C. A. Hawksmoor

Sibling rivalries can be intense, extreme, and even deadly. Sent to kill the Red King and take the spoils of his lands back to the North, Mercher intends to follow his orders to the letter. But after meeting the brother of his master, he veers slightly off course, instead opting to bring the man in for his lord to decide his fate. Traveling makes for conversation and from conversation comes a connection--and from there, Mercher finds that fate may be taking him in a different direction entirely...

This story tells the tale of a journey. And not only does it do so in the literal sense as Mercher and the Red King travel to the North, but it also reflects a journey of both men as they learn more about each other and themselves. The character development is very strong here, and the dynamics that comes across in a short story like this are definitely worth noting.… (mehr)