Trials of the Red Wastes: Chapters 1 - 5
Born a child of Verdant, Anahete has been raised her whole life with certain expectations. Too bad they aren’t the right ones. In order to achieve her own ambitions, Anahete must undertake one of her peoples oldest rites into adulthood and coveted Citizenship, the Trials of the Red Waste. A year spent in the barren wastelands beyond Verdant’s borders with nothing but a small troop of other women and the resources they have at hand. They must survive together, forging bonds that will last a lifetime, or returning home in disgrace, if they return at all.
But there is more waiting beyond the dark horizon. Something waits to break the matriarchy of Verdant and claim her spoils.
Turncoats: Chapters 1 - 5
In Telicor a man is raised to know who he is and what life wants from him. Khonrad has lived with this in mind since he was a child at his father’s knee, and has never once balked at the expectations set on his shoulders. When his troops are sent through the Narrow, a tight passage through the Spirepass Mountains, Khonrad believes he knows what awaits him on the other side. For ages people have told fantastical stories of the wild women of the desert, the Verdani fighters, promising them to be both feral creatures and wanton damsels in need of a man’s touch. It is an amusing enough story for soldiers to entertain themselves with. But Khonrad and his fellow commanders quickly find the tales at odd with the striking reality.
As the mountain passage vanishes into the distance, this fallen warrior is left in a world he does not understand, struggling to hold onto his honor until he can return home again.
Smuggler’s Road: Chapters 1 - 5
Not everyone gets to live their life among the glittering towers and lush private gardens of the wealthy and affluent. For others, like Irez, life is a series of difficult and often dangerous choices. Ingratiated with the underbelly of Verdant, Irez takes advantage of the complex and overtaxed enthrallment system to her benefit by moving human cargo. But when a series of smuggling operations take a bad turn, she finds herself willing to take on bigger risks in order to stay ahead of the knife at her throat.
With nowhere else to turn and few she can trust, Irez must use her all her cunning to avoid the law, outlaws, and betrayal from within her own group.
