Minda's Daughter and the Man with the Empty Face: Land of Szornyek, #0

By Ariele Sieling

Thirty years post-apocalypse, Liah, daughter of the renowned survivor Minda, thrives in a nomadic community that navigates a monster-infested Earth. Her life changes when she meets Logan, a mysterious loner with deep knowledge of the creatures that now rule the wilds.

 

As Logan shares his unique understanding of which monsters can be used for food, he becomes an invaluable part of Liah's life. But it's not just survival skills he brings; sparks fly between him and Liah, offering a glimpse of new beginnings in the bleak wilderness.

 

"Minda's Daughter and the Man with the Empty Face" is a story of survival, innovation, and unexpected romance, proving that even in darkness, human connection and hope can flourish. Join Liah and Logan as they discover that some encounters can change the course of their lives forever.

 

This short story is a companion to the Land of Szornyek series and is set after "Minda's Account of the End of the World."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ariele Sieling
• Release date: Apr 30, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224300365

Ariele Sieling

Ariele Sieling is a Pennsylvania-based writer who enjoys books, cats, and trees. Her first love, however, is science fiction and she has three series in the genre: post-apocalyptic monsters in Land of Szornyek; soft science fiction series, The Sagittan Chronicles; and scifi fairytale retellings in Rove City. She has also had numerous short stories published in a variety of anthologies and magazines and is the author of children's books series Rutherford the Unicorn Sheep.She lives with her spouse, enormous Great Pyrenees dog, and two cats.You can find her work on Kobo, Amazon, Barnes&Noble, Apple, GooglePlay, and Payhip. Visit www.arielesieling.com for more information.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Liah wasn’t supposed to be out here, and she knew it. But she didn’t care.

It was almost fall, and the forest’s undergrowth grew lushly around her. She crept through the bushes, dodging broad leaves and wandering branches, peering carefully around her for any signs of gargs besides the one she hunted. Sweat dripped down her back; it was unreasonably hot for this late in September.

Faro told her one hunter had narrowly avoided a pod of levelek in this area, and Liah had heard they were delicious. Of course, she was supposed to be hunting deer, but at the moment, she didn’t give a garg’s ass how mad Kira would be. The monsters hunted deer and rabbits too, and if the human community relied solely on the meat of native species, everyone on earth—humans and animals alike—would be extinct that much sooner. Whereas, if they turned their attention to consuming the monsters roaming the planet, perhaps they could save themselves and the native animals at the same time.

Liah paused at the edge of a grove of birch trees, and a grin spread across her face. A half dozen smallish, muscley gargs with razor-sharp teeth and big goggly eyes congregated in the center of the clearing, all snuffling at something in the dirt. As smoothly and quietly as she could, she slid an arrow from her quiver and aimed.

She was about loose an arrow when a tall man stepped into the clearing.

Scram, he muttered to the critters. They chirped and hissed, but to her complete shock, scampered off into the trees without another glance at the stranger in their midst.

What did you do that for? Liah exclaimed furiously, shoving her way through the bushes into the clearing. That was our dinner! She stabbed her arrow back into her quiver and put her hands on her hips, glaring up at the man. He was quite tall, she noted. With thick black hair and deep, deep brown eyes she felt like she could get lost in—or rather, she could, if he hadn’t just scared off dinner.

She frowned at her own thoughts. She would not be taken in by this man who ruined her hunting expedition.

The man met her eyes, but his face remained expressionless. You eat them?

Her frown deepened. Why didn’t they bite you?

They eat humans? he asked, as if confused.

Of course they ate humans! All monsters did! Who was this guy? An idiot? Had he been asleep for the last thirty years?

With a loud, frustrated huff, Liah turned and stomped through the trees. Now she had to go back to Kira with no native meat and no garg meat. It was a failed mission, and the sun was nearly set, so she didn’t have time to hunt for more. And she didn’t want to waste any more time talking to this guy than she had to. No matter how good looking he was.

Wait, the man called from behind her.

What do you want? she spun around, once again taking in his form.

I… He seemed to hesitate. I upset you.

Of course you did! Don’t you know how hard it is to eat? You chased off my dinner! She calmed slightly, letting her anger dissipate. Clearly, this man was an idiot. Wandering through the woods alone? It was astonishing he hadn’t been eaten yet, especially since he clearly didn’t have two brain cells to rub together. Who are you anyway? she demanded. And where did you come from?

Loaghin, he said. It sounded to her like Logan, but with a bunch of extra sounds she couldn’t hope to mimic. And from that way. He waved his hands toward the trees in the opposite direction she had stormed.

Logan? she tried pronouncing.

Loaghin, he repeated.

Logan? she tried again.

Loaghin.

She frowned. Well, I’m going to call you Logan. I’m not sure what all those extra syllables are about.

Okay, he replied, apparently unperturbed. I can work with that.

She noticed his face remained expressionless—a fact she found not only odd, but also disconcerting. What are you doing out here by yourself?

He stared at her for a moment, before he said in a surprisingly raw tone, No one wants me around.

Well, obviously, she retorted. If you go around scaring off everyone’s dinner like that.

Now he smiled. It was an odd sort of smile, as if he weren’t entirely sure he was doing it right—hesitant and overly broad for the occasion.

I’ll help you catch something else, he replied.

Why not just get me those leveleks back? she retorted.

To her utter shock, he turned and let out a high-pitched whistle.