The Lanternwright’s Apprentice, Chapter 1
Spheres is a universe of interplanetary science fantasy swashbuckling, adventure, and intrigue with much different cosmic laws than our own. This is the first chapter of The Lanternwright’s Apprentice, one of two parallel stories set in the Spheres universe that run on alternating Tuesdays. Be sure to check out The Legionaire’s Tale to get the full story.
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Shekhlah didn’t belong here. The constant noise that sloshed inconsiderately through the manic, circular market plaza held a moment’s calm hostage from her addled mind. The constant, buzzfly feeling that stopping for even a second would put her in the way of a group of rowdy porters or an old, unkind woman with a cart of expensive perfumes kept her feet light and her heart beating just a step too fast. There was no stillness and no quiet here, among the spokes of packed sand roads that radiated from a central auction platform, each lined with stalls selling everything from dried cragrat on a skewer to sunquartz figurines of great heroes from the city’s mythic past. Stillness and quiet were the things she loved best.
