Many nights, the pitcher moves from where he left it, along with other random objects.
Security is uncompromised, and video shows the objects moving by themselves.
Despite the … Read more

The post Sweet Waters first appeared on The Heart Fountain.

“Yes, great father.”

“I have a few questions for you.”
“I want to understand the training that you’ve been giving him.”
“My staff has been analyzing the sims that you use.”
“Acting?”
“Practicing silence?”
“Being insulted?”
“These seem like a complete waste of time, and totally different from what the other tutors did.”

“May I speak freely?”

“Of course.”

“The other tutors accomplished nothing with … Read more

The post Fear of the Wild first appeared on The Heart Fountain.

I hear the words from far way, but they help me fight my way back to full consciousness.
Finally I open my eyes, but everything is blurry.

“Good,” says the voice.
“You’re in a med station.”
“Do you remember what happened?”

“The attack on the prince.”
“Is he all right?”

“Yes, and so is the guard that you were found with.”
“She needed some surgery, but she’ll make a full recovery.”

I try to get up, but I just don’t have the strength.

“Lie down!”
“You’ve been in a coma for four weeks.”
“We … Read more

The post Truth and Lies first appeared on The Heart Fountain.

“Are you all right?” asks a guard, peering down at me.

I’m sitting on wet rocks a few feet from the lake.

“I was about to go swimming, but I must have slipped on the stones.”

The guard wears a headset with an embedded display.
She helps me up and stares at me to scan my identity chip.

Her posture instantly changes, and she almost salutes before she catches … Read more

The post Death of a Child first appeared on The Heart Fountain.

“Who are you?” asks Fenik, as we float in the air.
“What is this place, and where is Rishku?”

“My name is Yagrin.”
“There is no Rishku.”
“I wore that identity in the prison, so I could enter the women’s sims.”

“You’re the alien,” says Fenik.

“Alien?” asks Mehkoos.

“Yes, Mehkoos.”
I explain how … Read more

The post Beyond Darkness and Light first appeared on The Heart Fountain.

“I’m surprised he didn’t just take you.”
“I couldn’t say no.”

“I think he wanted to make me happy, and I suggested that he treat you well.”

“Thanks.”

I begin several days of training at the Boss’s underground facility.
Blika and Brewky give me a new name, Neyima, and an identity chip.
An ordinary chip carries a single name, citizen code, and basic birth data: planet, dates, etc.
It … Read more

The post Prisons of the Mind first appeared on The Heart Fountain.

The charts from the bird-man helped us identify the star, but what do I do with the fact?!
If I go near their world, the Kizak will detect my ship and destroy it.
Even if I survive, I’ll be bound by the cage.
The empire will conquer Siksa while I sit in prison.

I move through the simulation, letting stars rush by me, … Read more

The post Children of Fire first appeared on The Heart Fountain.

Berek scans him.
“He’s gotten worse.”
“His pattern body was damaged when I drove out the alien.”
Berek streams healing energy over Ilaz, but the energy has little effect.

“His breathing is so weak,” says Keela.
“Have you lost your power of healing?”

“No, but this injury is beyond the strength of a single healer, and Ilaz has lost the will to live.”
“Tzina told me that his spirit said it would rather die than remain in its prison.”
“The alien spirit … Read more

The post Dreams of Life and Death first appeared on The Heart Fountain.

At least I have a name for the enemy: Kizak.
It’s the word that Dilasa heard in her last vision, … Read more

The post Far From Home first appeared on The Heart Fountain.

Balshown watches the view-screen until Siksa is out of sight.
“Why are we here, Yagrin?” he asks, breaking the silence.
“This ship is fast, but it will still take us weeks to reach my world.”
“You’re a PathFinder!”
“Open a gate, give me back … Read more

The post Lost Courage first appeared on The Heart Fountain.