The squinty-eyed troll could feel the thump-thump-thumping of feet on the bridge.  Something like a human boy. In other words, food. The footsteps pitter-pattered faster and faster. Then lighter, as if the boy was barely touching the bridge, preparing for a huge leap. No way was this free food getting away. The ravenous troll reached… Read more Three Coarse Meals

A clap of thunder rocked the train and shook its windows. Children squealed and mothers soothed their fears. The lamps flickered and Kaol muttered the words of the revealing spell under his breath. The incantation drained him but he continued until the shimmering curtain finally appeared in front of him. It was invisible to everyone… Read more Glimmer of the Gods

Dear Diary, Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to buy this necklace from Monsieur Honoré. Not that it’s not beautiful. It’s gorgeous, with this iridescent stone shining on its silver chain. And it’s not that it doesn’t work. It works great. Evidently Mr. Honoré’s reputation is well deserved. Antique dealer? Ha! He’s more like… Read more Charmed

The beam of the lighthouse blares down upon the rocks. It warns sailors away, yes, but it also illuminates the sullen outcrop where you and I dance, a nightly ritual to ward off the angry spirits of those shipwrecked in the dark years before the lighthouse was built. We two are merely the latest. Dancers… Read more Missteps

What a commotion outside! The crows were screaming a warning of approaching danger. Merlin moved to the door. Now he could hear footsteps of one person wearing boots. As the figure came into view, Merlin raised his eyebrows. No wonder the birds were alarmed – they had never seen anyone dressed like this fellow! His… Read more Merlin Has a Cold

The girl who held the razor was no more than eleven. She wore a bright red robe with a hood that kept her hidden except for her prepubescent face and her hands. She was very careful and precise in the way she shaved the old man’s head and his wrinkled, lined face. She applied the… Read more Dragon in a Box

A long time ago the capital of Japan was Kyoto, the city of blossoms. The Mikado and his court lived in Kyoto, a place of beautiful shrines and temples. But the capital was troubled with many thieves and murderers who snuck through the city gates at night. Even worse were the evil imps, called onis,… Read more Raikou and the Shi-Ten Doji

There used to be three of us once: the winged, snake-headed Gorgon sisters. And then Perseus killed Medusa, the only mortal one, for the trifling purpose of rescuing an Ethiopian princess named Andromeda. In doing so, he used our dear sister’s severed head to turn a sea monster into stone. I might add that Cetus… Read more Revenge of the Gorgons