Shawn M. Klimek is another master drabbler that I’m excited to finally feature in one of our anthologies.
Please enjoy this Persian myth inspired drabble!
Manticore Hide
Shawn M. Klimek
To win the king’s reward for a manticore’s hide, warriors Enshang and Zaveh hunted the man-eater for three days, but without success. As they were about to give up, Zaveh happened to discover a litter of mewling manticore cubs.
“Let us hide here to ambush the mother,” he suggested.
“I have a better idea,” Enshang countered. “Let us skin the cubs and stitch their hides together.”
Outside the king’s court, a trumpet sounded.
“Has my enemy come to parlay?” asked the king.
“No Lord,” said his herald. “It is the manticore, come to taunt again. She is wearing human skins.”
Shawn M. Klimek is the author of the illustrated, poetic-fantasy book, Hungry Thing, and more than 200 published poems and short stories. He specializes in speculative fiction with a touch of humor. He lives in Illinois with his military-nurse wife and their Maltese.
Website: blog.jotinthedark.com
Facebook: @shawnmklimekauthor
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Read more Mythical Drabbles here
Featured image from Deposit Photos
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