by Adam Bennett
Mange’s eyes narrowed instantly. "That looks like… "
"A dryad heart?” he admitted.
"My mother was a dryad," Mange fumed, "and so was my sister, before her capture."
Gavin returned the amber heart to his pocket. "Do you think Krozer is the only mage who had victims? I was on a vengeance quest, too. I need this heart—to return it to a mourning parent, who can bury it and find peace. Hopefully, she will be grateful enough by my actions to help heal my sibyl."
"And what will happen to my sister when your sibyl is healed?"
"I do not understand the question," Gavin asked.
"Your souls are melded together. You share the same life force; you share the same thoughts. What are you planning to do with her once you are reconciled with your lover? Will she join you in your marriage bed?"
Gavin blushed. “The sibyl is not my lover."
Mange searched Gavin's face for answers. "But why would you do this? Go on a quest, risk your life, if not for your lady love? Why?"
"Because it was the right thing to do," Canens sang, rising between them in a protective embrace. "Love of mankind, not romance, caused him to go on this quest."
Gavin nodded. "I do love the sibyl. I care for her as I have come to care for you and your family. But I will never marry. I will never share my bed with a maiden or a man."
After a long pause, Mange replied, "I understand. I think.”
Gavin sighed in relief, expecting to find suspicion but surprised by his companion’s acceptance.
"And now you're going back? To rescue the sibyl, because of your oath?" the kobold added.
"Aye."
"Will you need a squire on your travels?" Mange prompted.
"Not a squire, but a companion," Gavin clarified. "I would be grateful for the company. It is a long walk home."
"I understand," Mange said. "And I believe that Pox will, too. Let us join you—without Mercy and Gemellus, you will need help carrying your supplies."
Gavin thought a moment and replied, "I do not blame you for losing them, Mange. I may have lost my mount, but I have gained a family."
AUTHORS BIOGRAPHIES
Zombie Pirate Publishing
Zombie Pirate Publishing was born in a backyard in a small country town in New South Wales, Australia, the product of lifelong friends. Both published authors, albeit in a small capacity, Adam Bennett and Sam M. Phillips decided to throw their hat into the ring as the people in charge. WITCHES VS WIZARDS is their fifth release, and many more are already in the planning stages. The response to the call for submissions was overwhelming, which made choosing which stories to include very difficult.
Keep an eye out for Zombie Pirate Publishing’s next short story anthology, WORLD WAR FOUR, available March 1st, 2019. To find out more visit zombiepiratepublishing.com.
Pat Woods - The Confluence
Pat Woods hails from Nottingham, UK, and came to Taiwan for an adventure that turned into a lifetime commitment. His short stories have been published by Spring Song Press, Jersey Devil Press, Five59 Publishing, and elsewhere, as well as by TWG Press, the publishing arm of Taipei Writers’ Group, which he helps run. He was nominated for the 2016 Pushcart Prize for his Sherlock Holmes pastiche “The Adventure of the Etheric Projection.”
Derek Paterson - The House of the Magus
Derek Paterson lives in Scotland, an ancient land of mountains, forests, glens, and rain. He's been writing Sci-Fi & Fantasy ever since original Trek inspired his first fanfic stories, which are thankfully lost in the mists of time. He continues to work on a veritable plethora of novels which he hopes to finish before the Sun goes nova. His more recent tales can be found at http://derekpaterson.net.
Sam M. Phillips - Queen Bee
Sam M. Phillips is an inanimate object brought to life through the power of sorcery for a Disney special. Now he hangs out with a bunch of other items given infernal vigour for the amusement of children, all the while searching for a magical cure to the curse which is their very existence. He and his crew of diabolical misfits go on little adventures and stuff, like 4 am Macca's runs. No one likes Señor Bongos.
David M. Donachie - The Desires of Demons
David M. Donachie has written short stories of countless types since he was old enough to hold a pencil — many are very embarrassing, but he doesn't let that stop him. He lives in a garret (really a top-floor flat, but a garret sounds a lot more romantic) in Edinburgh with his wife Victoria, 2 cats, more reptiles than mammals, and more invertebrates than either. His collection of dream-tales, The Night Alphabet, is available on Amazon.
Adam Bennett - The Apprentice
Adam Bennett had fourteen short stories published in various anthologies before he started work to build Zombie Pirate Publishing. His stories are often cross-genre speculations into the nature of humanity, the universe, love, life, and death. Find more of his writing at amazon.com/author/a.alexander.
Vince Carpini - Ravenspire Nights
Vince Carpini fell from a zip-line in the first grade, and something’s been off ever since. He has been telling fantasy and science fiction stories for twenty-five years. Vince enjoys video games, cookouts and movies with explosions. He lives in Montreal, Canada with his wife and their three children. You can follow him on Twitter @VinceCarpini.
Lannah Marshall - Cœur du Dieu Mécanique
Lannah Marshall is an author from Kent, with her short story, Another Hot Chocolate, published in Thanet Writer's first anthology, Shoal. When she's not writing speculative fiction, she enjoys illustration, music and travel, and as well as working within the local community as a support worker.
Jean Frost - A Breath of Fresh Air
Jean Frost is so old her childhood is in history books. She was born in an industrial northern town in England but now lives halfway up a rural mountain in Wales.
Her author career started in the mid-1980s with the publication by Pan Books of a series of books for home computer enthusiasts, followed by a switch to recipe writing, culminating in the publication of a cookery book.
Now, she's unlearning years of writing technical manuals to produce fiction, and thoroughly enjoying the process.
Brian MacGowan - The Harbinger of Ferro
Contrary to popular belief, Bran MacGowan is not really a pirate, although he did grow up on the east coast of Canada, so sea water runs in his veins. He is currently typing the days away in the US Midwest where he lives with wife and two daughters. Brian has yet to have the opportunity to turn down the nomination for World’s Sexiest Man.
L.T. Waterson - A Spot of Bother
L.T. Waterson lives in a house full of books on top of a hill in Southampton, England. In the past she has been a journalist, an archaeologist and just generally curious. She now writes in between wrangling her three boys and her stories have appeared in several anthologies, including Vortex, Window and Fireburst.
Diana Grove - Lost Love
Diana Grove writes weird short stories for children and adults that seldom have happy endings. Her stories have appeared in the zine Trembling With Fear and the print anthologies Freak Pure Slush Vol. 13 and Trembling With Fear: Year One. Diana can be found on Twitter @ImaginaryGrove
Blake Jessop - Amat Victoria
Blake Jessop is a Canadian author of science fiction, fantasy and horror stories with a master's degree in creative writing from the University of Adelaide. You can read more of his speculative fiction in "Battling in All Her Finery" from DefCon One Publishing, or follow him on Twitter @everydayjisei.
Amanda R. Woomer - The Witch Next Door
Amanda R. Woomer received her first award for her writing when she was eleven years old. Since then, her work has appeared in multiple magazines, literary journals, and anthologies all over the world. She currently lives in New York with her husband and cactus collection.
Cara Fox - Broken Wings
Cara Fox is an English author trying to write her way out of the dark. She favours steampunk, horror and Gothic r
omance, but you can find her anywhere that the stories sink their claws into you and the wine flows freely. Her work has been featured in the Tales To Terrify podcast, and in anthologies from publishers such as Lycan Valley Press, Fluky Fiction, Left Hand Publishers, Owl Hollow Press, all the sins and Horror Addicts. Her dark corner of the internet can be found at www.carajfox.com.
T.D. McIntosh - Pumpkin Oaksgourd’s Game of Hide and Seek
T.D. McIntosh is an author, poet, comic writer and freelance writer best known for his work on the webcomic series "XOGENASYS" and its animated pilot. He's been into fantasy since he was thirteen and incorporates the genre into his manga writing, as well as his latest project, a trilogy of YA books.
Nicholas Catron - Blightborn
Nicholas Catron is an author and controller of electrons, building pathways that lead to various fun things, like lights and receptacles. He is currently writing in the Pacific Northwest of the United States where rain and fog are as common as neckbeards and hair slicked to the side. You can find his work in anthologies, such as Phuket Tattoo and Blood Puddles, as well as on Amazon.
Todd Sullivan - A Test Amongst the Shadows
Todd Sullivan has lived in South Korea for nine years. He currently studies the Korean language at Sogang University, and teaches English writing and publishing techniques to Koreans aspiring to be authors. He has had short stories published in numerous venues, including Aurealis Science Fiction and Fantasy, Aurora Wolf Literary Journal, and Pole to Pole Publishing. His latest novella, Shape Shifting Priestess of the 1000 Year War, is available in the “Schlock! Horror!” anthology from Hellbound Books.
K.A. Masters - Vengeance Reborn
K.A. Masters is a fantasy writer who specializes in twisted fairy tales and zombie-infested historic fiction. She attributes her passion for Greco-Roman mythology and Germanic folklore to her alma mater, Dickinson College. Her debut novel, The Morning Tree, was recently published by Indie Gypsy.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
A special thanks to all of the people who submitted for this anthology. We here at Zombie Pirate Publishing enjoyed reading every story we were sent, and cannot wait to see what you all send us for our next anthology, WORLD WAR FOUR: A Science Fiction Anthology, available March 1st, 2019. If you would like to submit stories to us please visit zombiepiratepublishing.com for submissions guidelines and email your double spaced indented word document to [email protected] today.
To help support Zombie Pirate Publishing, please visit our Patreon page at patreon.com/zombiepiratepublishing and learn about our goals and become a patron for as little as $1 a month. We also have a merch store at zombie-pirate-publishing.myshopify.com where you can buy fantastic Zombie Pirate Publishing t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, and limited editions of our books.
Thank you to all of the people who have helped and supported us in any way since we started this crazy little venture. We couldn’t do it without you. It is much appreciated. We are thrilled with the result thus far, and are excited to see what the future brings. There are big things coming for Zombie Pirate Publishing.
Cheers,
Sam M. Phillips and Adam Bennett
A SPECIAL THANK YOU
TO OUR PATREON SUPPORTERS
Lewis Rice
Stuart West
Andrew Bennett
Gregg Cunningham
Diane Bennett
Karin Bennett
Matthew Entwistle
Pavla Chandler
Mike Callaghan
Todd Sullivan
Derek Paterson
Heather Kim Hood
Austin P Sheehan
Sign up to support Zombie Pirate Publishing at patreon.com/zombiepiratepublishing.com today. Every supporter helps us to work towards important goals.
THE COLLAPSAR DIRECTIVE: A Science Fiction Anthology
Twenty short stories from authors around the galaxy. A brutal dictator takes control of a broken and dying Earth. The last humans alive flee their dying galaxy travelling faster than the speed of light; their journey will last a thousand years. Humanity’s newest super drug is being created in the most unscrupulous way imaginable. Rich neonobles take their hunting game deep into the slums in search of a more interesting prey: the poor. These are just some of the amazing stories in THE COLLAPSAR DIRECTIVE: A Science Fiction Anthology including stories from authors all around the galaxy.
Read a free preview at zombiepiratepublishing.com.
Available on Amazon.
RELATIONSHIP ADD VICE: A Thrilling Mashup of Romance and Crime
Relationships are at the very core of who we are as human beings. They can pull us together, or tear us apart. Love lifts us up, and just as quickly drives us to madness, despair, and even into the murky depths of the criminal underworld. RELATIONSHIP ADD VICE is a thrilling blend of Crime and Romance, featuring more than twenty authors from around the world, twisted tales of life, lust, and lawlessness.
Read a free preview at zombiepiratepublishing.com.
Available on Amazon.
FULL METAL HORROR: A Monstrous Anthology
There’s something right behind you… You can feel its rancid breath on your neck, smell the blood dripping from its wicked fangs, sense its anticipation as you walk further from the house, confidently telling yourself you have no reason to fear the dark, that there is nothing there. You fight the urge to turn, fight the impulse to run, fight to keep your pace steady, but you are losing the battle. The monster is right behind you, and nothing you do can save you now. This is FULL METAL HORROR: A Monstrous Anthology, thirty five horrifying short stories from authors around the world, packed full of deadly monsters. Just remember, don’t turn around…
Read a free preview at zombiepiratepublishing.com.
Available on Amazon.
PHUKET TATTOO: Crazy Tales of Far Away Places
Are you ready for a wild ride around the world without ever leaving your home? Here is your ticket to all the fun and adventure you can handle, and more besides. Exotic locations and thrilling action combine in PHUKET TATTOO: Crazy Tales of Far Away Places. People smugglers in Vietnam, sinister plastic surgery resorts, drinking in Serbia with Uncle Vlado, and many more stories of travel, mayhem, and broken bedframes.
Read a free preview at zombiepiratepublishing.com.
Available on Amazon.