The Guard of Woestynn: Woestynn

By E.M McConnell

Woestynn Prison is the most desolate prison planet of the Ruben System, a desert wasteland meant for the worst of prisoners.
Ford is a new recruit from the Academy, hoping to make a name for himself in this notorious place.

When arriving he finds more than he expects, and grows more than he could have imagined.

• Language: English
• Publisher: E.M.McConnell
• Release date: Sep 26, 2023
• ISBN: 9798224303403

E.M McConnell

Eryn was born and raised in Oxford, UK but nowadays lives in South Germany with their young family. They have a great dream to travel and visit all the great mountains and lakes of the world. They are a qualified History and English teacher, working freelance with international students.  They write both poetry books and fantasy stories. They have a particular passion for mythology and dragons!  They have been writing poetry since they were 16, including Middle-Earth fan poetry that has appeared in the Tolkien Society’s publication, the Amon Hen. They have also appeared in the Music Anthology from the Sweety Cat Press.  In addition to writing poetry they study with the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids to be a druid, and are working on two fantasy series. One of  which appears to involve steampunk, sky pirates, astral travel and lots of dragons, and the other has a more dystopian bent.  If you want to see more of their writing you can find them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ErynMcConnell.Writer/  Instagram www.instagram.com/erynmcconnellwriter  And Twitter too https://www.twitter.com/mcconnelleryn 

Book preview

The Guard of Woestynn

E. M. McConnell

E. M. McConnell

One of the marvels of the world: the sight of a soul sitting in prison with the key in his hand.

Rumi

Copyright © 2023 by E.M. McConnell

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical or electronic, including photocopying or recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, or transmitted by email, without permission in writing by the author. Reviewers may quote brief passages in reviews.

Edited by Kellen Seagrim

Other Works By The Author

The Sunset Sovereign

72 Hours

The Dust Collector

King of the Mine

Pilgrim

Contents

1.Induction

2.Chapter 2

3.The Desert Sees To That

4.Quarters and Conversation

5.First Days

6.The New Intake Arrives

7.Blood. And Screams

8.Aftermath

9.Chapter 9

10.Trouble At The Mines

11.A Chance At Promotion

12.Home Improvements

13.Chapter 13

14.A Guard At Last

About the Author

Induction

The new black uniform felt tight, his collar uncomfortably stiff and high. Ford tried not to fidget as he stood to attention, feeling nervous. He had been waiting for this day so long, it felt like, but now, here he was. What if he made a mistake? What if they sent him back to the Academy? No, they wouldn't do that.

The Warden eyed him from across the desk, his steel grey eyes like cold chips. Ford swallowed, hoping that he wasn't looking as nervous on the outside as he was on the inside. The man wasn't especially tall, but lean and strong. He looked like a coiled spring, ready to strike. Or like a snake. His hair was short, cropped to his head, and he wore small wire rimmed spectacles. His shirt was black, buttoned almost to the top, and his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. His loose attention to uniform protocol was at odds with his scrutiny, which still continued. Ford stared back, thinking.

Warden Feared, the inmates called him, and the name had stuck. Even in the Academy, the tutors and officers all spoke about Feared in hushed tones, as if he was a god among men. The man who had made Woestynn the best run prison, and the most dangerous for its inmates. He probably deserved a medal. Maybe he already had one, stashed on his jacket somewhere.

Ford wondered if he would ever look so impressive, so ready to take on the world. Perhaps one day, when he made it at last. An image sprung up in his mind of himself running a prison, with his own desk, and he had to bite back a smile. All in good time. All in good time.

Well, what's your name then? I may as well have one, if you're going to be here for a while.

I'm Guard Inductee Ford, Warden. I was third in my class during training and I am very proud to be assigned here.

The Warden waved off the greeting with his hand, looking away. His eyes roved over the papers that were scattered haphazardly over the desk, still reclining in his chair. The silence was heavy. Ford felt desperate to break it. He never had liked silence, or waiting. It made him nervous. More nervous, in this case.

He felt a bead of sweat running down from his head into his collar. This place was hot. He knew it was going to be hot, it being a desert, but this place was hot.

The Warden's eyes flicked back at last. Welcome to Woestynn Prison, then, Inductee Ford. You'll not find it so welcoming, perhaps, it's a bitter place. We currently have around four thousand inmates staying with us but we are expecting more to come in the next transport. You'll have two days to acclimate yourself before reporting for duties. My aide will organise you with the up to date security codes and IDs. Are you stamped?

Ford nodded. They had implanted him with the basic keys that he should need for the prison already, absorbed into his right palm. He still felt the burn of it, his hand twitching at the memory. Warden Feared spotted the motion and nodded. Good. That saves me time. Questions?

Ford cleared his throat. I do have one, Sir. I have of course read about the prison during training and intend to study the protocols during my induction time. But I couldn't fail to notice when I was escorted in, Sir. Are the cell doors… open?

The man laughed, his head back, his mouth wide open. There was a flash of teeth, whiter than expected. "What good is a prison where you have to keep everyone safe? I don't need to close the doors. The inmates who get to stay here are privileged. They've earned the right to be here, from the sweat on their backs, finding ore to pay for that cell. And then, when they move in, they