“If you stop to think about it, we’re never going to get this done.”

Lorcan gave Neda a measured look, “And that’s a bad thing?” But he kept coiling the rope, counting out the knots in his head. “There might be another way.”

“We don’t have time,” Neda had gotten to fifty before him and was already lashing the rope to her pack. “If Bethany and the others think of something, they’ll take care of it. But for now,” she tugged on the straps to test the hold, “we’re the only chance they have of escaping the stormfront.”

“But we’ll be dead.”

Neda stopped, turning to give him her full attention. Lorcan didn’t look up from his counting, but he tensed in anticipation of the blow, eyes carefully averted. He hadn’t meant to say it, but the closer they got to the eye of the storm the looser his hold became.

There was a long silence and Lorcan cursed his lack of control. Neda wasn’t as bad as her father or her father’s father, but the Vocina temper bred true; thirty generations of dilution had done little to calm that fury. When she finally spoke, he braced himself against the expected pain.

“I rescind your oath.” Formal words, spoken in a language he’s assumed long dead, and he stumbled backwards in shock, feeling the collar crack. “I unbind your service.” The magic rose around them, cutting storm winds into a whirling vortex. “I release you, do as you will.”

And with that, six hundred years of servitude ended.

These snippits are copyright Martha McMahon Bechtel and may not be reproduced or distributed without express permission. All rights reserved.

Technotari Tags: Fiction, Fantasy

“I hate mornings.”

“No you hate having to get out of bed when it’s cold.” Kevin pointed out, “You had no problems getting up ungodly early when we were living in the islands.” He handed her a bowl of oatmeal as she glared at him.

“That wasn’t getting up early, that was getting up late.” Trish poked the oatmeal with a spoon, then sighed and started eating. “I hate mush too.”

“It’s nutritious mush, and when did I start being your mother?”

“When she turned off my alarm clock.” Bethany gave her daughter a less than amused look as she exited her own sleeping compartment. The planets low-g made moving inside the ship into a complex dance of vectors.

“You needed your rest!”

“What I needed was eight hours sleep. I got twelve.” Bethany took the offered bowl of oatmeal with a nod of thanks and slid into the dining nook with a practiced twist. “So how much did this cost us?”

“Lady Deep is a leviathan, not a whale.” Kevin pointed out, “She’s not going to leave just because we’re running a bit late.”

“I just wish she’d migrate already,” Trish tossed the now empty oatmeal bowl into the galley sink. “I miss the tropics!”

“I’m sure she’ll take that under advisement.” Bethany’s fingers danced over the touchscreen, skimming through reports send from Earth. “Now suit up, we’ve got a long day ahead.”

These snippits are copyright Martha McMahon Bechtel and may not be reproduced or distributed without express permission. All rights reserved.

Technotari Tags: Fiction, Science Fiction