Fiction

The Pariah Podcast, Episode 9 - In Training

The Pariah Podcast, Episode 9 - In Training

Two and a half before midnight, Keo opened the door to a small windowless room; his candle shed weak light on an empty bed to the right. As quietly as he could, he slipped into the room, not wanting to disturb the boy already sleeping in the bed opposite. He set the candle on a small table beside the head of the bed, wide enough to fill the small space between the two. An extinguished candle on the far edge sat next to a tinderbox and striker. The sleeping boy faced the wall. Covered to his neck by a blanket Keo saw only the ghostly glow of white blonde hair, cut short and standing straight up like the down of a dandy lion.

Keo slipped off his boots, tunic and hose and climbed into bed.

"You better not snore," the other boy said.

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The Pariah Podcast, Episode 5 - Unwanted Company

He wants to travel with me? Keo thought.

"No thanks. I like my solitude," Keo said. He wasn't hungry but he picked at the crust of his bread and scooped up peas with it and ate them together.

"I do too, but I'll make that sacrifice. I've been sitting with dullards for the last ten days. Walking with you couldn't be any worse."

"I don't walk. I run." Keo thought it was a good comeback at first, and then realized it left him as no worse than the other dullards. Keo was annoyed this boy treated him like a servant, and assumed Keo would do whatever he said.

"And if the choice is between riding with dullards and walking with one, why are you choosing to walk, now? Is it getting too crowded on the wagon?"

"Yes. Or rather, no. The wagon is turning south to loop off the highway and pass through numerous small villages in the southern forest. It will take another two weeks for the wagon to reach Hander's Peak. At your pace, I will be there in half that time."

“That’s my pace. You think you can keep up?” Keo asked.

“Sure,” Moordan said.

Keo wanted to wipe the dismissive look from the condescending boy’s face.

The Pariah Podcast, Episode 4 - Relationships

The Pariah Podcast, Episode 4 - Relationships

Keo watched from the corner of his eye. Moordan seemed unaffected by his jab and only scowled at his bowl, wiping it with the hem of his sleeve.

Fierra introduced the two new boys who took to Keo quickly when they could see he was cut closer to their own weave of material than to Moordan's. Soon all at the table but Moordan were laughing as they each shared antics or adventures from their homes.

Ardle, the taller of the two new boys, said to Keo, "Moordan said you think you're going to be a creature handler."

There was challenge in the boy's voice, though there was also an edge of wistfulness that said, he wished he would, too.

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The Pariah Podcast, Episode 2 - A Beautiful Day for a Stroll

"Keo,” his mother shouted from the kitchen. “Shelby Lacoore brought something by for you."

On the back porch, Keo stood above a large wool blanket spread across the boards of the veranda and examined his work from above.

On it lay three linen under tunics, three dark green pairs of woolen hose, a black wool tunic, a wool cloak and a waxed linen over-cloak with hood. Beside the clothes were few objects; a candle stub, flint and tinder box, a dozen sheets of writing paper in a thin leather folio, a pen with three nibs and two small bottles; one empty, the other corked and filled with ink powder. 

The Pariah, Episode 0

Introduction to the podcast, "The Pariah".

The Kingdom of The Midlands has a natural resource unlike any other in the known world. Other kingdoms would kill to control it. Far out on the high plain which comprises most of the kingdom the great Midland's Swamp produces eggs of unusual hybrid creatures. Eggs which only specially empathic youths will be able to find.


Since a small child, Keo Noshahne has known he will be one of the exclusive creature handlers with abilities the world has never seen before.


Follow 15 year old Keo as he leaves the security of the Swamp Hills and enters the wider world of power and intrigue, on the path which will lead him to eventually become, "The Pariah".