Week 498 of #ThursThreads had many fantastic tales. What an amazing feat we’ve pulled off. Nine years! If you’ve been doing it a while, thank you for coming back each week. If you’ve just found us, welcome! You’re in good company. May you come back again and write more great flash. A thousand thanks to David Ludwig for judging this week. Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook or the #ThursThreads Group on MeWe to keep up with news, etc.
Entries:
- Silver James | @SilverJames_
- Miya Kressin | @miya_Kressin
- Catherine Verdier | @CatVerdier1
- Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea
- Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
- Mark Ethridge | @mysoulstears
- Mark A. Morris
- David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig
- Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
- Eric Martell | @drmag00
David says: it’s really fun getting to read all the different stories.
Honorable Mentions
Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea
David says: I love the voice and vibe of this noir detective story and it’s exciting to see disparate cases come together like this. Also, it’s hard to beat phrases like “He’s like a thorn in my foot. It’s gotta come out.”
Silver James | @SilverJames_
David says: The repetition of “big furry wolf with teeth and claws” tied this piece together wonderfully. I especially loved resolving the tension with Fiona opening her arms and saying “Mine.”
winner announcement
Week 498 Winner
Catherine Verdier | @CatVerdier1
David says: This one particularly stood out to me because of the layers of conflict, between sisters, between mages, and I believe political. I also love Laela trying to take care of the young mages while Gerrin tries to take care of her. The flash is rich with characters and details while still moving through a scene with a sense of beginning and completion. I am fascinated by the larger world here.
Laela looked at the lifeless body of the young mage lying at her feet. She was shaking. Her elder sister, Troyen, had killed the boy with a mage sphere.
She prayed to the saints that the four other apprentice mages in her charge would do nothing to provoke Troyen, but one of the mages started to form a lethal sphere under his cloak. Laela silently cursed. She stepped forward hoping to distract her sister.
It was too late. Troyen hurled her own sphere as the young mage flung his toward her. The explosion filled the room with sparks, smoke and dust, covering Troyen’s escape.
“He didn’t have a chance, Gerrin,” Laela told the old mage through tears.
“Troyen was trained in dark magic by your father, and it was I who taught him to use his magic,” Gerrin said, regret forming in his eyes. “For this I take full responsibility.”
“You didn’t do this, Gerrin. You couldn’t know what he would become.”
“Your father confided in me years ago that he was captivated by the secrets of dark magic.” Gerrin looked into Laela’s eyes. “He spoke the truth and I refused to believe it.”
Laela reached out and touched the old mage’s cheek. “We must stop them.”
“Did Troyen know you? I warded you so heavily that she wouldn’t guess who you really are.”
Laela remembered the brief instant their eyes met in that room. Her faith in the ward had been shaken. “I don’t know, Gerrin. I don’t know.”
~~~~~~~
Congratulations Three Time Winner Catherine, and Honorable Mentions Bill, and Silver! Don’t forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it!
Pass on the great news on Twitter, Facebook, MeWe, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the original tales HERE. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! 🙂
