Demi Gods

By Stacey Jaine McIntosh

What happens when you combine Demi Gods and Speculative Fiction?
You get a great many stories of wonder and intrigue with a dash of magic and scifi thrown in for good measure.

Featuring microfiction by:
Andrea L. Staum
Barend Nieuwstraten III
Claire Davon
Chris Hall
Dorian J. Sinnott
Jessica Wilcox
Jodie Francis
Kailey Alessi
McKenzie Richardson
Melody E. McIntyre

• Language: English
• Publisher: Iron Faerie Publishing
• Release date: Jul 23, 2022
• ISBN: 9798223591689

Stacey Jaine McIntosh

Stacey Jaine McIntosh is the author of ten short stories. "Freya" and "Blood Sacrifice" were published late 2011 and "Fallen Angel" published in 2012. "Life or Death", "Exiles of Eden" and "Morrighan" published in 2013. "Red" and "The Summer Girl" were published in June 2015 and "The Hunter Million" and "Shadows of Annwn" are due to be published later in 2015. She lives in Perth, Western Australia with her husband and four young children.

Book preview

The Silent Shade

ANDREA L. STAUM

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The fighting pits had tripled. The citizens needed entertainment and somehow blood-sports seemed to satisfy them. The problem was that there were limited competitors to choose from and the ring healers were starting to show signs of fatigue as they patched up the same fighters nearly every night. The betting was starting to dry up as the predictability of the outcome was apparent.

You could help a girl out, Amoret said as she watched one of her top performers fall to a guardsman who was fresh to the pit.

Rylon looked at her, the torchlight reflecting purple in his black hair. I don’t fight for sport.

The corner of her mouth lifted. No, you just kill for money. I could make the fight worth your while.

Shifting to face her, Rylon idly reaching for a drink from a nearby table. It’s not about the money either.

Then what is it? The challenge? The hunt? Amoret shook her head and twisted in her chair, draping a leg over the arm. No, for you it’s the prestige. The legend of the Silent Shade. The boogieman that has scared citizens for nearly two centuries.

One hundred seventy-five, he corrected. Dad did well for sixty years and I’m not that old.

What would you have done if you had had to make your own reputation?

Leaning closer to her, a hand resting close to her leg, he whispered. You tell me. You’ve been on the other side of my blade. Is the reputation deserved?

Gracious Host

ANDREA L. STAUM

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Amoret sneered. You’re right that you don’t belong to the fighting pits. It would never satisfy that emptiness.

Rylon smiled as a shiver ran through her. He had managed the mask well, but he had spent too much time in one place. His daggers were the only things of value left in his room. It’s not that I don’t feel anything, I just won’t settle for less than perfection. I’ll gather my gear and be gone by morning. You won’t need to worry about me anymore. Thanks for the hospitality. I’ll make sure Ma knows you were a gracious host.

Eternity’s Weight

ANDREA L. STAUM

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Rylon could see she wanted a thorough answer. There were a couple he could give, but there was only so much he was willing to reveal. She didn’t need to know that he was tired of losing the people he loved. He’d expected his father’s death because of his age, but losing Ehrendil a year later without having said goodbye had been too much. There was only one other person since then that had come close to making him feel love, but the problem of mortality remained an issue. That seemed to be a family trait falling for short-lived humans.

The New Man

ANDREA L. STAUM

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Rylon entered the kitchen area and stopped as he saw the tall man and his mother laughing at the counter eating. Rylon had to admit this man was an imposing figure, not many humans dwarfed his mother. Even with the difference of only a couple inches, she looked slight and almost fragile next to this mountain.

She looked up, the smile faltering a moment when she saw him. She recovered herself quickly and moved so their arms were no longer touching. I wondered when you’d get into town. She turned to the man at her side. Vandrin, this is my son, Rylon. Now you two play nice. I need to check on the arrangements for the upcoming assault.

Rylon watched as she hurried away, not missing the warning in his mother’s silver eyes, but there was something else in her gaze. It was something he had forgotten