Balk
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Summary
“You accused me of treating this like a game. I am sorry if I’ve led you to believe that it is only a game—though I won't deny that part of it is.” Bren gives a disarming smile. “My life is either games or murder, after all.”
“Or mail fraud,” Thelyss says dryly, not even a little disarmed.
“The mail fraud is a sort of game as well.”
A sigh. “Is this your way of telling me that you intend to continue playing?”
Bren smiles again, sharper. “If you would let me.”(In which Bren Aldric Ermendrud decides to seduce the Shadowhand and finds that the best way to convince someone to be vulnerable with you is to be vulnerable in turn.)
Series
- Part 1 of aBiA
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- English
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- 20/20
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Bookmarked by Balk
08 Jun 2026
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This is a great honor, Essek reminds himself, trying not to recoil as fingers run through his hair, working through the tangles. A braid is made of three strands, symbolizing the inextricable bond between the soul, the den, and the Luxon. A recognition of an achievement by the drow who bears it. With each braid, the soul is bound ever closer to its den and to the Luxon.
It is a lesson Essek learned long ago, but one he is never permitted to forget.
[Or: the story of why the Shadowhand wears his hair cropped short.]
- Language:
- English
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- 20,605
- Chapters:
- 4/4
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- 246
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- 1,403
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Bookmarked by Balk
08 Jun 2026
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Caleb Widogast wakes up from the first good night of sleep in far too long.
It takes him a moment to realise it's because he's not in his bed.
Is it the better mattress (lump-free and like a cloud), or the fact he drunkenly slept with Essek Thelyss, the colleague he's been secretly crushing on for the last six months?
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 62,274
- Chapters:
- 12/12
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- 590
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- 1,365
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Bookmarked by Balk
07 Jun 2026
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Summary
Linear prompt fills for Shadowgast Week.
*
They are resting when it happens. Pathetically, Essek is so absorbed in his little fantasy that it takes him a handful of seconds to notice when a few of the Mighty Nein sit up suddenly, alert.
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The Mighty Nein and their wizard guest get a surprise visitor after entering Aeor. It changes some things along the way.- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 15,903
- Chapters:
- 8/8
- Comments:
- 131
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- 1,369
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Bookmarked by Balk
05 Jun 2026
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Summary
Essek uses more high-level dunamancy in battle, and Caleb tries to reverse-engineer it when he can't sleep.
AKA What if we were both wizards and I cast Tether Essence on us to save your life?Bookmarked by Balk
05 Jun 2026