Prompt Word: Pinch Hunter James 17 James was standing at the back of the court surrounded by three guards, and his legal represented had just been convinced to leave by a strange man smelling of alcohol. One of the guards quietly said, “Oh, the guild is standing up for this one.” Then in a harsh whisper, “Why’d you pinch me!?” James didn’t dare turn around to see what was going on behind him, he did his best to just stare at the back of the neck of the guard in front of him....

Prompt Word: Cistern Hunter James 16 James, merely rinsed off and far from clean himself, reeled back at the smell of alcohol on the man. It reminded him of a broken wine cistern discarded behind a bar. Wicker laughed at the offer, “Why would I give you this charge?” The man got a twinkle in his eye, “Because, good sir, you were overheard saying you want this man to serve time in the mines....

Prompt Word: Hiccup Hunter James 15 Hair wet, clothes wet, James was walked in shackles by three guards to the castle. The count’s reception hall was usually set up as the room for the court of inquiry. As the group entered, someone inside could be heard loudly hiccuping. Wicker said, “You are not to speak.” James nodded, it had been a long time, but he’d been in this room before....

Prompt Word: Chase Hunter James 14 James muttered to himself, “At least the crows know how to look out for each other.” Out the high bars of the gate lockup, James could see sky. A hawk had been hunting, and now was being chased around the sky by a pack of nine crows. The cell gate clacked open, and a guard placed a large bucket of water down, “Clean yourself up, you are due in front of the magistrate....