Battle Hymn of the Republic

“Mighty kind of ye,” smiled the Sergeant, gratified. Before starting out the door, she looked over her shoulder, “Ghyslain, you havenae ate–...” “The screws must be freed from their jail to breathe,” answered the quarrid before Phyllis could finish, “but must be returned to their cells before they k...

The eruption of Willow from the first door caused everyone to raise their heads. Bjorn awoke from his spot on the dresser. Helen and Ghyslain looked up from their individual projects, a pile of papers and furniture respectively. Curie spun about, stolen from her doldrums. Phyllis opened her door as ...

Defiance like this could be expected to be handled quickly. Mr. Caxton had proven that he would cut Willow down in challenging him, whether he took her seriously or not. His golem aide protectively clutched the sword in anticipation, hesitating to answer its master’s direction. After all, it played ...

“Yes, wasteful movement,” confirmed Mr. Caxton, approvingly, as if he knew that was all he was going to get out of her, “Movement in deadly situations is all about economy . Consider, your attack…” By now, he had walked his blade back over to the pensive, faceless golem, who seemed eager to receive ...

Mr. Caxton came to his feet slowly and walked away from Willow as he was dismissed. As she spoke, he seemed to be pressing his fingers tightly into his nose, as if plugging his eyes. His shoulders seized every time she said the word stabbed . Every second that passed built up a radiation of intensit...

Percival Caxton watched in taciturn silence , his sword at the ready through the whole, heart-wrenching scene. Each time Willow’s pain gained more gravity and became more real, his face hardened and became more severe. Bjorn had perched himself to Willow’s side, unable to process her emotions, but k...

Seven quarrids were outside Willow’s door, armed to the teeth, but lounging in various states of readiness. Four of them jumped to their feet as soon as Willow walked through. Two of them raised halberds up at Helen and the Allomancer, bleary and confused. “She’s got the sword!” one of them said. He...

“Through the night,” answered Bjorn, balancing himself on the headboard as Willow made herself comfortable, “we were convinced you were dead when you were struck down.” “You mean when you thought she was struck down,” chirped Curie excitedly as she entered into the room. The odinkine stared her down...

Willow’s faithful chair was side-stepped by the Alchemist, who did not take his eyes off of her as she moved. His oxfords seemed to offer no hindrance in his ginger movement. When she took the back step, he bounced off his toes into her lunge. With a curl of his wrist, the sword in his hands pointed...

The Alchemist, hearing Willow, turned sharply to get struck square in the face by the cup. If throwing them had been a sport, it would have been one Willow had been adroit at. Her missile flew with all the force her athletic ability had imbued in it and so the vessel shattered once it struck Mr. Cax...