Here are some short stories, all set within my fantasy world of Estéa unless otherwise specified. There is also some commentary for each one detailing its inspirations or whatever else was on my mind at the time it was written.
A street urchin treasure hunter thinks his luck has turned when he finds something valuable in the midst of a shipwreck. Too bad he isn’t the only one looking for it.
COMMENTARY
This was my first attempt at a more comedic story. My primary inspiration came from my first forays into the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett. Not that I would try to put myself in the same breath as Sir Terry, obviously. I am, after all, a man of faith and that faith teaches me that blasphemy is a no-no.
A magic-wielding knight takes on an opposing army’s entire platoon to defend his hometown.
COMMENTARY
Sometimes a story is mostly born from a single image. Seeing the knight Sabas standing proudly in front of the only bridge providing access to the village behind him, glaive planted in the ground, I wanted to see the scene through to its conclusion. I may have also been inspired by the legend of Benkei, as passed down through an episode of the animé Detective Conan. True story.
An ambitious baron makes a deal for power without first understanding who he’s dealing with or what price he will have to pay.
COMMENTARY
Vampires should be terrifying, right? Just being in the presence of one should be the scariest thing most of us could imagine. But also, what would it feel like for the person being turned into one?
Shortly after dragons appear in Eyldrland, two monster hunters embark on a mission to see if the creatures are as invincible as people say they are.
COMMENTARY
This story serves as a prequel of sorts (a table-setting, if you will) to my novel, Songs of the Eyldrmen. Whereas the novel is set 57 years after the appearance of dragons, where their rule is well-established and unquestioned, this story is only two years after their appearance, when Eyldrland is still in the midst of great upheaval in the wake of their devastating arrival.
Marc Rivers, Author 