by Joette M. Rozanski
in Issue 92, September 2019
Quality Likes to See You Grovel
Digger told her to just pop the eater’s head off his shoulders, but of course she wouldn’t listen. Hesper was a fair-minded woman with morals, which would someday, Digger was fairly certain, become her fatal flaw.
The eater, his dark hair turned red by the copper-colored dust that filled the air, staggered down the dirt road toward Hesper and Digger. The man’s clothes hung in tatters; his eyes were silver in a thin gray face and his fingers clutched at the air.
Their horses, Windplow and Ghost, stepped back.
“No use bein’ kind to an eater,” Digger said impatiently. “It’s a mindless flesh-eatin’ killer. An eater’s bite turns us into one of ‘em, so don’t take chances.”
Digger came from a family of undertakers, so he knew his way around death, natural and otherwise. But people didn’t often listen to him. He assumed it was because he was short; tall folk commanded respect, and respect was something only Hesper gave him on a regular basis.
Hesper jumped off her mount, pulled her sword from its sheath and waited for the creature to come nearer. Digger stayed out of the way. Hesper came from plain farm folk who didn’t believe in the finer points of not killing your partner by mistake.
Hesper walked forward and slammed the flat of her blade against the eater’s head. The man dropped onto the dusty road.
“Aw, Hesp,” Digger moaned. “Why?”
“I didn’t want to kill the poor guy. He’s already had a bad day, plus he’s no monster. Some wizard got to him.” She sheathed her sword. “Check him out. See if there’s a control on him.”
Digger shook his head and dismounted. “We were lucky this time. When they come in droves you ain’t got a chance.” He approached the eater’s body, bent over and closely inspected the unconscious creature. His nimble fingers plucked something from the eater’s right wrist. Warmth raced up his arm and then receded. “Here it is. A gold needle. That’s what the bastard wizard uses to control these things. I won’t give it to you, Hesp, ‘cause I’m feeling a nasty curse of some kind.”
The eater moaned but didn’t wake up. His face lost its gray pallor and became a healthy brown.
The sound of hooves behind them made Digger turn around, ready to stab a body if things got rough, but the arrival of several men in silver armor, mounted on huge war steeds, changed his mind. A smile would do. Groveling was a well-worn tool in his thieves’ box of talents, one especially appreciated by the elites of society.
Hesper stood up straight, pushed her braids back, flicked the dust from her steel chainmail, and waited. No groveling for her. Digger felt ashamed and wrapped his black cloak tight against his body.
The armored men stopped and looked them over.
“Not eaters at least,” the leader said. He was an imposing man with a carefully-trimmed brown beard. “You there, woman. Who are you and what’s your business here?”
“Who’s asking?”
Another armored man raised his sword as if to strike her, but the leader waved him back.
“It’s a fair question, Clemberend. I’m Captain Lownder of the Royal Protectors. We defend the nobility of this land.” He frowned. “At least we used to. And yourself?”
“My partner here has a cousin who ran the local mob but was driven out by what he called the wrath of the gods. We decided to take a look. That fella in the road behind you gave us a nasty welcome. Anyway, my name is Hesper and this is Digger.”
“I know those names,” Clemberend growled. “Worthless mercenaries looking to scavenge off their own. Feed ‘em to an eater, Captain.”
Captain Lownder’s hazel eyes regarded Hesper for a long moment and then he turned his attention to Digger, who looked away and bowed his head as humbly as he could.
“Not a bad idea, Clemberend, Let’s introduce them to Princess Snow.”
Clemberend smiled slowly. “Yes, Captain, let’s do that.”
As they were led away, Digger looked back at the former eater who lay in the road. The man suddenly sat up, looked around, stood up and waved.
“Thank you, lady!”
Digger looked at the soldiers around him, but the men couldn’t care less about the peasant who had gotten to his feet, only to fall down again.
If I Become Your Hero, What’s In It For Me?
Digger stood at one end of an oval chamber with walls that glittered like silver. Castle Cold was constructed of snow and ice; white mounds on the floor stretched and spiraled into arches and windows and pavements. The dull red light of early evening mixed with the glow of magical torches in their frosty sconces.
A single eastern archway had been fitted with bars, forming a cage in which an eater sat. She was a young woman dressed in soiled lavender silks. Her eyes bugged out from her face, and her fingers clutched the iron bars, shaking them as she howled.
Digger swallowed hard and ran his right hand through his close-cut black hair.
Hesper, each arm held by a strong Protector, looked down from the gallery which surrounded the top level of the oval room.
“Why are you doing this?” Hesper demanded. “Digger never wronged you. Why are you feeding him to that…thing?”
Captain Lownder solemnly regarded her. “Mercenaries you may be, but you aren’t commoners. You cured that eater in the road. If your thief wants to live, he’ll do the same for Princess Snow. If not for her, then for you.” He turned away and raised his hand. “Release her.”
Digger looked up at Hesper. Her lovely green eyes were filled with fear for him and his heart ached at her distress. He loved her, of course, but never told her, because love, as every thief knew, was dangerous; it made your head all screwy. Friendship was safer. Digger told himself that a lot.
With much creaking and groaning, the bars were raised on the eater’s cage and Princess Snow staggered out, heading directly for Digger, who began circling the room. The princess scrambled after him.
He dodged her and sprinted away, but she was hot on his heels. She growled and saliva poured from her mouth. Digger wasn’t a brave man or a hero, but he possessed a high regard for his own hide; if saving the princess got him and Hesper out of here, then so be it.
Again and again the princess lunged at Digger and each time he danced away, swirling his cloak about his body. The princess paused; she raised both arms and made a puzzled growling noise. Digger saw what he was looking for.
He seized the princess’s right arm and, quick as a crow snatching up a favorite tidbit, plucked out a gold needle, which he slipped into his money pouch before the princess collapsed into his arms.
The mindless monster transformed into the slim figure of a twenty-something girl with long curly brown hair and skin as whole and clear as a peach’s. Digger laid her gently upon the floor.
“I think she’s safe,” he called. “Probably. Almost sure.” He gazed up into the gallery. “Don’t you want to make certain she’s all right? Isn’t that what you do?”
No one said a word.
At Least Look Like You Care
The next day Hesper and Princess Snow, followed by Digger and Captain Lownder, walked around the castle courtyard and watched several Protectors practice their archery. The thwok-thwok of arrows hitting wooden targets was a comforting sound to Digger’s ears; he imagined Lownder being hit with several score and bristling like a hedgehog.
The princess wore a long blue robe trimmed in white fur; she linked her arm with Hesper’s.
“I thank you and your thief for saving my life,” she said. “A happy ending to my sad story.”
“Which is…”
“It began with the end of the world,” Captain Lownder said from behind the Princess.
“We’re still here,” Digger said. “Can’t have ended.”
“We’d have noticed,” Hesper concurred.
Princess Snow sighed. “Actually, the gnome’s arrival signaled the end.”
“Gnome?” Hesper asked. “Digger and I know a few gnomes. What’s his name?”
“Rump. An apt name but not his real one as I’m sure you know.” She frowned prettily, as only a real princess could do. “So frustrating! If we discovered his name, he’d be forced to grant us a wish. We’d make all the eaters go away and restore our realm. I curse the day he visited King Jovender, just over a month ago.”
“Wait a minute.”
They stopped and watched Digger pull the golden needles from his backpack.
“Did he offer your King a wench who could spin straw into gold? That’s what these are. They ain’t needles, they’re straws!”
“I remember him,” Hesper said. “He and his partner pulled that scam in several kingdoms. Rump would turn the straw into gold and his Spinner, Violet, could make all sorts of things out of it. At least for a couple of months, and then gold became straw again, while the two of them were long gone.” She frowned and stared up at the copper sky. “What was his name, Digger? Your buddy the royal spy told us in the pub.”
“Humpledink. Rumbledum. Something like that.”
Digger honestly didn’t care, but he knew Hesper did. And if she cared, then he was forced to pretend that he gave a damn as well.
Captain Lownder shook his head. “He came to our King Jovender with a similar offer. The King laughed, gave him a few pennies and sent him on his way.”
“Aaaaand…” Digger prompted, stifling a yawn.
“Huge red clouds poured into the sky several days later. Heavy rains of frogs and locusts and blood. Then the eaters began roaming the land, a curse upon all good and holy things.”
Hesper smiled. “Rump came back.”
“With a new pal,” Digger said. “Shadow Wizard?”
“Oh yeah. If anyone can stage world’s end, it’s our friends the Shadow Wizards.”
“I’ve heard of them,” Princess Snow said. “Who or what are they?”
“Shadow Wizards originate from the Island of Nightmares. Long story short, they want to wipe humanity from the earth and transform life into unlife, with the Wizards as rulers.”
“That explains much. Rump has a chamberlain named Wicksnuff, a terrible man, his face like a serpent’s, his head covered with a black hood. The two of them stormed King Jovender’s castle with their army of flesh-eaters and threw my liege and his nobles into the dungeon.” The Princess’s eyes became frosty at the memory. “The disgusting Wicksnuff had the gall to propose to me! Naturally I spurned him, so he transformed me into an eater. My family, too. Every week the Wizard removes the straw from my arm and proposes again, but I always say no.”
“Good for you,” Hesper told her. “You’ve got moxie.”
“But why’d he want the Princess for a wife?” Digger asked. “Shadow Wizards ain’t romantics.”
Hesper gave the Princess a sly look. “Necromancers steal power from other magic-users, or so I hear.”
Princess Snow laughed. “How did you guess?”
“I’m not dim. Takes a lot of magic to maintain this castle. If he possessed your power, he could do whatever he liked to this and surrounding realms.”
A Pretend Friend is Sometimes Better than the Real Thing
Digger didn’t like how events were unfolding and wished he and Hesper could light out, leaving these dunderheads to figure things out for themselves. Then he caught a glimpse of Captain Lownder gazing at Princess Snow like a lovesick fool and relented. After all, now was the time to offer concerned friendship and hope to be rewarded with more than gratitude. If Hesper insisted on seeing this adventure through, then maybe there’d be gold at the end of it.
“So what’s your story, Lownder?” Digger asked, faking sympathetic interest. Hesper smiled and nodded, which told him he was on the right track.
“The Protectors of Royalty, meaning us, were officially disbanded and became hunted men. A few tried to save the people from those fiends, but King Jovender’s castle teems with eaters and human traitors; we can do nothing.”
“I want to know why Digger was unharmed by the golden straws,” Princess Snow said. “Anyone else is burned to a crisp when they’re touched.”
Digger smiled bashfully. “My granddad was a necromancer. Blessed me with protections on my naming day. Handy for a…um…finder of lost treasure like myself.”
“But necromancy isn’t easy. Evil wizards can’t just wave their hands and create an army of eaters. Am I right, Digger?”
The thief nodded. “Yeah. Necromancers create ’em one by one. Usually with a control like a collar or chain.” He contemplated the straw in his hand. “But Rump can make bunches of these things by having his Spinner grind ’em out. You’ll have an army in a week with talent like that workin’ for you.”
“What can we do against such foul magic?” the Captain asked.
“Since you’re not cooperating with him,” Hesper said to the Princess, “maybe we can give him someone who will.”
“What are you suggesting?”
“We have to get into that throne room somehow. I’ll be Princess Enchanting, a sorceress Lownder hid from the Shadow Wizard. He can bring me in and try to cut a deal for his own safety.”
“And then what?”
“If we knew Rump’s real name, we could disrupt his magic over the eaters, but killing him is good enough.”
“I’ll look like a traitor,” the Captain said.
Princess Snow laid a loving hand upon her Protector’s arm.
“You’re a hero to me, Captain. That will never change.”
Digger nearly rolled his eyes, but restrained himself.
Hesper turned back toward the castle. “That’s settled. Princess, do you have anything in your closets that will fit me?” She glanced at Digger. “And my maid, of course.”
Digger’s mouth fell open but no sound came out.
Deception for High-Minded Purposes Can Make You Look a Right Fool
Early next morning, Captain Lownder sent a message to Jovender Castle, a two-hour ride to the east. By midday they had their answer: Bring the captive Princess Enchanting as soon as possible to His Majesty Rump.
“His Majesty!” Lownder snarled as they waited for Princess Snow’s carriage. “Let us go now and end this farce.”
Digger smoothed his skirts and sighed. Why did good deeds always make him look ridiculous? Then he straightened his back and set his mouth in a determined manner, as if deception for high-minded purposes was second-nature to him. Lownder looked at them approvingly and this pleased Digger, because the mook was beginning to trust them. All well and good for Hesper, but Digger had no problem slipping a dagger between the Protector’s ribs if he needed to.
Hesper, dressed in a pink satin dress belonging to Princess Snow’s great-aunt, and Digger, wearing a lilac-colored gown provided by the head house-keeper, entered Princess Snow’s carriage and began their journey to Jovender Castle. Captain Lownder and Clemberend, mounted on their war steeds, rode with them.
Digger stared out the window beside him. He and his companions were soon met by an escort of Rump’s men in black armor; these soldiers kept the eaters away by waving their hands at them, causing the cannibals to hide their faces, moan, and creep away.
Scores of eaters roamed aimlessly upon the road; their numbers increased the closer they got to Jovender Castle. The land looked arid and diseased, the crops blackened by sorcery.
Digger turned away and smiled at his companion. “You look real pretty in that dress, Hesper.” Sometimes Digger forgot that wanted to be nothing more than friends. Actually, he forgot that all the time.
“And you look great in that wig. Maybe you should grow your hair longer.”
Digger settled back against his seat. He’d grow his hair to his ankles for her.
As they rattled over the bridge that spanned the moat of Castle Jovender, Digger glanced out the window. Eaters were everywhere, so there would be no second chances.
The carriage stopped; they descended and Captain Lownder and Clemberend dismounted.
Rump’s soldiers took the Protectors’ swords and led Digger and the others toward the great double doors of Castle Jovender, an army of eaters following. Their footsteps sounded loud on the ichor-stained stone.
The Importance of Being a Nobody
Digger soon fell behind, feigning the removal of a pebble from his left boot. Nobody cared. Princess Enchanting was all that mattered, not her rather homely lady-in-waiting. If an eater happened to rend her to pieces—oh, well.
Digger learned long ago that you didn’t need a cloak of invisibility in order to be ignored. Just become someone unimportant, another piece of furniture, a rat in a shadowy corner, and you were good to go. This was one of the most important tools a thief could employ.
Last night, Princess Snow mapped out the throne room and its various hidden passages for Digger. Several hundred feet down a deserted hall, he pushed aside a tapestry depicting a floral garden; it cloaked the entrance of a passage that opened onto the gallery surrounding the upper half of the throne room. He took off his disguise and approached the railing that curved around the gallery.
“Hey, now!” a feminine voice whispered. “Who are you? An assassin?”
Digger nearly jumped out of his skin, then cursed himself for not being more careful. He turned around and saw the gnome’s Spinner, a skinny girl named Violet, dressed in brown flannel jacket and skirt. Her big green eyes regarded him with determination as she clutched a very large golden needle in her right hand.
“I know you,” she said. “You’re that thief we met in the northern marches. Digger. You better not be tryin’ to kill my partner. If you’re after the Shadow Wizard, that’s all right.”
“I ain’t got time for conversation, Violet. You and Rump made a real mess of things, didn’t you?”
“The Shadow Wizard threated to gut us and hang us on meat hooks if we didn’t do what he said.”
“Typical. That’s why…”
A commotion began in the room below, prompting Digger and Violet to rush to the railing and look down.
Hesper and the others stood before a large wooden throne, upon which a gnome wriggled nervously. Gilt-touched ivy curled across the back and arms of the royal seat. The gnome’s face was wrinkled and red as an autumn apple and his cone hat sagged across his left eyebrow. He tugged at the sleeve of his green jacket and wriggled some more.
The Shadow Wizard sat on a slightly smaller ebony throne. The Wizard wore black, his figure swathed in his velvet cloak, his face half-hidden by his cowl, but one yellow eye peered out at Hesper and his thin bluish lips curved up into a smile.
The throne room was large and cold; shadows hung like curtains from the vaulted ceiling. Two big windows on Digger’s right revealed the dust-filled copper sky. Eaters moaned and moved restlessly behind Hesper and her friends. Censors threw out clouds of sweet-smelling smoke, masking the odor of unwashed bodies.
Digger was supposed to slide down one of the tapestries that hung below the gallery railing and, with dagger in hand, slit the throat of the gnome. But maybe there was an easier way.
“Hey, Violet, what’s the real name of your buddy Rump down there?”
“I dunno. Gnomes don’t tell their names to anybody, not even their Spinners.”
Digger cursed under his breath. Why couldn’t he remember what the royal spy had told him? Rump disclosed his name to the spy during a drinking spree and the spy told Digger after the thief saved his life during a particularly acrimonious card game. Thieves always prized useful information like that, but Digger never thought he’d have to use it against a Shadow Wizard.
Rump began to speak and Digger needed to catch his cue. He slipped his dagger from his boot and listened intently.
“Well then, Flounder,” the gnome said. “You seek my favor by bringing me this so-called princess?”
The Captain said, “The name’s Lownder you little toad. As for seeking your favor…”
“Wicksnuff, I think I know this woman. I’m not sure from where, but I know her. She usually travels with a thief.”
Shadow Wizard Wicksnuff smiled cruelly. “Is that so?”
Rump regarded Hesper more closely. He snapped his fingers. “The northern marches. That’s where I met them. Where’s your pal? Sneaking around the castle?”
“Doesn’t matter,” Wicksnuff said, raising several golden straws in his right hand. “They shall serve us as all others do.”
Timing Is Everything, Except When It’s Bad
Digger swung one leg over the gallery railing. This was his cue.
In the next moment, he was dragged back. Violet hung onto his leg and looked up pleadingly.
“Don’t hurt him, Digger. We couldn’t help what we did.”
“Get off me! I gotta…”
A lot of shouting made Digger grab for the railing. He shook Violet away and once again tried to get over the barrier.
He was too late.
Yelling a battle cry, Hesper lunged at the Shadow Wizard, two of her hidden daggers clutched in her hands. Digger should have killed the gnome in that moment, but here he was, still in the gallery. Captain Lownder and Clemberend also had daggers in their hands, ready to hold off eaters and soldiers for the few moments needed. They looked up but Digger had missed his chance. As all thieves understood, timing was everything, and Digger had allowed himself to be distracted.
The Shadow Wizard stood up, raised his arms, and spread the dark wings of his cloak. Ribbons of shadow streamed from his fingers and wound themselves around Hesper’s legs, yanking her down to the floor. Other ribbons slithered up the legs of the Protectors, looping themselves around their shoulders and arms.
The shadows squeezed harder and Hesper dropped her daggers; her companions’ weapons clanged loudly against the white marble paving. One of Rump’s soldiers grabbed her arms and pulled her upright, setting her beside her friends.
“Maybe I can still jump one of ‘em,” Digger said. He looked around for Violet, but she had gone. He didn’t notice the shadows until they seized his shoulders.
His struggles were useless. The shadows threw him over the railing to the throne room below. Luckily, he remembered to grab the tapestry in time to break his fall. He landed with a thump in front of the Wizard and his dagger flew from his grasp.
Hesper looked at him, fear filling her eyes. “Digger! Are you all right?”
Digger woozily sat up. “Yeah. Sorry for screwing up, Hesp, but I don’t think our plan fooled him anyway.”
“You think so?” Rump asked. “Princess Enchanting? How stupid do you think we are?”
“Hooking up with a Shadow Wizard,” Digger said. “Pretty dumb, even for a gnome.”
Captain Lownder sighed. “And now we die.”
“Oh no, dear Captain.” The Shadow Wizard stepped down from his place beside the gnome. He walked to Hesper and raised several long golden needles before her eyes. Digger gasped and tried to get up, but more shadows coiled around his legs and held him fast.
“You shall be my servants,” Wicksnuff hissed. “When I slide these under the skin of your wrists, the descent into madness begins. I think I shall have you eat your partner first.” He chuckled nastily and stroked Hesper’s cheek with the needles. “A pity. Rump, doesn’t she have pretty skin?”
A Good Memory Can Save Your Life
Digger’s rage at seeing that abomination touch his partner melted away as he remembered a certain day in a pub two years ago.
“Hello!”
Hesper and the Shadow Wizard looked toward Digger, whose eyes were wide and staring.
“Rumplestiltskin!” he whispered. Then louder: “Your name is Rumplestiltskin!” He threw back his head and roared, “RUMPLE-LORD-LOVE-A-DUCK-STILTSKIN!”
The gnome shrieked. “He’s got me, Wicksnuff!”
“Make a wish!” Hesper yelled.
The Shadow Wizard, murder plain in his yellow eyes, hesitated a few heartbeats too long before making a move toward the gnome. Digger pointed at Rump. “I wish that all your magic be undone, Rumplestiltskin!”
Immediately, the needles in the Shadow Wizard’s hand turned from gold to straw and then into dust. He screamed in fury, but he’d lost the gnome’s magic and the power it gave him in the material world. His eater army collapsed, the silver mist melting from their eyes. Rump’s soldiers took off running.
Digger watched the shadows fall from Hesper’s ankles and wrists, even as his own misty chains disappeared. She pounced upon the Shadow Wizard, her fingers grasping for his throat. Wicksnuff scrambled away, leaving his cloak in her hands, and then whirled himself into a dark cloud which snaked toward an open window and wafted away.
Digger scrambled to his feet and seized the gnome by his neck. Rump struggled and gasped.
“Shall I end it?” Digger asked Hesper. He was greatly annoyed at Rump causing him so much trouble and threatening Hesper’s very life. Killing was too good for him.
“No!” a voice cried from behind the throne.
Spinner Violet stepped into view, wringing her hands.
“Please don’t hurt him. Wicksnuff forced us to help him.”
“It’s true!” Rump choked, grasping at his collar. “Let me go!”
“He must pay for his crimes,” Captain Lownder said. He swept his arm at the people behind them as they groaned and struggled to their feet. “The horror they suffered!”
“Look outside the window,” Hesper told him.
The copper clouds had disappeared, replaced by a blue summer sky now filled with singing larks and thrushes. The breeze smelled sweet with new-grown grass.
“They couldn’t help themselves any more than Princess Snow. Both were in the clutches of a Shadow Wizard.”
“Yeah, how’d that happen?” Digger asked, setting the gnome upon the floor.
“Met him in a tavern after my last audience with the king,” Rump told him as he adjusted his jacket. “He wanted to pull a raid on Jovender Castle and needed help; nothing horrible, he promised, which I should have guessed was a lie, he being a Shadow Wizard and all. But I thought, why not? I was smarting over the last time the king laughed at me and I wanted a little…revenge, I guess you’d say. Didn’t know Wicksnuff planned to make this realm a living nightmare.”
“King Jovender!” Captain Lownder cried. “Do with the miserable gnome as you wish. We must rescue our liege.”
He and Clemberend rushed from the throne room. Digger smiled at Violet.
“I suggest you find a new line of work. Meet a better class of people.”
The girl nodded. “I will. If we see another Shadow Wizard, we run the other way.”
You Can’t Eat Esteem
Princess Snow’s kind blue eyes regarded her rescuers fondly as they sat at dinner the next evening.
“You saved me from being married to that beast,” she told Hesper. “And you restored my king and country. I want to do something for you and your companion. Just say the word.”
“Money is a good word,” Digger suggested.
Princess Snow laughed. “You shall have bags of it, my friend. I hope my high regard also means something to you.”
Digger nodded. Royal friends were always useful, especially after prompt payment.
Don’t Push Your Luck
After several days, Hesper and Digger decided to move on in the general direction of the northern marches. Rump and Violet, riding on a small black pony provided by Princess Snow, joined their party. Captain Lownder accompanied them as far as the line of ancient oaks that marked the boundary of the northernmost portion of the kingdom.
“You are always welcome here, Hesper,” he said, as they paused to look back at the white spires of Castle Cold. “Without the criminal element, of course.” He glared at Rump, Violet and Digger.
“Thanks so much,” Digger said.
Hesper laughed. “I think I’d like that, Captain. You know how to entertain a girl.”
Captain Lownder smiled for the first time. “I have my good points.”
“Show ’em to Princess Snow,” Digger grumbled. “Let’s go, Hesp.”
The captain saluted them and rode back down the road that led to the castle. Digger turned around to look at Rump and Violet.
“What now? More scamming?”
“Nah. Violet wants me to go straight. I have a brother who’ll introduce me to a shoemaker, so who knows.”
Violet shuddered. “I hope the Shadow Wizard doesn’t come looking for us.”
Digger shook his head. “Don’t worry. With Shadow Wizards, it’s ‘once thwarted, twice shy.’”
Hesper had ridden ahead and Digger urged his mount beside hers. Just before he reached her, a stray sunbeam formed a halo around her head and sparkled on her armor. She looked so lovely in her chainmail.
“I love you, Hesp,” he whispered.
“I know.”
Digger blinked several times. Did she speak or did he imagine the words?
He was afraid to ask; as his granddad the necromancer once told him when confronted by an angry demon: “Don’t push your luck, boy.”
It was enough. For now, it was enough.
©September 2019, Joette M. Rozanski
Joette M. Rozanski‘s work can be found in the anthologies Sword and Sorceress 13 and 26; Nights of Blood 2: More Legends of the Vampire;Such a Pretty Face: Tales of Power and Abundance; Mother Goose Is Dead; It Came From Her Purse; Tomorrow’s Cthulhu; and Strangely Funny. This is her first appearance in Swords & Sorcery Magazine.