Hassan the Executioner Walks Out of Jawasar for the Last Time
ShortStory 5,274 words Recommended by 2 award/anthology sources
"Lamia burst like a shattered glass into the scream and scouring heat of desert wind, loosing the power that had lived in her ever since she had returned from the Refiner of the Desert. Her fire lashed across the wide plaza atop the Spire where she had held court over her city, Jawasar, Jewel of the Desert, city of justice, and fear, and sorcery."
Content warnings 2
deathviolence
Quasar links out; the story lives on BCS, where the author gets the click.