Rob's Choice: Season Avatars, #5.5

By Sandra Ulbrich Almazan

A short story of about 6,000 words, set in the world of the Season Avatars after Summon the Seasons.

All his life, Rob has wanted to dedicate himself to the God of Summer. But when he tries to do so, he discovers the Four Gods and Goddesses of Challen have different plans for him. How can he serve Them and his own wishes at the same time? And what does his strange vision have to do with the barren country of Selath?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Solar Unicorn Publishing
• Release date: Jan 5, 2019
• ISBN: 9781944437077

Sandra Ulbrich Almazan

Sandra Ulbrich Almazan started reading at the age of three and only stops when absolutely required to. Although she hasn’t been writing quite that long, she did compose a very simple play in German during middle school. Her science fiction novella Move Over Ms. L. (an early version of Lyon’s Legacy) earned an Honorable Mention in the 2001 UPC Science Fiction Awards, and her short story “A Reptile at the Reunion” was published in the anthology Firestorm of Dragons. Other published works by Sandra include Twinned Universes, the sequel to Lyon's Legacy; Seasons' Beginnings, Book One of the fantasy Season Avatars series; and several science fiction and fantasy short stories. She is a founding member of Broad Universe, which promotes science fiction, fantasy, and horror written by women. Her undergraduate degree is in molecular biology/English, and she has a Master of Technical and Scientific Communication degree. Her day job is QA Representative for enzyme company; she’s also been a technical writer and a part-time copyeditor for a local newspaper. Some of her other accomplishments are losing on Jeopardy! and taking a stuffed orca to three continents. She lives in the Chicago area with her husband, Eugene; and son, Alex. In her rare moments of free time, she enjoys crocheting, listening to classic rock (particularly the Beatles), and watching improv comedy.  

Book preview

Rob’s Choice

THE SUMMER AVATAR AND the Fip Avatar of War have summoned you, Master Robert. The footman sneezed as he picked his way through the narrow garden. He must be new if he gave Rob’s parents their formal titles when no one else was present.

Is it about the Fip letter? Rob asked as he added more soil to the pot of thyme he was transplanting. His youngest sister had spotted the imperial seal when a special messenger dropped off the letter, though she hadn’t been able to learn what it was about.

It’s not for me to say, sir.

Rob had expected as much, but he had to try. What would my Fip relatives want with me? It’s not like I’m eligible to become the next emperor, and I’d rather serve Challen’s God of Summer than the Fip God of War. Maybe this is about something else. Whatever it was, it had to be important.

He didn’t bother wiping the dirt from his jacket sleeves before heading inside to the study, chilly and dark by comparison. Mother sat in the windowsill, the sun bringing out highlights in her still-auburn hair. Father occupied the chair by the desk. The opened envelope lay next to him, the Allweapon in dagger form on top. The Allweapon glittered like it had been covered in rainbows, making Rob scowl. No weapon, even if it was a divine artifact, should look so beautiful, especially since he was the only one who saw the glowing dots.

Ever since he was little, he’d seen things no one else could see, and the other children at the One Oak had teased him about it before Aunt Gwen had told them Rob had a magic she couldn’t identify. He’d been twelve before she finally told him a crystal shard