Release: "City of Gold."

Today is the release of the First Time For Everything daily dose anthology. To buy the whole anthology of some thirty stories, head on over this way. There's over 1,500 pages of fiction in the full collection.

My story, City of Gold is available over here for $1.49US.

Summary: Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire, 1131 AD.

Gallienus has spent his life in service of his country, and now his scarred body is no longer up for the fight. Assigned to work the gates of Constantinople, he is charged with examining the cargo brought into the city from all over the world. Misahuen is part of the merchant train bringing wares from the Silk Road to trade, but it’s not Misahuen’s cargo that interests the wounded soldier. Gallienus thought his heart was too battered to love anything but his country. Does he have the courage to dream of a future beyond service to the City of Gold?

And for a small excerpt (Excerpt is PG rated; full story is NC17 rated for graphic m/m sex.):

THE day began just like any other. Gallienus, a veteran of the wars that had ended the previous year, in 1130, went to his postwar duties at the gates of Constantinople, the jewel in the crown of the Byzantine Empire. He limped up and down the lines of wagons carrying all manner of goods from the East for trade, inspected the packs and wagons, and waved merchants through to the city. He gave directions to the merchants’ quarter when necessary and detained those who were smuggling items prohibited by Emperor John Komnenos the Second. At midday, he ate a small meal and drank a tankard of ale with his fellow gate guards. He smiled ruefully as they talked about past wars and how lucky Gallienus was to have survived the violent conflicts with a limp and an ugly scar from a crossbow bolt to show for them. After the meal, he returned to his post by the gates, and the business of inspecting merchant pack trains resumed.

( Continue )

Release: "City of Gold."

Today is the release of the First Time For Everything daily dose anthology. To buy the whole anthology of some thirty stories, head on over this way. There's over 1,500 pages of fiction in the full collection.

My story, City of Gold is available over here for $1.49US.

Summary: Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire, 1131 AD.

Gallienus has spent his life in service of his country, and now his scarred body is no longer up for the fight. Assigned to work the gates of Constantinople, he is charged with examining the cargo brought into the city from all over the world. Misahuen is part of the merchant train bringing wares from the Silk Road to trade, but it’s not Misahuen’s cargo that interests the wounded soldier. Gallienus thought his heart was too battered to love anything but his country. Does he have the courage to dream of a future beyond service to the City of Gold?

And for a small excerpt (Excerpt is PG rated; full story is NC17 rated for graphic m/m sex.):

THE day began just like any other. Gallienus, a veteran of the wars that had ended the previous year, in 1130, went to his postwar duties at the gates of Constantinople, the jewel in the crown of the Byzantine Empire. He limped up and down the lines of wagons carrying all manner of goods from the East for trade, inspected the packs and wagons, and waved merchants through to the city. He gave directions to the merchants’ quarter when necessary and detained those who were smuggling items prohibited by Emperor John Komnenos the Second. At midday, he ate a small meal and drank a tankard of ale with his fellow gate guards. He smiled ruefully as they talked about past wars and how lucky Gallienus was to have survived the violent conflicts with a limp and an ugly scar from a crossbow bolt to show for them. After the meal, he returned to his post by the gates, and the business of inspecting merchant pack trains resumed.

( Continue )