The Vaporous Realms

The Vaporous Realms

Share this post

The Vaporous Realms
The Vaporous Realms
No Time for Cat-and-Mouse (Delfii's Song, Snippet 4)
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More

No Time for Cat-and-Mouse (Delfii's Song, Snippet 4)

A story fragment from the Southsong Cycle

M. B. Heywood's avatar
M. B. Heywood
Oct 28, 2023
∙ Paid
2

Share this post

The Vaporous Realms
The Vaporous Realms
No Time for Cat-and-Mouse (Delfii's Song, Snippet 4)
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
1
Share

(Click here to read Delfii’s Song, Snippet 3.)

Delfii plucked the cap off the tube and slid its contents into her palm. She stashed the letter case and cap in an open belt pouch and unrolled the little strip of thick vellum. Her fingers brushed the deep grooves etched into the beast skin. She searched out the beginning of the yarl’s message. Jecta, Palma, Cranc and others waited silently while Delfii read the runes by fingertip in the dimly lit night.

Thaen, our eternal empress has decreed the northwestern armada will make ready to embark. The land-huggers’ war threatens to boil over. Return with your crew. May you see the day of your death from afar.

Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to The Vaporous Realms to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2025 Vaporous Realms Publishing LLC
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share

Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More