The Ridgeback Climb The trail ran uphill through a patch of dry trees burned black in some not-too-recent fire. The afternoon’s accumulated heat chewed from the ground through the soles of my boots. Examining the satchel the Higher Speaker had given me, I found dried fish and wads of

The Lady Ienith In a lengthy column the To’mean army marched from the gates of Kia’i Ku’ao. Singing, backslapping, chattering gaily in formation. The morning was warm despite our altitude and the Sun lit up the soldiers’ kapa cloth packs like white seashells. Flowers in the forest

Kia'i Ku'ao I woke when the cart rattled to a stop. My eyes shot open but my brain was still swimming towards consciousness, grappling with the commotion of men unloading gear mere feet from me. I sat up on the rough lumber bed to see the

Chapter Two: The Battle of Keneke Beach It was a war of unification. This much I was able to glean from those Royal Red Tigers who’d been ashore long enough to know. No one could say how many islands were bound in the Kane chain from To’mea to

Chapter One: Debarking “There’s a new wrinkle,” Piero explained as I lowered myself to the red satin chair. “What’s that mean?” “War in the islands.” “There are so many. Someone’s always at war.” “This is more. A major re-alignment. They say To’mea may fall.” “This your

Monarchy Each stroke of her crescent tail drove Hennessey towards the cove she had selected for the birth of her insistent pups. As the water shallowed, ocean waves calmed, and the water grew greener and warmer. The water held a marshy aroma of sulfur alongside the musty taste of minnows

Escape On the surface, Hennessey rocketed toward the deadly ring of chum and guns, made oblivious to the danger to her and her pups by the brain-numbing smell. The sea steamed with offal. The surface reeked with the death of her kind. As Hennessey hurtled forward, other sharks gave way.

Hunted Hennessey’s pups lurched like coals in her belly. Her muscles generated tremendous body heat with every tail stroke. Intricate loops in her blood vessels jealously kept this heat inside her, flouting the sucking cold of the water. So, her pups were constantly bathed in the warmth of her

Seal Reprise The clock of her hunger ticked as she loped northward, feeling colder the farther she moved. Being cold-blooded she perceived low ambient temperature as a slowing, an elongation of time rather than straightforward discomfort. But there was a plan in Hennessey’s actions. This was the northern-most point