Flashes of Courage and Spirit: The Saga of Sir Bryan, #4

By Eli Taff, Jr.

Book 4 of the Saga of Sir Bryan.

Sir Bryan is reeling from the impossible choice he made in the previous book, Flashes of Wonder and Woe.

 

Through the haze of his grief, the old knight is visited by a vision of his father, who tells him that all is not yet lost. Sir Bryan's quest to become a fabled Crystal Knight may yet be completed, and eternal glory and immortality may still be within reach.

 

Whether or not this vision is truly the spirit of his father, or perhaps a demon, or just a fractured part of his own damaged mind as he slips into madness, Sir Bryan does not know. Will this vision of his father lead him to salvation? Or damnation? And what will it show him along the way?

 

10 exciting dark fantasy flash fiction stories.

Eaxh story is exactly 500 words in length.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Eli Taff, Jr.
• Release date: Dec 22, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201929381

Eli Taff, Jr.

Eli Taff, Jr. is an author in the Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror genres. All his life, he’s lived through fiction, being a stage actor and director, as well as a lifelong video game player and miniatures wargamer.  He lives in California with his wife, Chelsey, and their two Pekingese pups and Parrotlet.

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

[In a corner table of a dark and seedy tavern, CAPTAIN JACOB GUTS ATHERTON nurses a mug with a few drops of rum sloshing at the bottom. He fumbles for his sword as he sees you approach.]

"Stay back! I told your master, the shipment’s landlocked in Trebellius Harbor! I’ll have your money in a fortnight, or my name’s not Zachary P. Aloalto!

"Where in hell’s bells is my sword-

Oh. That’s right. I sold it.

[Jacob looks at his mug.]

"For this.

"And I do believe I got the worse end of that deal.

Do you hear me, Zachary? Stop watering down my rum, you thief!

[Jacob gulps down the last of his drink and winces.]

"Aaaaagh!

"All right, I’m ready. What are we doing? Right. Old Isaac. So how does this work? Do you pay me now, or at the end?

"Gods, that reminds me, what book is this?

"Four?

"That’s fine. Then, I’ve got a bit more time before I come into the story.

"Now then. Old Isaac.

"Once upon a time in the golden halcyon days of yore, a god of mischief descended from the heavens and took the form of a giant horse’s ass, and he called himself Old Isaac. The end. Where’s my money? I’m starving.

[Minutes later, Jacob is stuffing his face with pickled marsh chicken and butter-fried caterpillars.]

"Thanks for the grub, mate. I’ll pay you back as soon as my ship comes in, hand to the Lady. And apologies for earlier. I get a bit cross when I’m peckish, and truth be told, I’ve not eaten in some time. I’ve been spending all my earnings financing Zachary’s tavern here, and as terrible as the rum is, I