Wednesday 2 January 2013

Dust

by John Xero


Orst sat on his throne, unmoving. His was a kingdom of dust and silence, and for a thousand years it had remained so.

The day came when a lost tribe, weary and malnourished, entered his lands. They halted, lacking even the strength to raise camp.

Orst stood and gathered his magic.

The land shuddered with memories of past wrath. Dark clouds gathered over the fearful tribe. The ground shook again as green shoots burst forth. Fat drops of rain fell and the seedlings became trees, bore fruit.

Orst had been a poor king. He vowed to be a better god.




Author bio: John Xero believes everyone should be given a second chance. And everyone should make the best of it if they are.
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19 comments:

  1. Peter Newman2 January 2013 at 13:09

    Orst reminds me of my gamer self. "Hmm, didn't expect the area of effect to be so big. I'll be more careful next time."

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    1. John Xero2 January 2013 at 14:55

      Ha! We played a superhero game once, and I (repeatedly) tried to knock people unconscious but ended up accidentally killing them. Didn't know my own strength, apparently. ;)

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  2. Sulci Collective4 January 2013 at 10:20

    Fabulous last line, like pulling a dust sheet off the furniture in a room after 100 years

    marc nash

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    1. John Xero4 January 2013 at 17:38

      Thanks, Marc. That's a good way to put it. =)

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  3. Anonymous4 January 2013 at 15:25

    I agree with Marc -- really stellar last line. This is another story where I'd love to see what happens next!

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    1. John Xero4 January 2013 at 17:39

      Thank you, Elizabeth.

      Nothing planned at the moment, but who knows? =)

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  4. Anonymous4 January 2013 at 22:03

    Fantastic! I could hear my mum saying, "We've got guests, let's spruce this place up and look out the good glasses!" :-)

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    1. John Xero6 January 2013 at 08:29

      Ha! If she's anything like Orst, she's a scary woman... ;)

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  5. Steve Green4 January 2013 at 23:06

    After a thousand years of dust and silence, I think Orst will positively enjoy being a god, and probably the very good one that he aspires to be too. :-)

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  6. John Wiswell4 January 2013 at 23:12

    Hoho, that's a great payload on the final line, John. I dug that. I don't believe it for a second, but that's the point, right?

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    1. John Xero6 January 2013 at 08:30

      Oh, I'm sure he has the best of intentions, John... ;)

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  7. Sonya5 January 2013 at 02:19

    Fantastic imagery and I love the last line!

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  8. Cindy Vaskova5 January 2013 at 18:05

    Orst Allmighty! Methinks he'll cope with being a god.

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    1. John Xero6 January 2013 at 08:31

      Thanks, Cindy. It'll be a learning experience for all of them. =)

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  9. John Xero6 January 2013 at 08:33

    Thanks, Avery. It's just a matter of semantics, really. Is a god only a god when there are people to worship him/ her? ;)

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  10. Anonymous15 January 2013 at 22:44

    The language of this so brilliant. I particularly like the phrasing: "a kingdom of dust and silence".

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    1. John Xero16 January 2013 at 08:21

      Thank you. =) I think that line was where the whole piece sprang from. =)

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