flashpointsf / February 10, 2023/ Drabble Fantasy High / Epic

Another Leg

(Art by Kevin Pabst)

My blade keened towards Vill’s exposed neck. He parried, grappled me.

“This ends today,” I whispered.

“Indeed it does,” he hissed, shoving me back.

Vill advanced—fast, slashing at my head. I closed hard.

We went off script: Forearm guards thudded. Blades whirled overhead, severing the puppet strings—all but one. My ankle remained bound.

I shoved Vill away. “Run!”

The puppeteer yanked. I hung suspended by one leg.

Vill stopped. “I’m not leaving you!”

A flashing blade severed my knee joint—I clattered to the floor. “What did you just do?”

Vill hoisted me up. “I’ll carve you another leg! Let’s go!”


About the author:

Marc A. Criley avidly read fantasy and science fiction for forty years before finally deciding to try his hand at writing. He and his wife “manage” a menagerie of cats at their home in the North Alabama hills. Marc maintains a blog at kickin-the-darkness.com and makes a lot of noise on Mastodon as @MarcC@wandering.shop and Post.news as @MarcC.


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(Art by Kevin Pabst)

My blade keened towards Vill’s exposed neck. He parried, grappled me.

“This ends today,” I whispered.

“Indeed it does,” he hissed, shoving me back.

Vill advanced—fast, slashing at my head. I closed hard.

We went off script: Forearm guards thudded. Blades whirled overhead, severing the puppet strings—all but one. My ankle remained bound.

I shoved Vill away. “Run!”

The puppeteer yanked. I hung suspended by one leg.

Vill stopped. “I’m not leaving you!”

A flashing blade severed my knee joint—I clattered to the floor. “What did you just do?”

Vill hoisted me up. “I’ll carve you another leg! Let’s go!”


About the author:

Marc A. Criley avidly read fantasy and science fiction for forty years before finally deciding to try his hand at writing. He and his wife “manage” a menagerie of cats at their home in the North Alabama hills. Marc maintains a blog at kickin-the-darkness.com and makes a lot of noise on Mastodon as @MarcC@wandering.shop and Post.news as @MarcC.


RECENT STORIES