes. "Good enough for a poor bastard, sure, but here's sitting at our table a noble 'til!" Yenles lifted the...
  18. Merle

    Dare Tell of Tomorrow

    "Hm, that sounds good," Merle said, but he didn't seem to be talking about the spirit. He produced a small journal from his coat pocket, as well as a wrapped stick of charcoal. The journal was not bound in leather, and the pages looked damaged from their long journey. "Clear as the moons' light...
  19. Merle

    Dare Tell of Tomorrow

    The belching wave of honey-rot wafted across the table and slapped Merle in the face. His nose wrinkled up in a grimace. These northerners, and their gruesome table manners. But, when in Lapvona... The bottom of Merle's clay cup came up so high that one could see the potter's mark*. Its...
  20. Merle

    Dare Tell of Tomorrow

    Another poke in the ribs from Aise caught him by surprise. "Merle, you're so rude!" she scolded him as the boisterous intruder laughed long and loud. Merle's cheeks were burnt ruddy from the wind. They'd been that way since crossing into the Highlands. But somehow, they got redder. "What have I...
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