Born to Be Broken https://www.penana.com/feed/4359 Five Races used to wander freely throughout Aeirien. No more. The Magicians drove all the High Races except humans into hiding one hundred years ago. But amidst the horror and corruption of the Magicians rule there is hope.A prophecy foretells the birth of a set of twins who will defeat the Magicians and end their rule. en Penana Born to Be Broken Francesca https://www.penana.com/story/4359/born-to-be-broken/issue/25 25. Home Sweet HomeFrancescaWhen Bridget had been captured, I’d had my suspicions that Gary was behind the abduction. I had, after all, sent him out in search of Aurora Lopez and my captors were also searching for her. It made sense that our paths might Fri, 06 Nov 2015 22:10:04 +0000 Born to Be Broken Rory https://www.penana.com/story/4359/born-to-be-broken/issue/24 24. Rescues and ReunionsRoryBridget! How could Rowan keep something so important from me! He knew that I would jump into any rescue mission – particularly if anyone in our gang was involved… Which, now that I thought of it, was probably why he Fri, 06 Nov 2015 22:08:42 +0000 Born to Be Broken Luke https://www.penana.com/story/4359/born-to-be-broken/issue/23 23. ConfrontationsLukeI stared at the piece of paper Rowan had shoved at me a few moments before. The lines and groupings of squiggles on it drifted past my eyes, evading meaning.“What?” I asked, confused as to why he wanted me to look at it. Fri, 06 Nov 2015 22:07:18 +0000 Born to Be Broken Francesca https://www.penana.com/story/4359/born-to-be-broken/issue/22 22. The Middle of Nowhere…FrancescaI stared into the bushes surrounding the trail. There was nothing to see really. We were currently on the edge of the plains – a gaping hole in the middle of Aerien where there were no decent sized settlements anywhere Fri, 06 Nov 2015 22:04:51 +0000 Born to Be Broken Rory https://www.penana.com/story/4359/born-to-be-broken/issue/21 21. Prophecies and New AlliancesRoryVoices murmured around me when I woke. I strained to decipher them but only grew more confused. I couldn’t remember where I was, except that I was obviously no longer in Jake’s camp. I roused myself roughly, trying to Fri, 06 Nov 2015 22:03:40 +0000 Born to Be Broken Luke https://www.penana.com/story/4359/born-to-be-broken/issue/20 20. SetbacksLukeThe bustle of activity in the camp stopped as I stepped off the wagon. An uncomfortable silence descended, blanketing everyone. Breaking the stillness Cathy rushed forward and hugged me hard. “Luke!” she exclaimed, chastisement and relie Fri, 06 Nov 2015 22:00:48 +0000 Born to Be Broken Rory https://www.penana.com/story/4359/born-to-be-broken/issue/19 19. Improbable Escape and RefugeRoryMoans echoed throughout the cavern as the enchanted prisoners began to stir and sit up. Many of them clutched their stomachs and retched, adding to the din that was building. All of them were in various states of dish Fri, 06 Nov 2015 21:59:42 +0000 Born to Be Broken Francesca https://www.penana.com/story/4359/born-to-be-broken/issue/18 18. Slaves are People TooFrancescaI ground my teeth in frustration. I couldn’t believe they had caught me. By now, I had figured out who was who within the group. I thought Luke was Aurora’s twin. He had the same shape to his face, eyes, nose, mouth, et Fri, 06 Nov 2015 21:57:54 +0000 Born to Be Broken Luke https://www.penana.com/story/4359/born-to-be-broken/issue/17 17. Compass BearingsLukeWe’d been riding for hours and I felt sore all over. I would have rather ridden in the wagon – at least I knew how to do that. I looked longingly back at it. Everyone else, except Rowan and Carla, was riding like me because it wa Fri, 06 Nov 2015 21:56:49 +0000 Born to Be Broken Rory https://www.penana.com/story/4359/born-to-be-broken/issue/16 16. The Hall of NightmaresRoryI could only gather little energy but time was running out. I gathered what energy I could and began to weave it into an Illusion. If anyone were to try to violate the privacy of my mind, he or she would see a distortion of Sun, 01 Nov 2015 16:15:04 +0000 Born to Be Broken Rory https://www.penana.com/story/4359/born-to-be-broken/issue/15 15. Daydreams and NightmaresRory“Now Rory,” a cool voice said, “We need to ask you some questions.”“Fine,” I snarled and heard a whistling noise through the air near my head and the ropes tying my legs together dropped away. Rough hands helped me Sun, 01 Nov 2015 16:13:32 +0000 Born to Be Broken Luke https://www.penana.com/story/4359/born-to-be-broken/issue/14 14. Rowan’s GrudgeLuke“I guess we’d better get back inside so he can talk to me,” I sighed to Bridget.“Don’t worry Luke,” Bridget replied with a hint of laughter, “I’m sure he won’t be that hard on you!”We walked up the steps and for a sec Sun, 01 Nov 2015 14:52:30 +0000 Born to Be Broken Francesca https://www.penana.com/story/4359/born-to-be-broken/issue/13 13. The Sleuth is on the CaseFrancescaI paused in the front foyer of the Scriptorium blinking in the early morning light that streamed through the wide stained glass windows. I hadn’t realized I’d stayed for so long. There were no windows in the Scripto Sun, 01 Nov 2015 14:51:19 +0000 Born to Be Broken Francesca https://www.penana.com/story/4359/born-to-be-broken/issue/12 12. Sniffing Out CluesFrancescaMy mother seemed determined to pace a hole in the floor. I thought I could see the track she had worn into the hard wood panelling if I looked hard enough. “You still don’t seem to understand the seriousness of the situati Sun, 01 Nov 2015 14:50:04 +0000 Born to Be Broken Luke https://www.penana.com/story/4359/born-to-be-broken/issue/11 11. Foolish WanderingsLukeI was fooling around, practicing the one ability Rory had taught me the night we’d escaped. My ability to Mind-Speak had improved vastly – I barely needed to concentrate to touch another person’s mind and speak with them. The o Sun, 01 Nov 2015 14:45:01 +0000 Born to Be Broken Rory https://www.penana.com/story/4359/born-to-be-broken/issue/10 10. Captured!RoryI gave Ray my final report on the Medici’s before I left – not that the Trustees needed it but I couldn’t afford to let them know I knew their secret. A pit lodged itself in my stomach and twisted there. I hugged Cathy and then Ray acco Wed, 28 Oct 2015 21:41:09 +0000 Born to Be Broken Francesca https://www.penana.com/story/4359/born-to-be-broken/issue/9 9. Unforgivable FailuresFrancescaI paced around my room waiting for the moment Gary return with Melissa. I was anxious that Gary succeed at all costs. My mother had made it clear the night before the consequences of failure now. Apparently, Melissa had Wed, 28 Oct 2015 21:40:06 +0000 Born to Be Broken Luke https://www.penana.com/story/4359/born-to-be-broken/issue/8 8. Disaster AvertedLukeWe arrived at the outskirts of Saffron at approximately two hours after sunset. I was exhausted. Rowan had driven us at a hard pace and we’d only stopped briefly twice all day. Rowan glanced back at us and started to give orders. Wed, 28 Oct 2015 21:39:05 +0000 Born to Be Broken Luke https://www.penana.com/story/4359/born-to-be-broken/issue/7 7. The Bitter PastLukeWe were all sitting on logs beside a fire pit waiting for Rowan to show up. The group of handpicked Liberation recruits consisted of Rowan and I, and four others, including my two roommates Jesse and David, and Bridget. Out of the Wed, 28 Oct 2015 02:31:30 +0000 Born to Be Broken Rory https://www.penana.com/story/4359/born-to-be-broken/issue/6 6.  The Cost of Being WrongRoryThe Phantasm had worn me to my very limit and it was getting dark. This wasn’t a good time or place to be crashing. I leaned against the wall to catch my breath. I didn’t even have enough strength left to create another Gl Wed, 28 Oct 2015 02:29:33 +0000