Scars by James A. Moore

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Seven Forges

Publisher: Self Published (December 13, 2013)

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Length: 6 pages

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

From the Mounds is a short story chronicling a forgotten episode of The Seven Forges series, specifically a campfire conversation between Andover Lashk, the Fellein ambassador to the Sa’ba Taalor, and Drask Silver Hand and Delil of this mysterious people.

For those unfamiliar with James A. Moore’s sword and sorcery series, it basically begins with a small group of Fellein adventurers braving the inhospitable Blasted Lands to reach the unknown volcanos at its heart: the land of the Seven Forges. But before they can reach said volcanic bastion in the heart of this icy, poisonous wasteland, they stumble upon members of the mysterious Sa’ba Taalor people. And while the Felleins are eager to befriend these strange savages, it gradually becomes clear that the Sa’ba Taalor are hiding something from their discoverers; something that might have dire affects for the rest of teh world.

Naturally, though there is tension between them, two groups of people forced by circumstances to be with one another will talk, ask questions of each other, and familiarize themselves with their companions. Stories, legends, and general gossip will inevitably be shared, and From the Mounds is one of those instances where three companions sit around a campfire telling stories. This time the story being about one of the main Sa’ba Taalor characters in the series, Tuskandru.

Now, this is a very short tale — only six pages.  And, yes, the narrative is short, clipped, and simple.  But it is exactly how you’d imagine a closed-mouthed warrior would talk when relating a story about one of his fellow warriors. And through this snapshot, a little more light is cast on Tuskandru as well as giving lovers of the Sa’ba Taalor another piece of lore to contemplate about this mysterious group of people.

So for those already a fan of the Seven Forges series, From the Mounds is another tasty morsels to wet your appetite while you await more Sa’ba Taalor from James A. Moore.

Read the short story here.