The Pulpist

“Where is the next stop?” Valary asked. As she expected, Grym remained quiet. He spoke to her only twice since they left their campsite that morning on his horse. Since she could not ride the horse without her arms, Valary rode in front of Grym. She recognized they must look like a strange pair of travelers if they came upon others on the narrow trail. Despite wearing a long black cape, the woman felt his occasional hot breath next to her ear and neck when she turned her head. Valary...

We stopped in front of the kidnapped woman’s home. Well, it’s actually one of a line of similar shacks which line the rutted road. I knocked, still attached to modern courtesy for some reason, then opened the door. Inside, we found a single room that carried the familiarity of our apartment in some ways. A back door led to a latrine, which was only a few paces away from the trees of the forest. “Nobody would see her if she left this way,” I muttered aloud. Ruby and I walked out looking for...

Inside Hajoon Palace, Erdem stood by the window that looked over the gardens where well-dressed slaves meticulously maintained the plants. However, the son of Emperor Nazalath paid no attention to the activity. Instead, his mind focused on the letter he had just received from Dennel Veil. So, Jupus’s widow is taking the bait? She carries more ambition than her husband did. Erdem’s carnivorous face lit up with a thin smile. Still, she wants to play a game with me. Interesting! His spies warned...

A week later, Ruby and I rode past the gates of the capital in a merchant’s cart. Before we left on this journey, we went to the Donner Guild. A mage confirmed the rings carried no curse, and that they were soul-bound between us. She deciphered most of the runes for us while telling us the additional symbols held no trouble. The woman also told us that high-level runes were beyond the capability of most mages. The Donner Mage even offered to purchase the rings from us at a nice profit....

Chapter 4 Stillness descended on the camp as night crawled over the forest. Valary continued practicing her control of the golem legs. After several clumsy attempts to stand, she finally got the limbs to bend, creating something close to human knees. The woman crawled over to the nearest tree after a while. Then, she painfully inched up to her feet, using her back against the rough tree trunk. Despite the trouble, she found herself surprised at the strength of the new legs and feet. The...

Chapter 3 Flicking a piece of flint across a steel starter inside a shallow pit, Grym took only a few moments to light the campfire. The woman watched him with growing interest. She wondered why the need for such technology when he could create a fire spell. Just as she was about to ask, the pine needles flamed up, and he diligently added sticks to the growing flames. Perhaps he’s saving his aether? Valary worked for years to become a mage. She understood the limits of her craft. One thing...

Don't forget to share this story with your friends! Chapter 2 A growl echoed inside the tunnel, reminding them that the creature drew closer. Valary heard the distinct sound of the Dalax sliding steps when the echo subsided. “No, unfortunately, I’m not a god. However, I understand your sentiments. We carry the same dream. Now we need to pause our conversation. Rest easy, there’s no need to get up on my account.” Valary wanted to lash out at his wretched sarcasm, but her throat hurt too much....

WHAT'S NEW AT THE PULPIST SHOP FREE READS Thanks for visiting The Pulpist. The following dark fantasy story is a work in progress and the first chapters are free to everyone. After that, only VIP subscribers can finish the story (or purchase online when it publishes). Murdered by his wife, the soul of a man meets Peyra, the goddess of mischief and lust. While her motives remain unclear, the murdered man becomes her pet, a ghoul called Grym the Faceless. Grym carries the insatiable appetite...

WHAT'S NEW AT THE PULPIST SHOP FREE READS I've been tightening up the story. Please enjoy. Chapter 22 As Ruby’s face paled at the old hag’s statement, I chuckled while hiding my surprise. I wasn’t sure how the woman knew my name. However, I still carried a hefty dose of skepticism. Con artists always have ways of figuring out personal things about their marks. “Let me guess! You have something to keep me from this terrible fate.” My sarcasm dripped with enough venom to make the fortune teller...