Contributor: Amanda Firefox


“Forward!” The Colonel shouted, spinning blade of her clockwork buzzsword eating into the battlecries of her soldiers as they poured into the battlefield like a thousand copper scarabs. Rushing out to meet them, the ragged horde of the Fallen Sultan howled their own desperate sound, blades shining like tiny silver claws in the distant half-light. Kicking her augmented horse into gear, the Colonel rushed out among her men, stirred them on, as eager to take her first head of the battle as the Sultan’s men were to take hers.

Neither side was looking skyward. Neither side saw the aetherstream dragon swooping down toward them, mechanical lungs filling with fire, until it was too late.