Scion of Summer: #minithology

By N.D. Gray, Elizabeth Knollston, E. Prybylski and M. L. Akin

WHAT SACRIFICE MUST BE MADE BY A SCION OF SUMMER?

 

A sister's life...

A prince's love...

A dryad's family...

A Gardener's future...

 

Set in the season of summer, when the sun warms the land and the fireflies twinkle through the twilight, the stories in this anthology are about bargains made and magic spun. Worlds saved and hearts won.

 

But every bargain has a price, and every bargainer pays a cost.

 

SUMMER FIELDS WATERED BY TEARS GROW THE SWEETEST FLOWERS

 

M. L. Akin, N. D. Gray, Elizabeth Knollston, and E. Prybylski bring you four short stories about love and sacrifice in summer.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: 3 Feathers Publishing
• Release date: Jun 22, 2022
• ISBN: 9781947344228

Book preview

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

STORY ONE–TO CHOOSE THE SEASONS

STORY TWO—THE HOUSE OF ABUNDANCE

STORY THREE—ORCHIDS AND SUNSHINE

STORY FOUR—WILD LOVE

COMING SOON

COPYRIGHT

INTRODUCTION

SUMMER AND SCION. TWO BRILLIANT words upon which the stories in this #minithology are based.

Summer fills us with images of sunlight washing over meadows of tall grass and wildflowers. Afternoon heat soaking into the ground and lingering, as does the sun in the sky. Long evenings by the lake fading into twilight when fireflies and stars wink on, one by one.

Or afternoons on the beach, the lapping of the waves and warm sand covering bare toes.

Or summer heat wavering above city pavements and the sound of children running through sprinklers while adults fan themselves and pray their phones don’t overheat.

Scion may or may not be a familiar world. Some will know it means the offspring of a notable family. Others will understand it is the name for the offshoot of plants or trees. Little graftings or twigs that need now to take root.

Our stories are about summer and scions, but they are also, and more importantly, about sacrifice. About surrendering something we own, or something we are, to aid another. These acts are not necessarily large sacrifices played out on the world stage. Sometimes, the smaller ones make better stories. They feel more significant. Or sweeter. 

M. L. Akin spins a story of a summer prince who must choose a match from among a select group, though his heart lies elsewhere. E. Prybylski continues Ash and Paul’s story, and looks at what it means to follow our hearts when others wish us to go in a different direction. Elizabeth Knollston crafts a tale of sister love. My own story returns to the land of Shvaleadre where a woman is asked to make a bargain, and more. So much more.

Each of our stories reveals the common theme running through sacrifice. Love. Powered by the magic of summer, these stories of love transcend the realms they portray and give us eyes to see our own more clearly.

Fasten on your traveling pack, take up your walking stick, and journey with us over summer fields bursting with flowers watered with tears falling from the eyes of the scions of summer.

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ND Gray

June 2022

Camp Verde, AZ

STORY ONE

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Thanks to happy memories of wandering over the beaches of Lake Worster with her grandparents, M. L. Akin’ loves warm sand, but her favorite part of summer is when the trees are in full leaf. She loves the feeling of safety under the branches.

Her main character would be content in the safety of familiar love. Sadly, he must sacrifice his desire and choose a life partner from among the approved candidates. When the moment of truth arrives, he follows his heart, though he risks losing all to do so.

They ran through the field as if their lives depended on it, and maybe they were right. 

But as they crashed into the tall grasses, enveloped by tall tasseled stems, they forgot why they were running. They were safe now, together, in the green and yellow shadows that felt like some secret hideaway place from their younger days.

Soleil grinned for the first time that hour, sweat running down his face. Radiance grinned back, and tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear. They were finally alone.

I didn’t think we’d make it out of there, Soleil said. He held open his arms so that she could fold herself up into his embrace.

We really shouldn’t have, she admitted, closing her eyes as she snuggled up against the bare skin of his chest underneath his vest. 

Whatever words he was going to say fluttered away as he held her. For a moment, both of them felt cradled by the earth, held safe in a blanket of warm foliage.

But the planet still turned below them, and the stars still moved, and Radiance opened her eyes. They reflected those same stars back, and something else. 

We can’t stay here, she said, sitting up, her eyes fixed skyward.

I know, I know. But we can stay a while longer. He stroked her long hair, until it disappeared in the folds of her rumpled gown.

No, we can’t. Her voice hardened. He looked at her and saw the reflection of the sky and the clouds that had crept in, smothering patches of stars like puddles on a road.

He groaned.

You didn’t read the clouds already, did you?

She nodded solemnly, and tucked her hair behind her ear again.

I told you not to. Not tonight, at least.

You say that like I can just ignore them. She frowned. Aeromancy runs too strong in my family.

You can try, He said, a nervous smile crossing his face.

She ducked her head forward, this time allowing her hair to fall where it wanted. It shielded her away from his gaze.

I didn’t–I’m sorry. He sat up with her, cursing the clouds within the safety of his thoughts. He reached to put a hand on her back, but cheers in the distance stopped him cold.

She peeked out from underneath her hair. They must have lit the bonfire already.

Soleil bit his lip; it was beginning to get raw from the worrying of his teeth. If they stood up now, he knew they would be able to see the vibrant flames flickering in the distance through the trees. Maybe some of the iridescent banners would wind their way over here, reminding him of responsibility and duty and sacrifice and all the other things he tried to avoid the rest of the year.

Or maybe