John Davis
Stories
4
Chapters
1,426
Words
411.5 K
Comments
0
Reading
1 d, 10 h
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Arthur jogged another track around the lower hive tunnels. This earned him a few looks from the stuffiest of the hive attendants and more than a few raised eyebrows from the nobles still hanging around, but he hardly cared. His running skill was at level 9, and he wanted to see what happened once he crossed the level 10 threshold. It turned out that taking the many, many staircases down from nearly the top of the hive at a quick pace had been challenging enough to quickly level that skill. And, as with…-
71 •
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Lost in his thoughts and self-recrimination, Arthur did not keep track of the conversation. He came back to it at Valentina’s sharp tone. “I need you to spread the word among the Sickness seekers. We need to know if there’s any sign of scourge in our uncarded.” “That would be a mistake,” Whitaker said. “Word will get out and introduce panic. Next thing you know, people will hide their disease—" Both leaders went very still. Then, as one, looked to the double doors. A moment later, the…
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71 •
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Arthur felt like he had been asleep for five seconds before he heard a knock at the door. He woke, bleary and disoriented at his new surroundings. It took him a startlingly long time to remember Kenzie had gotten him a room in the hive. It was small and by no means fancy. An inner room without a window. He was lucky that it came with a cot to sleep in. But he had lived in much worse circumstances. The knock at the door came again, and Arthur peeled his face off his pillow long enough to call out, "Yes?…
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71 •
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Shoving down the unmanly urge to turn tail and see if he could acquire a Something -- likely a nudge from his Gentleperson's Charm card -- made him say, "Cressida, how nice to see you this night--uh," he glanced at the sky which had a growing hint of dawn, "morning?" This earned him a scowl as she closed the distance between them. "Don't tell me you've been on the hunt, too?" "The... hunt?" "For cards!" she snapped, throwing her hands up in the air. "Not like there's any to go around here. Have you…
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71 •
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"Oh, decided you still work here, huh?" was Bob's greeting as Arthur walked in through the back kitchen door. Arthur shrugged. "Hive duties come first, Bob. You know that." "Don't play virtuous with me. I don't know what scam you're playing, but you've got no more eye on that damn egg than most of those nobles." Bob eyed him while he spoke, rubbing a dishrag over a mug that had been thoroughly cleaned. "But it was supposed to hatch today, right?" Arthur wasn't surprised that Bob had mostly figured him…
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71 •
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One of the girls let out a short, sharp scream. The nobles near the hatchling drew back in horror. One scuttled to the side so fast he toppled off the edge of the stage and fell with a crash. This created a cascade effect where everyone else hurriedly backed away. Within a few seconds, some outright ran for the door -- Valentina’s threats forgotten. Even Cressida gasped and did a half-shuffle-step to the side before she regained control of herself. Arthur stood stock still. Stunned. Valentina and…
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71 •
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"Lucky," Arthur heard from Cressida's direction. He shot a look at her and shrugged. He couldn't deny it. Some nobles had been working for weeks in duels and basic showmanship to earn the coveted honor to meet the hatchling when it emerged. Now, thanks to the whims of the hive leadership, he was in their place. Too bad there was zero chance of him linking with the dragon. Dragons could not link cards with people who held a higher-tiered card in their heart. From what he understood, the magic was too…
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71 •
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Arthur walked into the Rare hatching room, the site of the promenade, and stopped short in surprise. The last time he had been there, the line to stand in front of the Rare egg had circled the room. Many more noble scions and hangers-on had filled up the space in the middle, chatting and talking. That hadn’t counted those who had taken their socializing and arguments into the hive’s small dueling space to settle grudges. He heard the list of those allowed to spend time with the egg directly to…
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71 •
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By silent agreement, he and Cressida walked back towards the hive. Arthur's boots squelched with every step, but at least he no longer left a path behind himself of dripping water. A cold wind picked up out of nowhere — not unusual for the Wolf Moon hive, but it didn't feel good on wet skin. But he could endure. No, Arthur's first problem was that he didn't actually live in the hive with other nobles. The apartment he used to share with Horatio was several blocks away. Arthur's second problem was that…
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Kenzie waited until the exact second after Leader Valentina ascended to the upper ledge to rejoin the egg. Then she whirled on Arthur. “Ernest Kane?” The only response Arthur could give was a sickly smile. He was stunned, too. First by finding the dead dragon, second by the leader’s reactions and the confirmation that the tiny dark egg was a Legendary. And now against all luck and logic, Valentina had recognized him. He couldn’t keep his gaze from flicking up to the ledge. The leaders were…
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