I doubt I’ll ever be that successful. The five in the portrait—they had a unique relationship. They had an unsuspecting world and impeccable timing. For Lord and Lady Black, even their heirs were powerful, by virtue of luck and the pendants.
I frown. Lady Black said she developed her powers early, and her father, Seth Black, was strong enough to have played a crucial role in Lord Black’s defeat, despite his own death.
When the time comes, will Val want children? If she does, will they be as powerful? Or was Lord Black’s strength a fluke that passed on to his son? Before the rebels finally managed to ambush him with a Benjamin’s shield, no one could match him.
Stuart inclines his head. “An interesting point, Master Zaytsev. Lord Black’s heirs inherited his strength, though that strength has diminished through their line. I am curious to see whether that power is linked to the proximity of the pendants.” He eyes the two of us, one eyebrow raised. The silence stretches as he straightens his jacket. “But, for now, I believe there are still a few dances left before the night is over.” He ushers us from the library to a small patio outside, and then he gestures to the lights of the twinkling stars and the distant city. “Enjoy yourselves. Tonight, the world is yours.” He gives us a knowing smile before navigating the maze of bookshelves and disappearing into the outer corridor.
Val stares through the trees. “I wish we didn’t have to go back to work tomorrow.” Bright specks twinkle across her cheeks and nose from the lights in the woven canopy above us.
“I don’t mind the work,” I say, “if it means I get to be with you.”
“For how long?” She looks over at me, her dark hair framing her face in waves. “We’ll be away from each other. What if something happens to you? What if the invasion doesn’t go well, or the Legion Spore takes a hit?”
“I’ll be fine,” I say, though Val has a point… especially with that vision of hers. I still have to contend with the Legion Spore’s glitches, and Val will be in the Community. I won’t be able to reliably contact her while I’m in OA territory. My stomach clenches, and I crane my head toward the city lights. The lights shimmer like stars reflecting off the land. I hope we can remain as faithful as Lady Black’s grandparents.
Val runs her fingers through my hair, down my neck, and to the locket. “I love you, Tim. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
My hand meets hers. “I’ll be careful, okay?”
She reaches with her tippy-toes and kisses my forehead. “Of course you will.” She takes my hand in hers, and though I’ll return to my duties in the Legion Spore tomorrow, tonight we return to the evening of dances.
I just hope I’ll still be around for the next ball.
Thank you for reading Glitch: Whispers in the Code!
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Find out what Tim does next in Ghost of a Memory…
and read how everything began in Distant Horizon…
A lot of work goes into producing a book, and while it may be impossible (or nearly impossible), to pinpoint everyone who was involved, we would like to take a moment to acknowledge those who have helped shape this story into what it is today.
First off, a thank you to our families, who have been supportive of our endeavors (both our creative ones, and our real-life ones). It is an immense relief to know that you are there for us.
Next, a thank you to the many beta-readers who have read Glitch in its entirety and provided feedback on what you loved, what you hated, and what didn’t make sense. It goes without saying that certain scenes would have happened a bit differently if you hadn’t read the book and left the feedback you did.
We also want to thank the writers who spurred along the process, from those who read unfinished story chapters, those who helped us polish our blurb, and those who offered advice—online and offline: the Absolute Write online forum, For Love or Money (a Facebook group, no longer open), 20Booksto50K (also a Facebook group), the Writers of Warrensburg, and the writers at the local group in the UP. Your feedback and encouragement has been invaluable.
Finally, we thank you, the reader, for choosing to read what we have written. It means a lot to us. We hope you enjoyed Glitch: Whispers in the Code, and we hope you will return to find out what happens next in Ghost of a Memory.
The Community is efficient,
Stephanie and Isaac Flint
Stephanie and Isaac Flint met at the University of Central Missouri, where they soon discovered a common interest in world-building and tabletop role-play games. The Distant Horizon universe is their first joint world, the result of a role-play game Isaac ran in the summer of 2010. After graduating with Bachelors of Science (Photography for Stephanie, Psychology for Isaac), Stephanie and Isaac married in 2012. Together, they plot stories, torment each other’s characters, and enjoy the occasional cosplay.
Blog: http://sbibb.wordpress.com
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Website: https://distanthorizonbooks.wordpress.com
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The Community is safe. Unless you have superpowers.
Magic, Swords, and a little bit of Time Travel.
Whispers in the Code Page 16