D.D. Ward is Writing

  I still didn’t know if this was real or a video game or if that distinction mattered. But I knew that this world definitely ran on video game logic. Because as soon as the confrontation was over, Leon arrived with his marines. When Lynn saw Leon, she ran to him. “Leon! You came for me!” Lynn clung to Leon as he directed his men. When there was a quiet moment, Leon looked at her and said, “I expect you will wish to return to your house.” Lynn shrank into herself, “I am a widow of the royal family of Hyperborea. I will be returned to my husband’s family, and they will select another male family member for me to marry.” “No,” Leon said, “You married under false pretenses. As Duke I am annulling this marriage. You were never married in the eyes of the law. As such, House Octavian is still your house and your family. And I suspect they will need a baroness shortly. So, this is fortunate.” “Annulled? You mean I can marry who I choose?” “I do. And I may have a suggestion in that respect...

Lynn led us to the poorest part of town. The builders had used wood for the structure here, and they stank of pine tar. The streets grew like weeds. They snaked between the buildings, narrow and twisted. I could hear the sounds of rats moving, out of sight. Fiona made a point of walking with her saber in hand and resting on her shoulder. “Is that necessary?” Lynn asked. “At this time of night in the Pig Market? Absolutely.” “The Pig Market? Do I want to know why it’s called that?” I asked. “You do not,” Fiona answered, “I will tell you that the actual meat market was never located here. And I will leave things there.” "Why is Wulfric hiding here?" I asked. "Because he's killing and eating commoners," Lynn answered. "There is a pile of bones next to his bed. He's hiding in the Pig Market because the city guard never comes here. So, he can kill without worrying about getting exposed. That’s why he wouldn’t tell us where he was staying. No more mystery. En...

Leon sat behind his desk; the letters spread out across it. His office was clad in rich cherry paneling. A globe sat on a mahogany filing cabinet. Two bottles of navy strength gin sat on the table beside him. The room smelled of gin. I suspected he had spilled a bottle and missed some in the clean-up. Leon sat, shaking his head. “The Barony of House Octavian has been here longer than Ys. It has been a part of the Kingdom of Ys since before the founding of the current government. I would hate to dissolve the House. But what else to do? This is high treason, conspiring with the enemy.” “It’s two people,” I objected, “The letters make it clear that nobody else from House Octavian knows the plot. They kept it secret to avoid detection.” “Yes, but it means deposing the baron, the Barony will need a new baron to survive. Lynn was the first in line for the title. But she’s married into a different house, a different kingdom. Next in line was your father, also a traitor we now know. Next are y...

I woke up in a much firmer bed than the one in which I’d become used to waking. I opened my eyes. The bed was a single and not a queen or a king. The bed was a beautiful, though simple affair. The room was as well. White plaster walls with wood beams exposed and reaching to the ceiling. A single wardrobe. A grandfather clock. A writing desk. And a weapons rack filled to overflowing with swords and similar tools of death. “Where am I?” I asked the room. I was certain though, that I knew the answer.   “You are in my bed, beloved.” Fiona said from where she sat in the corner. “Where’s Quincy?” I asked. Fiona pointed. Quincy lay curled up on my feet at the end of the bed. I relaxed. Then a thought occurred to men. “Where did you sleep?” I asked. “Beside you. Body warmth was necessary. You were in shock.” Thank you,” I said. “Now I know you are not doing well. Under any other circumstances, you would have turned that into an innuendo.” “I am doing well,” I said, “As long as Brianna...