#Bardic Tales

[bardic-tales]

Title: First Kiss

Pairing: Bianca Moore (f!oc) x Sephiroth

Rating: Mature

Word Count: 1537

Fandom: Final Fantasy 7

Setting: Two days before the Nibelheim Incident

Warnings: Blood (mention of slight injury from claws), breathlessness, Emotional manipulation (through the intense bond and unspoken promise), Imbalance of power (emotional and physical), Intimacy, Kissing, Overstimulation (heightened sensory experience), Sexual tension

Summary: Bianca and Sephiroth share a passionate, intense kiss, connecting emotionally and physically in a moment of vulnerability.

Squared Filled: Jan: First Kiss

Created for: @yearoftheotpevent

The air in the underground library of Shinra Manor was thick with the scent of old parchment and dust, mingling with the faintest trace of something sweet and comforting—pumpkin spice. The warmth of the room contrasted with the chilling void that enveloped the mansion’s deeper underground levels. Bianca stood there, taking in the labyrinth of bookshelves and the haphazard piles of files scattered across the cold stone floor.

How many books had she dodged that he threw in search of his origins? She had lost track on the fourth day, but she could sense that something was off about him. Bianca didn’t know how to even approach it or why the string tied around their wrists was blackening. She was only wearing a cream-colored oversized sweater, the fabric soft against her skin, and dark slacks that hugged her legs with each step. The heels of her sandals clicked across the stone floor as she walked towards him. Despite the overwhelming darkness that pervaded the air, there was a quiet softness to her presence, a vulnerability that softened the harsh edges of the dimly lit study. Sephiroth stood across from her with his back towards her and running his fingers over the dusty spines of the books, searching for the research that would answer all of his questions. His tall frame radiated a tension that seemed to stretch out and consume the surrounding space. The weight of his turmoil — the relentless pursuit of truths that seemed to slip further from his grasp — was palpable. His normally composed demeanor was cracking, the edges of his sanity teetering. In that moment, as she had the previous days, Bianca could sense the rawness beneath it all.

She stepped closer to him. Her breath was shallow, yet her heart pounded in her chest. A pull, something magnetic and uncontrollable, drove her forward. As her eyes met his, she found something in the depths of his gaze that mirrored her own inner chaos: a longing, a pain, a quiet desperation. She needed him, aching for the sense of belonging that this man could only give her. He had become the only stability in the mooring of her soul: the wound left behind by her first husband’s death days before.

Without a word, she reached out, her fingers brushing against his, the touch light but electric. The contact sent a surge of heat through her body, and she could feel the rapid pulse of her own blood mingling with the undercurrent of energy between them. There was no plan or expectation, just a need that was almost primal.

Primal. That scared her. Bianca had never just followed her primal instincts, as she knew well that it would unleash the beast dwelling deep within her: the gift of her father, the archdemon who went by the name of Asmodeus. She feared losing control of her inner demon, but Sephiroth and his sad — and a bit crazed eyes — called to her.

Sephiroth turned towards her. His hand still rested upon the book he was about to pull from the shelf. His gaze softened slightly; a flicker of something unspoken passed between them. His mouth parted, barely a breath between his top and heavy bottom lips. In that fleeting moment, Bianca saw the raw, unguarded Sephiroth—the man not defined by his legacy or his dark search, but the person beneath it all. She only saw him in that moment, and he only saw the woman beneath all the pain and torment: souls tied beyond something greater than their heritage and circumstance.

Then, without warning, he closed the space between them and bent down. His lips crashing into hers in a kiss that was as fierce as it was tender. It was as if the world around them ceased to exist, leaving only the taste of their shared breath and the warmth of their bodies. Bianca gasped into the kiss, her senses igniting in an instant.

The kiss was intoxicating, rich with the taste of the breakfast they shared earlier and the faint scent of lily of the valley on his skin. His lips were firm, yet his touch was careful, as though testing the waters of something he had long kept at bay. As their mouths moved together, Bianca felt a sharp pull deep within her, a gravity that seemed to tether her to him in a way that transcended logic. She kissed him back. Her own lips were soft but insistent.

The thread around their wrists now glowed a vivid crimson, the heart-shape loops pulsating from the desire that pooled between them.

Bianca tasted the salt of his flesh. Her body shivered against him, the warmth of him pressing against her own as her hands slid up to grasp his chest, feeling the taut muscles beneath his SOLDIER suspenders crossing the broad expanse of his chest, the tension coiling in every movement. Her fingers curled around the middle of the straps, as her claws nicked his skin just slightly, but not enough for Sephiroth to bleed.

Then her right hand slid over to his arm. She felt his forearm flex beneath the ebony coat covering his entire body. Her hand gripped the silvery strands, brushing against his arm, trapping his hair between their skin.

A low hum reverberated through her, the sensation of his touch flooding her senses. The scent of him—a mix of sharp floral and earthy warmth — invaded her senses, making her head spin.

Need him. Need him. Need him. The thoughts kept repeating as he tilted his head and deepened the kiss. Her heart raced, the rhythm erratic as she sank deeper into the kiss. The heat between them growing.

His powerful hands found her waist, pulling her closer, as though trying to erase the distance between them. How his hands now trembled against her. She could feel the heat of his body seep into hers, a quiet fire that matched the burning need coursing through her veins. The kiss was no longer just an act. It was a communion, a shared moment of understanding that transcended the chaos of their individual experiences.

The sound of their breathing mingled, becoming erratic as the kiss deepened. Bianca’s mind raced, her body responding to the undeniable pull of Sephiroth’s presence. A flash fire of wanton attraction spread within her body, engulfing her senses just below her flesh. His fingers trailed up the soft fabric of her sweater before his hand dove beneath her clothing, brushing against the warmth of her skin beneath. The touch was almost too much, sending waves of sensation rushing through her, as it made her feel both lightheaded and grounded all at once. It was like drowning and soaring at the same time.

Her lips parted against his, and in that moment of minute separation, she could feel his breath on her mouth. Hot and unsteady. Full of want and need. For a fleeting instant, the world outside the confines of the library ceased to exist: Zack wasn’t tossing and turning in his bed as he tried to make sense of Sephiroth and why the other 1st Class SOLDIER locked himself in the basement or a creature of unknown origins named J.E.N.O.V.A wasn’t in the containment tank in the reactor in the mountains. It was just the two of them. An unlikely pair bound by something darker and deeper than either of them could fully comprehend — beyond Jenova, beyond Asmodeus, beyond Shinra. This union was fated to happen by a prophecy she had been running from her entire life.

His hand cupped her cheek. His thumb grazed her skin with such tenderness that it contrasted with the intensity of their kiss. Bianca leaned into the touch, as if she were a thirsty man deprive of water in the desert and his touch was her only oasis, and felt the pulse of his hand against her skin and the warmth of his presence anchoring her in a way nothing else ever had. No one had ever made her feel like this before.

The kiss lasted for what felt like an eternity. When they finally pulled apart, their foreheads touched, as he still bent down to her level. Their breaths mingled. Both of them were silent. A thousand unspoken words hung between them, as they stared up into each other’s eyes: gold peering into cyan hues. Bianca’s lips tingled from the kiss. Overwhelmed, she could still taste him, feel the warmth of his skin against hers, and his hand, a feather-light touch. The pumpkin spice of her scent clung to the air, providing a soft contrast to the sharpness of Sephiroth’s presence.

In that moment, there was no past, no future—only the now, the bond they shared, and the unspoken promise of something more. The silence between them was comfortable, filled with the unvoiced understanding that this moment, raw and unguarded, was a turning point in their tangled fates.

Bianca stood there. Her heart still pounded. Her body hummed with the aftershocks of the kiss. She didn’t know what the future held, but for the first time in a long while, she felt connected—truly connected—to someone who understood the weight of the circumstances that shaped her life.

tagging some fellow mutuals: @themaradwrites @whatwedointhecraft @serenofroses @megandaisy9

@watermeezer

@seastarblue @prehistoric-creatures @creativechaosqueen

@chickensarentcheap

[salmonandfox]

Happy Blorbo Blursday! How jumpy is your character? Do they get upset when startled?

OOH: Ok you got me twice so I'm going to uh.... IDK. Wing it.

For this one: Let's go with Shavn from the Fox Eater:

He's not AS jumpy as he could be, but definitely suffers from some PTSD issues, particularly around open or unexpected fire thanks to events in the front half of the book. Definitely does not like being startled because of this and trying to figure out if the correct response to whatever spooked him is flight or fight when it might be -none of the above- isn't a great time.

[cecexwrites]

The Fandom Club Server's Secret Santa @bardic-tales

I'm obsessed with Bianca's aesthetic. (Also she's 100 percent right about Candy Corn)

[asirensrage]

Happy Tender Tuesday. This is for an OC of your choosing. Does your OC have any siblings? What is their dynamic like?

It's Saturday, but I'm answering it now lol

I think it'd be most fun to answer this for Takara. Mainly because of the two different lives she leads or has led.

In her role as Takara, she has a younger brother, Takemichi. He's the hero of his story, and when Takara meets him, she gains a deep affection for him and his story... especially as he tries to help her adjust. The two of them care about each other deeply and both are the type to sacrifice themselves for the other. Which causes problems.

In her old life, she had two older brothers. Her family was very sports and goal-oriented. They all loved each other, but things happen as the youngest in the family. Especially when you're the only girl. She learned how to rough house, but she has been held to a higher standard than her brothers. She's had to work twice as hard to get any of the same chances they did (like needing to do figure skating and gymnastics just to play hockey) and deal with the sexism of being a girl in male-dominated areas. Still, she was close with her brothers....as long as she remembered them...

[kckramer]

Happy STS! What’s your favorite genre to write, and why?

Day two of me catching up on months of missed questions.

I think, ultimately, it comes down to fantasy as my favorite. The ability to create and tell stories in an open sandbox is just so appealing to me. I’ve actually been running into this a lot with my dieselpunk space opera— it’s all so politically relevant and pertinent that it’s hard to find the joy. I don’t have that problem with fantasy, but even my fantasy stories are still pretty grim, but I think the wide open sandbox is a big part of it.

[mayarab]

Happy Blorbo Blursday from the Creators Club. Does your character have a good memory? What is their earliest memory? What do they think of this memory?

I hadn't really thought this far about Polly's memories. Guess no better time than right now.

I'd say she has good memories from childhood, before the aspecness of her identity started being more obvious and she could keep some friends. (I feel like I need to point out that she can't keep friendships after she identifies as aspec because she is the one that starts resenting her friends).

Her first paycheck from book sales that made it clear it was a viable career is also a very good memory this is not wish fullfilment shhh

Earliest memory though... No clue. I'm not sure she'd know either. It'd be a childhood memory from when her parents were both alive, before she went to live with her grandma. A happy one, playing with both of them. She thinks fondly of this time.

[poore-choice-of-words]

Happy STS! What inspired you to start writing your current story?

Happy STS! Thanks for the ask!

So, funny thing: I got an ask like this last week too, great minds think alike I guess! I got into a side project and the broad strokes of The Heroes' Guild.

So I'm gonna get into the the weeds of what inspired the two Heroes' Guild stories I'm working on right now.

So for The Arcana Club (the general series name Summer's Summer with Summer falls into) is my love of magical girls, but also Naoko Takeuchi's method of writing who you would want to be friends with. It's kind of a gift to my younger self, which is also why the MCs are all in the same homeschool group (inspired by my old homeschool group).

Rising Ark as a series was mostly just inspired by Firefly, then what a story like that would look like if it took place in the future of The Heroes' Guild universe.

[nicholasandriani]

Discover the Heartbreaking Tale of The Wanderer - Reviewing An Anglo-Saxon Elegiac Masterpiece That Will Leave You Breathless! Including Considerations from Japan.

Greetings, dear audience! As a comparativist of medieval comp lit and researcher of storytelling methods, I am excited to take you on a journey through one of the most poignant and moving pieces of English literature – The Wanderer. The Wanderer is an elegy, a poetic lament for the loss of a loved one or for a bygone era. It is a powerful and emotive reflection on the transience of human life…

[iloveyou-writers]

Happy birthday. I can't tell you how much reading your positive words have inspired and motivate me when I had writer's block.

I hope you have a wonderful day today!

🥹🥹

This made me so happy. Thank you. I adore running this blog. I'm glad the words I've been needing to hear also help you guys too. 🥰🥰

Have a terrific day! Thank you for the birthday wishes.

[missriggie]

STOP SCROLLING!

You have been given Bardic Inspiration by the Half-Drow Morrjexia!

Reblog for +1d6 in your dice rolls today.

Please, continue...

[bardic-tales]

Lucien is the son of Bianca Moore and Sephiroth and twin to Aurora Moore. He is a product of reality magic that blends celestial, infernal, and Jenova DNA into a unique and powerful hybrid. Raised in the isolation of the Ethereal Nexus, Lucien’s existence is a delicate balance between his mother’s chaotic, destructive legacy and his father’s complex power. Though he possesses immense strength, Lucien is driven by a vision that diverges from the paths of both his parents. He seeks to reshape the Celestial Realm into a place where balance reigns, where creation and destruction exist side by side—not as opposites but as interdependent forces. His loyalty to Bianca is unwavering, but his desire for harmony and his understanding of the realms’ deeper needs push him toward a future that contradicts both Bianca and Sephiroth’s destructive inclinations.

tagging some fellow mutuals: @asirensrage @themaradwrites @whatwedointhecraft @serenofroses

@megandaisy9 @watermeezer

@seastarblue @prehistoric-creatures @creativechaosqueen

@chickensarentcheap

[salmonandfox]

Happy STS from the Creators Club. Tell us a random piece of trivia about your story.

The one I'm currently working on has Dragons (thus the title Clarions dragons) but also creatures inspired by dinosaurs, though not -entirely- accurate dinosaurs because one of them was inspired by a debunked theory where Microraptors might have venom. The ones on the Island nation of Ostos DO.

They have a powerful numbing agent so after they bite their victim, they can just... keep going because it doesn't continue to cause distress and also they pack hunt. (But thankfully prefer solo targets.)

I gave them feather patterns inspired by barn owls because I thought it was pretty, but the inside of their mouth is -bright- blue because toxic display colors are also fun.

I also included these funky little guys I can't remember the name of? The illustrations make them look like Porg's with bat wings so I made the Ostos version like a cross between frogs and bats, they eat insects, glide, and also hang on the sides of buildings and trees and make a horny-ruckus.

IDK they're fun.

[bardic-tales]

Thanks so much for the tag, @lexiklecksi. This generator is always fun!

Azrakiel / Asmodeus

Azrakiel is very good at walking in platform heels: 8 / 10. Azrakiel is the Prince of Lust. While he is the antagonist of the story, he is also a very peacocky person. He would wear and walk in platform heels and look good doing it.

Azrakiel likes being alone: - 0 / 10. No. He doesn't like to be alone. As Asmodeus, Azrakiel enjoys being around his subjects, participating in the hedonistic parties that he hosts, and desires to be all-present.

Azrakiel is going to hell: - 10 / 10. As a Prince of Hell, he rules over the hellish Kingdom of Lust. This was his reward for being one of Lucifer's top generals in the Civil War that split the divine beings' allegiances in half.

Bianca Moore - Final Fantasy version

Bianca steals other peoples clothes: 6 / 8. This is how Bianca's design came about. As a person who can bend reality, she tends to look at what people wear and create clothing based upon that. Her illusionary clothes feel real to the touch but takes a long of concentration to focus. Once she escaped Hojo and Shinra's confinement in [ ν ] – εγλ 0004, she tried to remember what the people's clothes looked like on Gaia. The only thing she could think of was a combination between Zack's SOLDIER uniform (which she changed the turtleneck to a biker's vest) and Sephiroth's trench coat.

Bianca is gay: 0/10. I was conflicted on this one. Bianca is not a lesbian, but she also is not straight. She is demisexual and demiromantic. However, she doesn't care what a person has under the hood, as long as she forms an emotional bond with them.

Bianca will go feral. Watch out: 10 / 10. She already did. When she was escaped her captivity in '04, Bianca slaughtered several SOLDIERS and troopers with her claws before finding Noctemaris and Solstice. She reveled in the blood shed.

Seraphine

Seraphine is constantly singing for no reason: 10 / 10. As a celestial being, Seraphine has a fondness for the arts. She particularly enjoys singing. As Bianca's living conscious, she tends to sing within Bianca's mind now. She did a rendition of Say You'll Be There by the Spice Girls.

Seraphine is great with kids: 6 / 10. Seraphine committed the greatest sacrifice to save her daughter from Azrakiel's machinations. She is a living conscious now, like Jimmy Cricket, but she is still an archangel. She is still righteous and can be condensing and cold to her daughter if she doesn't listen to her advice. Like Azrakiel, Seraphine is using Bianca for her own means: making Bianca into a Watcher of the Mortal realms like she was before her physical death. However, she sees it as necessary and different from Azrakiel since it's for the greater good.

Seraphine is oblivious to any and all romantic interest someone may show them: 10 / 10. As an angel, she doesn't understand mortal emotions, such as romantic interest. Intimacy is done for one reason alone in the Celestial Realm, to bolster ranks among the Celestial military. It's not done for love or even lust.

Tagging (softly and gently tagging) some OC creators and my new followers:

@residentdormouse @asirensrage @arrthurpendragon @megandaisy9 @prehistoric-creatures

@late-to-the-fandom @ddgraywrites @sinbadalexandros and @serenofroses (cause I want to hear SWTOR headcanons so gently tagging. :)) and an open tag for anyone else who wishes to do this.

✎ rating oc headcanons!

(huge thanks to @yourpenpaldee and @pixies-love-envy for the open tag! check out their posts here & here :D ++ bonus thanks to dee for the template i used, it made everything 10x easier)

RULES: use this headcanon generator to generate some headcanons for your OCs! how accurate are they?

(TAG UNDER THE CUT)

— alex

Alex chews their nails when nervous.

0/10. Alex is more likely to drum his fingers against a table or bounce his leg when nervous. He saw those pictures and videos of the long-term effects of nail-biting and it was enough to scare him into never doing so.

Alex hates being alone.

5/10. Even though he thrives when he's alone, I rated this one a 5/10 because there are times where he can't stand being alone with his thoughts—especially after Wally's passing.

Alex can't handle criticism.

9/10. Alex would tell you that he handles criticism well, but he's so obsessed with proving people wrong that criticism often leads to spiraling.

— bea

Bea is a great artist.

4/10. Bea can make sure her make-up looks good, but that's about it when it comes to art. The kids at the daycare center where she works tease her about her drawing skills, and she can't really sing, dance, or play instruments either. She's more sport-oriented.

Bea instinctively cleans messes in their own house as well as other peoples.

10/10. It took a while for Bea to accept that her home wouldn't be tidy as long as she lived with her overworked and naturally messy father. She's the kind of girl to help your mom with the dishes after dinner, take her shoes off at the door, and make your bed even if she sits on it for five minutes.

Bea cringes at their middle school yearbook photos.

0/10. Bea was homeschooled by her aunt in middle school.

— julia

Julia does intricate and expensive cosplays.

6/10. Julia doesn't cosplay, but she used to take Halloween very seriously before her brother passed away. Intricate? Yes. Expensive? No… her elaborate dance costumes are where the expenses come in.

Julia gets road rage.

0/10. She doesn't drive yet, but Julia accepted that some people are going to be stupid on the road. She's mostly excited for the freedom to go wherever she pleases whenever she pleases.

Julia is a cry baby.

8/10. As a child, Julia was teased for how much she cried in school. She doesn't cry as much in public anymore, but she knows that she needs to cry in order to process difficult moments in her life—thanks therapy! Dance is also a huge outlet for her emotions.

— pj

PJ wears Hello Kitty socks.

10/10. She stole them from Bea… then replaced them so they have matching Hello Kitty socks!

PJ has an incredible short-term memory but an awful long-term memory.

0/10. PJ has amazing short- and long-term memory. She remembers things you forgot about yourself.

PJ doesn't know how to say "no".

1/10. The only person she doesn't know how to say "no" to is Bea. If something comes up that messes up plans they'd already made, she does everything in her power to make it up to her. As for everyone else, "no" is one of her favorite words.

— wally

Wally is a horrible liar.

10/10. Wally didn't lie much because he could never get away with it. There was especially no lying to Julia.

Wally can play the piano.

10/10. And he could play it well! He took piano lessons from age three all the way to the time of his death. He loved to play for Julia's dance company's recitals.

Wally can't spell resturaunt.

0/10. My boy was a 3-time spelling bee champion. He would never let you live it down if you made a typo in a text message. He had to teach Alex how to spell appreciate.

i'll tag: @ibuprofen-exe, @mitchell-nihil, @charlies-storybook + open tag! have fun :D

teenage vows taglist (ask to be added/removed!): @fleurtygurl & @wildswrites

[asirensrage]

Trick or Treat, from the Creators Club.

from this post

TREAT!

What is your favourite part about writing Bianca's story?

[kckramer]

Happy STS from the Creators Club! How do you ensure that your themes resonate with your audience?

@bardic-tales

So, this is a great question, as I don’t do much deliberate work with themes. I take the perspective that themes are meant to emerge naturally and experientially as part of the story. Different people will find different sets of themes in stories as their own experience intersects with that within the narrative.

(And my bad for taking so long- I didn’t realize I could see the inbox on mobile)

[book--brackets]

The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy by Clare B. Dunkle (2003-2005)

For thousands of years, young women have been vanishing from Hallow Hill, never to be seen again. Now Kate and Emily have moved there with no idea of the land's dreadful heritage--until Marak decides to tell them himself. Marak is a powerful magician who claims to be the goblin king, and he has very specific plans for the two new girls who have trespassed into his kingdom . . .

Healer and Seer by Victoria Henley (2000-2004)

Legend states that there exists a mighty sword that makes its possessor invincible to his enemies. But there is a curse on anyone who lifts the sword for conquest. King Kareed of Archeld goes after this sword anyway, winning it from the King of Bellandra. When he returns home from battle, he brings his daughter, Princess Torina, two special gifts. One is a unique crystal, in which she can view visions of the future. The other gift is the defeated king’s son Landen, who is to be her slave. Torina immediately releases Landen, who becomes a member of the King’s army and her close friend.

But trouble is lurking in the kingdom of Archeld and people are accusing Landen of plotting against the King. Torina refuses to believe he would hurt her family. Then Torina begins seeing deadly visions in her crystal. Can she save her father’s life and the future of her kingdom?

Fire and Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones (1985)

Polly has two sets of memories...

One is normal: school, home, friends. The other, stranger memories begin nine years ago, when she was ten and gate-crashed an odd funeral in the mansion near her grandmother's house. Polly's just beginning to recall the sometimes marvelous, sometimes frightening adventures she embarked on with Tom Lynn after that. And then she did something terrible, and everything changed.

But what did she do? Why can't she remember? Polly must uncover the secret, or her true love — and perhaps Polly herself — will be lost.

The Medoran Chronicles by Lynette Noni (2015-2019)

Dreading her first day at a new school, Alex is stunned when she walks through a doorway and finds herself stranded in Medora, a fantasy world full of impossibilities. Desperate to return home, she learns that only a man named Professor Marselle can help her... but he's missing.

While waiting for him to reappear, Alex attends Akarnae Academy, Medora's boarding school for teenagers with extraordinary gifts. She soon starts to enjoy her bizarre new world and the friends who embrace her as one of their own, but strange things are happening at Akarnae, and Alex can't ignore her fear that something unexpected... something sinister... is looming.

An unwilling pawn in a deadly game, Alex's shoulders bear the crushing weight of an entire race's survival. Only she can save the Medorans, but what if doing so prevents her from ever returning home?

The Girl With Silver Eyes by Willo Davis Roberts (1980)

Everyone knows that Katie is different. The first thing people notice about her are her shiny silver eyes, but even they are not her most unique feature. If they paid a bit more attention, they might see that, as well as being very clever, she attracts strange activity. She can move her glasses back up her nose without touching them and freak weather seems to follow her around. However, when Katie moves to a new neighbourhood, she begins to realise that she might not be the only one who has the ability to do unbelievable things. Join Katie as she struggles to learn more about her place in two very different worlds. A magical story about a magical girl, with powers almost as sharp as her sensational silver eyes.

The Song of Albion by Stephen R. Lawhead (1991-1991)

From the dreaming spires of Oxford, Lewis Gillies drives north to seek a mythical creature in a misty glen in Scotland. Expecting little more than a weekend diversion, Lewis finds himself in a mystical place where two worlds meet, in the time-between-times--and in the heart of a battle between good and evil. The ancient Celts admitted no separation between this world and the Otherworld: the two were delicately interwoven, each dependent on the other. The Paradise War crosses the thin places between this world and that, as Lewis Gillies comes face-to-face with an ancient mystery--and a cosmic catastrophe in the making.

The World of Riverside by Ellen Kushner (1987-2002)

On the treacherous streets of Riverside, a man lives and dies by the sword. Even the nobles on the Hill turn to duels to settle their disputes. Within this elite, dangerous world, Richard St. Vier is the undisputed master, as skilled as he is ruthless—until a death by the sword is met with outrage instead of awe, and the city discovers that the line between hero and villain can be altered in the blink of an eye.

The Tarot Sequence by K. D. Edwards (2018-present)

Rune Saint John, last child of the fallen Sun Court, is hired to search for Lady Judgment's missing son, Addam, on New Atlantis, the island city where the Atlanteans moved after ordinary humans destroyed their original home.

With his companion and bodyguard, Brand, he questions Addam's relatives and business contacts through the highest ranks of the nobles of New Atlantis. But as they investigate, they uncover more than a missing man: a legendary creature connected to the secret of the massacre of Rune's Court.

In looking for Addam, can Rune find the truth behind his family's death and the torments of his past?

Bardic Voices by Mercedes Lackey (1992-1997)

With the proper schooling young Rune would be one of the greatest bards her world has ever seen. Even if only she knows it. Unfortunately, the daughter of a tavern wench at the Hungry Bear, no matter how talented, doesn't get much in the way of formal training. What she does get is frustrated. 

One night, to back up a brag she probably wouldn't have made if she weren't so mad, she went up to play her fiddle for the Ghost of Skull Hill. Everyone knows that no one who has ever gone up Skull Hill has come down again. Not alive, anyway. 

But when the ghost appears Rune Strikes a bargain: if the ghost tires of her playing before morning her life is his; if he is still listening when the sun glints over yonder hill she will have earned both life and a sack of silver. Let the music begin...

The Squire's Tales by Gerald Morris (1998-2010)

Life for the young orphan Terence has been peaceful, living with Trevisant, the old Hermit in a quiet, isolated wood.

That is, until the day a strange green sprite leads him to Gawain, King Arthur's nephew, who is on his way to Camelot hoping to be knighted. Trevisant can see the future and knows that Terence must leave to serve as Gawain's squire. From that moment on, Terence's life is filled with heart-stopping adventure as he helps damsels-in-distress, fights battles with devious men, and protects King Arthur from his many enemies.

Along the way, Terence is amazed at his skills and new-found magical abilities. Were these a gift from his unknown parents? As Gawain continues his quest for knighthood, Terence searches for answers to the riddles in his own past.