Parkin, a soldier-turned-mercenary, has been hired by the King's Magician to accompany him on a long journey into the great western desert, in search of an ancient and powerful artefact. After years spent battling the heathens in the frozen north, Parkin is glad for what he thinks will be an easy contract.

But there's more to fear in the desert than thirst, and as Parkin's comrades fall one by one, he's forced to ask - what does the Magician really want from him? And what evil has taken root in the rock mound known as the Ant Tower?

The Ant Tower is an 8000 word swords-and-sorcery fantasy in the style of Gene Wolfe and Michael Moorcock. The Ant Tower was also collected in Future Tides, a 60,000 word, 18 story collection by Christopher Ruz, comprising of all his science fiction and fantasy work published between 2007 and 2011.