Duncan's Last Day

By William Crooks

Just outside Menger City, the notorious Duncan Stewart Gang plots vengeance. On this night is the annual Solstice Festival, its Man-of-Iron Melee's prize a stolen sword. What hidden plans are fated to clash under the cold light of Menger's Second Sun? A coin is tossed - its side not yet called. But are there only two to call?

Walk with me well-wisher, o'er river, brook and stream, through forest, dale and thicket, where brutes and beasties teem.
Walk with me through village, through city, hamlet, town, where the honest cry and liars laugh, and kingdoms smile and frown.
Walk with me, companion, where magic flows like wine, as dragons fly and fairies sigh, arcanums intertwine.
All these things and else, friend, more tall tales than one can tally, await you, if you'd walk with me... Through that wondrous place: The Valley.

• Language: English
• Publisher: William Crooks
• Release date: Sep 15, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370020669

William Crooks

An avid reader of fantasy in my youth and a huge fan of Tolkien and Howard, I've decided to try my hand at short fantasy.

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Duncan's Last Day

Published by William Crooks at Smashwords

Copyright 2017 William Crooks

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Walk with me well-wisher, o'er river, brook, and stream,

Through forest, dale, and thicket, where brutes and beasties teem.

Walk with me through village, through city, hamlet, town,

Where the honest cry and liars laugh, and kingdoms smile and frown.

Walk with me, companion, where magic flows like wine,

As dragons fly and fairies sigh, arcanums intertwine.

All these things and else, friend, more tall tales than one can tally,

Await you, if you'd walk with me, through that wondrous place: The Valley.

The sun was soon to set behind the walls of Menger City; slung shadows stretched over the noise and hubbub of the city's annual Solstice Saturnalia.

The leaves rustled softly above as they sat around a small fire. Oaken trunks hugged them closely from every side. Duncan Stewart tore a strip off a half-cooked chicken leg with his teeth, wildly gesticulating as he spoke, sending the hot, fatty juices flying int o the forest and onto his nearby companions. His other hand grasped the hilt of his massive greatsword, its tip buried in the ground. Static blue charges spidered intermittently up and down the blade’s length.