Ahhhh. Guys. I don't know what to choose. I've settled between '34 Seconds' and 'Ashes of Illium'. They're both high quality in two different ways. Lawd Jaysus, the decisions you have to make sometimes. 

In the end, while I truly adore the emotional/thematic impact of '34 Seconds' carried in such efficient word use, my [@vote] goes to 'Ashes of Illium' for a well-thought and satisfying story amongst the ranks of historical fiction. No easy task, but you did it, creating a story that was clean, well-worded, and filled with character and emotion. 

Seriously, great work to the two of you, the choice came down basically to a coin toss.