"Yes," the wizard fumed, "but the palace have erected magic-cancelling wards."
"Why?"
"Don't know. But they didn't think of people who need mobility aids. So I need wheels to go shout at the king."
"Yes," the wizard fumed, "but the palace have erected magic-cancelling wards."
"Why?"
"Don't know. But they didn't think of people who need mobility aids. So I need wheels to go shout at the king."
"Ah, welcome. Please fill in this form."
"Sure, for body options and features, right? Let's see... One of those, definitely. Hm. What's this 'Do you expect to be obeyed?' For that money, of course I do!"
"Then we cannot help you. We only do partners."
"Ah, welcome. Please fill in this form."
"Sure, for body options and features, right? Let's see... One of those, definitely. Hm. What's this 'Do you expect to be obeyed?' For that money, of course I do!"
"Then we cannot help you. We only do partners."
HUMAN: A fish. You can eat them.
EARLY CAT: Mine now. I need it. I need the fish. Without fish I die. Gimmie fish.
HUMAN: But you're from the desert. How can you possibly-
EARLY CAT: WOE. WOE FOR KITTY. HUMAN INFLICTS A THOUSAND WOES ON-
HUMAN: God. Fine. Have it.
HUMAN: A fish. You can eat them.
EARLY CAT: Mine now. I need it. I need the fish. Without fish I die. Gimmie fish.
HUMAN: But you're from the desert. How can you possibly-
EARLY CAT: WOE. WOE FOR KITTY. HUMAN INFLICTS A THOUSAND WOES ON-
HUMAN: God. Fine. Have it.
"Justice," the maid read. "Are you an enchanted butterknife?"
"Yes."
She almost dropped it. "You are?"
"For centuries, none who held me sought justice. I took this form to hide."
It grew in her hand.
She hefted the sword. "Hm. Not sure you can help."
"Justice," the maid read. "Are you an enchanted butterknife?"
"Yes."
She almost dropped it. "You are?"
"For centuries, none who held me sought justice. I took this form to hide."
It grew in her hand.
She hefted the sword. "Hm. Not sure you can help."
The emperor smiled. "Thank you, I think there's a good variety of traps."
"And the sign?"
"Yes, 'Grave robbers welcome'. Definitely."
"And you will be buried-"
"In the garden, outside the tomb."
The emperor smiled. "Thank you, I think there's a good variety of traps."
"And the sign?"
"Yes, 'Grave robbers welcome'. Definitely."
"And you will be buried-"
"In the garden, outside the tomb."
The Great Old One whimpers, vast limbs twitching in unease. What visions can terrify such an entity?
An image forms in the machine.
A classroom.
No trousers.
The Great Old One whimpers, vast limbs twitching in unease. What visions can terrify such an entity?
An image forms in the machine.
A classroom.
No trousers.
"I'm sorry," I whispered. "You must have heard all this before, countless times."
'only you,' said the Void, 'scream your frustration like you do'
I took a deep breath to resume, then smiled.
"Thanks."
"I'm sorry," I whispered. "You must have heard all this before, countless times."
'only you,' said the Void, 'scream your frustration like you do'
I took a deep breath to resume, then smiled.
"Thanks."
I put the soldering iron on its stand and inspected my work.
"A time travel receiver. I figured out the machine can't travel in time itself."
"Do you have a transmitter too?"
I plugged the power in. "Not yet."
A newspaper appeared in the machine.
"I will, next year."
I put the soldering iron on its stand and inspected my work.
"A time travel receiver. I figured out the machine can't travel in time itself."
"Do you have a transmitter too?"
I plugged the power in. "Not yet."
A newspaper appeared in the machine.
"I will, next year."