Category: Steampunk

Wind howled from the ridges of the arctic massif that comprised the Jokyl Mountains, while the winter sun flitted in and out of brisk wisps of cloud. Hunt Leader Ilia sat cross-legged on the ice, hands resting on her knees, eyes closed. She pictured the flame in her mind, trying to suffuse her body with warmth. Every inhale and exhale took a measured eight seconds. Her pulse slowed. Warmth suffused her limbs, radiating out from her core. The sound of the wind faded as the crackling flame in her mind grew brighter. Her body grew light as she levitated a…

A wet snapping of branches from behind interrupted them as a beast thrashed about in the swamp. Balthasar spun, half-expecting to see the hippoguarox, head lowered and charging. Instead, Aemilia emerged from the dense trees on the other side of the fen. Her sweaty horse splashed through the mud and the shallow water, struggling to keep its feet.   How reckless, Balthasar thought. One wrong step and the horse will break a leg, throwing her into the muck. Miraculously, Aemilia crossed the fen without harming herself or her mount and drew up panting beside them.   “What are you doing here?” Balthasar…

A tale in the world system of Steam & Stars. For more airships and dragons, check out Moore’s award-winning novel, Children of Solo! The dirigible cast a chill shadow across the coffee field as it passed between the distant sun and the fecund plants. Balthasar looked up from his notebook. Squinting into the glare created by the backlit balloon, he recognized the winged, blue hammer of House Bronzewater. His cousin’s betrothed had arrived. Balthasar’s stomach rumbled. Tonight, his relatives would host an exorbitant feast in honor of the impending nuptials.   All summer, his graduate student stipend had afforded him only…