Dark Lanterns
Darien meets a young historian, hears rumors from the city, and remembers that no one on Six survives alone.
Darien means to leave the farm, but a question haunts him. Why does Dragon-Eye hate a sword that spent five hundred years buried in the dark?
In a sitting room lined with books that survived the fall, a young historian named Charles comes face to face with the past he has always dreamed of meeting. Giles shares rumors from the city: lights in the sky, off-worlders, and soldiers on the hunt. And Darien remembers that no one on Six survives alone.
On a hill above a sea of mist, two lanterns rise from the earth, held up by enormous arms.
Dramatis Personae
- Darien
- A farm boy who grew up with big dreams fed by his aunt who raised him on a mixture of history and fairy tale. He’s currently on a quest to rescue Marialla, a woman he met earlier in the story, who has been kidnapped by the moon’s government for unknown reasons.
- Night
- A sword that shelters the AI persona of Nightingale, thirteenth ship of the Imperial Guard. He is haunted by the failures of his past.
- Edna
- Along with her husband Giles, she runs a family farm close to the city.
- Giles
- A farmer who has some knowledge of the state of politics in the city. He has become embittered by the taxes levied on his farm.
- Charles
- The youngest son of Edna and Giles, Charles attended university in the city where he studied history.
- Professor Carter
- Raymond Carter, head of the history department at the university in the city. He is rumored to be leading some kind of resistance to King Masterson.
- King Masterson
- Chase Masterson, once a member of the ruling council of Six. He seized power and named himself King of Six.