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‘Appeal’ Stratagem

(17:3:22:10:03:05.0)

Bombi finally pulled free of the paralysis; it was the extra glance at Twixit’s tortured unconscious face that did it. She didn’t want to cause pain, though it should exist. She wanted others to feel it as she had, but Twixit’s suffering was different, not the pain of draining hope in a life of servitude. Her agony had knocked her out, and there was no way to think about what she’d done if she wasn’t awake. The young runner grabbed the Win Stater by the shirt and, before Chagrinn could look down and yell at her to stop, wrenched the woman away from the stone.

Her corrupted arm emerged from the crevice, which reversed its accursed elasticity. If it made a sound at all in the process of retracting it was drowned out by Chagrinn’s startled grunt. His reflexes were more than admirable, as he managed to keep hold of it as it transitioned from rope back to arm. Bombi’s mentor wound up standing right next to them, holding Twixit’s elbow like he was gallantly escorting her to a fancy ball. Continue reading →

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‘Free Morphib’ Stratagem

(17:3:22:8:50:32.3)

Bombi lunged back to Morphib, grabbed his stuck foot, and wrenched it loose.  Both she and the creature tumbled backward.  Bombi bounced off a leaning lily pad, but was stopped by Chagrinn’s vice grip on her shoulder.  She looked past him, and the pain of his grab, to see Morphib stumbling back and forth across the stone. Continue reading →

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‘Leave Morphib’ Stratagem

(17:3:22:8:50:32.3)

Pity cannot be my choice here, she realized.  There are creatures everywhere that deserve pity.  I could run back to the city right now and use my duplication to free all those in servitude.  If I do it once I should always do it, at every chance.  There would be no speed.  I would be dragged down by every pair of desperate hands.  If Morphib wants out he’ll need to learn to make decisions, no matter how painful. Continue reading →

(Back to Start)

‘Assistant’s Tool’ Stratagem

(17:3:28:4:41:1.3)

Bombi’s fury had built for days, but she needed to control it.  Now that she had it, now that she was free of the melancholy of her old life, she could hold onto it.  It would still be there ten runs from now.  It would still be there if they had the world record, so she hopped down and made a lunge for the assistant’s tool rather than the Win Stater. Continue reading →

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‘Hieron’ Stratagem

(17:3:28:4:41:1.3)

            Hieron was moving.  He rolled to his knees and elbows and crawled out of the cell, toward the assistant’s tool.  Bombi leapt off the cot and out the open door.  She bounded to the wall, grabbed the hilt of her sword, and rushed back just as the man reached for the tool.  She grabbed him by the back of his shirt collar and pulled up. Continue reading →

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‘Astrolabe’ Stratagem

(17:3:22:11:38:6.6)

Bombi drew her seafoam sword and pointed it at the whispering rock of the shore.  She was at least familiar with that land; it would be easier for her to navigate and understand.  If she came face to face with lampworms or vagrants again, it could be handled.  Whatever knowledge they were after, it might help her understand Chagrinn.  If she could think like a speed runner she might not even need his stingy guidance anymore. Continue reading →

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‘Swarm’ Stratagem

(17:3:22:11:38:6.6)

Bombi drew her seafoam sword and pointed it at the amber boulder.  Monsters were surely dangerous, but Bombi could appreciate open danger.  The monsters of her old life had insisted on the illusions of comfort and civilization.  The amber swarm would respect her by baring nothing but teeth. Continue reading →

(Back to Start)

‘Back-Dash’ Stratagem

(17:3:22:8:30:14.7)

If she didn’t learn to go faster she would always be baggage to Chagrinn, like a paperweight or a coatrack, something to hold down switches or hold onto items so the real speed runner would have his hands free.  The stuttering back-dash meant she could keep up with him. Continue reading →

(Back to Start)

‘Duplication’ Stratagem

(17:3:22:8:30:14.7)

“The world could always use more flowers,” she said, startled by her own sudden smile.  Smiling was so rare for the girl that a full earnest one felt like a paper cut across her face.  She suppressed a giggle.  It was clear by Chagrinn’s expression that her happiness made no difference to him, but the smile wasn’t for him anyway.  It was for the ability to make real choices.  She saw now that so many choices in her life had been false; if the options available weren’t equally valid, how was there a choice at all? Continue reading →

(Back to Start)

‘Flickering Flame’ Stratagem

(17:3:22:7:23:49.0)

There was something different about this nudge.  It was hot; it struck the inside of her sternum like a red iron.  It promptly exploded into a blazing rage the likes of which she had never felt.  She’d been furious with Chagrinn for disrespecting her uncle’s body and pen, she’d hated her employers nearly constantly, but what burned inside her at that moment was animalistic.  She was a lion with a brilliant orange mane, roar and lick of flame identical in sound.  After seeing the seams of Shook and Cain she finally understood what the boundaries of her cage were.  She finally knew her back was against the corner and there was no choice left but to lash out. Continue reading →