Pride of the Traveller

By Bryce Beattie

A travelling swordsman gets in over his head when he challenges a local authority.

It's a short story of about 4700 words. If you like the old sword and sorcery pulps (like Conan, Solomon Kane, etc.) this should be right up your alley.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bryce Beattie
• Release date: Aug 17, 2010
• ISBN: 9781452314037

Bryce Beattie

My name is Bryce Beattie, and I'm addicted to pulp. I got into it many years ago, and I just can't break free. When I was a kid, some careless adult left a tape with several episodes of "The Shadow" radio show lying around. After I listened to that, I was hooked. Pretty soon, audio just wasn't enough and I moved on to to the paperback stuff. At first it was just detective fiction, then I started reading old Conan stories and yarns about John Carter of Mars. Now I'm pretty hopeless. I tried to quit once, but soon afterward put on a lot of weight, so I started back up. Now, I'm so deep into pulp fiction that I write my own.

Book preview

Pride of the Traveler

by Bryce Beattie

© 2012 Bryce Beattie

Smashwords Edition

The Traveler’s Fortune

The thick curtains parted and the traveler entered the tent. An old woman was removing talismans, scarves and necklaces from ropes attached to the tent’s poles. It smelled of incense and wax. In the center of the tent was a rickety table and two stools.

Come in and sit. The old gypsy motioned to a worn stool in the center of the room. I am Drabardi Fawe. Who are you?

The man sat on the stool. I’ve been called ‘Key’ since I was eight or so.

The woman put the last of the scarves in a trunk and sat on the other stool. Well, Key the traveler, if you arrived later one hour, I would be gone. But you’ve caught me. What can I do for you?

The man outside said you tell the future.

She shook her pointer finger in the air. No, no, no. The deep lines on her face stretched as she smiled. He said I tell fortunes, not that I see the future.

Key smiled back. Is there a difference?

Oh, yes. She put her hand on the table. Yes, indeed.

In that case, Drabardi Fawe, read me my fortune.

I’ll get some things. You wait.

Key marveled at how swiftly and gracefully she moved as she left the