Maria DiFranco

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Nov, 2022

Stories (4)

4 Stories

101 karma pts

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“For Queen and Country” by Maria DiFranco

Submitted to Contest #254

The flat of the dagger concealed in Martin’s boot pressed against his calf. It was cold, like his fingers and his stomach. Warm bodies crowded against him, and he cringed away from them. Shivering, he watched the couple dance in the middle of the room.It was a father and daughter, King and Princess, and their steps were well-choreographed and well-practiced, but they lacked a certain grace. A lady standing beside Martin whispered to the Lord she had arrived with, “Princess Lily is not dancing as well as usual.”“King Gordon looks too stiff as...

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“Phoenix Feather” by Maria DiFranco

Submitted to Contest #232

"Just remember," the wizard said, his fingers burning with a warm fire, "no matter how much the darkness may try, it cannot put out a light." "But other things can," Teo said. His hands were smaller than his mentor's, and he cupped them together to receive the wizard's light. His mentor smiled. The fire lit up his teeth and dark eyes. "But we can stop other things," he said. He lowered his hand, dropping the magical fire into his apprentice's palms. Teo gasped at the heat, then laughed. "We cannot stop darkness," said his mentor, "but it can...

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“Dusty Wings” by Maria DiFranco

Submitted to Contest #204

The moonlight turned the man’s hair the color of the sun. Large wings draped over his shoulders matched the dusty sand of the road before him. His feet dragged. So did his horse’s hooves as he led the mare into the empty town.  The man gazed at the buildings as he passed, his eyes in the lamplight turning the color of the wings across his shoulders. Casually he read each sign: the tanner, the smith, the healer he all passed, though blood speckled the feathers at the edge of his cloak, and the hand not holding the mare’s reins hung lim...

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“A Hoard without Purpose” by Maria DiFranco

Submitted to Contest #185

Gwyneth huffed as she climbed the mountain. She had no sword and no armor; both had been stolen by the dragon. Many other things had been stolen too, and not just her things. Her father’s sword, which the elves had gifted to him, disappeared one night. The minute hand of the town’s clocktower also had vanished, leaving a ragged and bent stump behind that still ticked pathetically as it counted the time. Her king’s flag had been ripped in half, the guards’ helmets taken right off their heads, and even the royal treasury had lost half its weal...

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Author bio

First grade teacher by day, writer by the five minutes of spare time I have each night.