Saturday, August 29, 2026
Hello, everyone. I hope you’re all having a wonderful weekend. The week slipped away from me — I’ve been working on a 1920s paranormal novelette that I plan to release in about a month. At the last minute I realized that I didn’t have a post ready, and I didn’t know what I could do for one. However, since I’m in writer-mode, I thought I would do a bit of spontaneous flash fiction. But about what? I decided to deal some tarot cards and let their artwork be my guide. The deck I used is The Gilded Tarot by Barbara Moore (author) and Ciro Marchetti (illustrator). It’s more of a vignette than a story, but here goes.
A Celestial Orb
Snow silenced the land. The king cast his gaze down upon it as he stood on the frozen heights of his stargazing tower. The way snow glowed in the light of the moon never ceased to bring a sense of wonder. No matter how many battles, no matter how jaded he often felt… the moonlit glow of newly fallen snow brought the innocence of wonder.
“Oof!”
The grunt followed the sound of boots hurrying up the tower stairs. Luan, holder of the Celestial Throne, Heir to the Orb of Parlance, last of the O’Rinn line shook his head. Cyrus was the clumsiest of any page a king had ever had.
A good heart though…
“Sire, there is news!” the boy panted.
The king merely raised an eyebrow. The page didn’t seem worried. Although in addition to his good heart, Cyrus had an unfortunate tendency toward sarcasm. There might well be a catch with the “news.”
“A falcon arrived with a missive attached to its leg,” Cyrus went on. “It’s from the Hermit of the Marshes, informing you that she is on the way here.”
“The Lady Zelena? She hasn’t left the marshes since my brother died,” the king remarked, surprised. “It seemed the light left us all on the day Lucius died,” he murmured sadly, but another look at the page let him know that there was more.
“The Lady doesn’t ride alone,” Cyrus said excitedly. “The Magician accompanies her… And your brother’s widow.”
After his brother’s death, Aurora had gone back to her homeland. She ruled there as queen. For those three to travel together, and so far…
Unexpected hope dared enter the king’s heart. The Four Lands could be reunited. Luan drew the wintry air deeply into his lungs. When he exhaled, his frozen breath took the shape of an angel holding a staff.
“Lucius?” he whispered the question as a chill passed through him that had nothing to do with the temperature.
Just then a shooting star blazed across the heavens. Its light caught on the frozen particles of his breath, making it seem to shine like a celestial orb on the angel’s staff.
The king smiled.
The end.
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Thanks for visiting. Friendly comments are encouraged. Hugs.
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Naturally, the obligatory shameless self-promotion must be included. Brother Love: A Crossroad continues to be at a special sale price throughout the month of august.
Brother Love – a Crossroad
Strange things abound in 1950s Parliament, Mississippi. Jinx the magpie can fill you in on the details.
Universal Purchase Links
E-Book: relinks.me/B07V25SXFR
Paperback: relinks.me/107952309X
Audiobook: Click here.
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Copyright © 2026 by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene
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