Garia takes on some more staff as they attempt to discover what happened to the tenth frayen. In order to investigate quietly she begins a census of the town which causes further confusion. Sookie has her first ride on Tixi and then a meeting is interrupted with alarming news...

The townspeople begin to discover just how extraordinary their new liege is, as they see her in action and speak to her and Keren. Sukhana gets a mount and Snep gets a new friend while the womenfolk of Blackstone inspect the latest fashions from the palace.

Jaxen sets off for Tranidor and Garia takes the opportunity for a ride on Snep. She learns more about the country around Blackstone and discovers how a vital resource is provided. The afternoon is taken up with the party's move to the Ptuvil's Claw and she receives a number of requests, both expected and unexpected.

The unpleasant task of convicting Trogan proceeds after lunch. Once that is concluded to everyone's satisfaction the three convicted men must be executed - and even now Trogan tries to influence the proceedings. Garia's stamina and resolution is tested during this most trying of days.

Garia discovers that she knows very little about the finances of her new world, the men make a mess in the Ptuvil's Claw and Sukhana makes an unexpected proposal. Then, the moment comes for Garia to face the townspeople and tell them what the future holds. Later, there is an earnest discussion about... tarpaulins?

SCARLET by Jessica Drew

Part 3

After a less than successful start to his mission aboard the yacht, Sam is taken under the wing of Maria Ramirez.

* * * * * * * * * *

SCARLET by Jessica Drew

Part 2

Agent Sam Fields finds himself trapped. Not only in the body of the beautiful Antoinette, but aboard the luxury yacht of drug baron Carlos Ramirez.

* * * * * * * * * *

It seems that Garia and Keren are only just beginning to understand what Trogan and his men have done to Blackstone. Jaxen joins them that evening to bring disturbing news. As the full nature of the plot becomes clear plans must be changed, causing a search of the town the following morning.

It is closer to late afternoon rather than High Noon but Garia has the eerie feeling that she has ridden onto a set for a western movie as the caravan pulls into Blackstone. The actions of the locals don't help, either... something very nasty is going on! Abruptly they are forced into a confrontation that can only have one ending...

Snakes and Ladders-25

Chapter 25

Ow…

Ow…

I’m getting my thoughts together or trying to after getting whacked by the thingy. I’m a little punch drunk I think and I feel this…

I open my eyes and The tips of it’s tentacles around this nasty looking mouth are glowing purple and I feel it hit me hard…this sensation of all these spikes being driven into my head, into my brain!

I scream and roll around as I’m having the worst migraine attack ever!

I can feel it drilling, pushing and prying into me…

Drilling and trying to get into my mind.

Snakes and Ladder-24

Chapter 24

My nose crinkles with the smell and I feel sweat trickling down in places. The whole situation has my senses just throbbing going from that all out fight to us moving through the halls and sort of calming down to this. My adrenaline is pumping pretty nuts and I feel like I mixed some of those wake up tablets they used to sell at some of the truck stops with Redbull.

Oh by the way Redbull is kinda ick.

Like they took Mountain dew and added medicine tasting stuff and then a bit of battery acid.

Deep breath Erendae.

Looking at myself I wanted to shout every expletive I knew. I tried to remember sentences and fragments of old English, but I couldn’t, only reinforcing my unfortunate predicament. It literally was all foreign to me. I’m guessing that anything I’ve learned from a later life can’t be remembered in this one. As in fact, the only thing I could remember was that I was a man.

My Super Secret Life…Villain-12

Chapter 12

Kiss her.

She’s certainly attractive enough.

“The last time I kissed you Link, I had quite the reaction.”

“I know.” She smiles and dimples.

“Not that funny.”

“Did I laugh?”

“Okay, no kisses?”

I sit back sideways in the seat. “How’s about an explanation then?”

She grins and sits facing me but cross legged. “I’m called Link not just for my look but for the fact that I can feed off of your powers.”

“So you’re a Dracula.”

“I’m not a vampire.”

Snakes and Ladders-23

Chapter 23

I push myself up to my feet and it takes a dozen staggering steps before I’m picking up speed and the soreness is going away from my muscles warming up. Dammit I’m just getting started I think and I know already that I’m going to be sore when this is over.

I snag a blaster from one of the fallen elves it’s bigger than the one that I had but I think I can use it. It’s this sort of a ceramic wheel lock looking weapon with a rectangular barrel instead of a round one and there’s a large red crystal set into the tech-magic circuits where a clip would get put in with a gun from home and it’s about six inches shorted than a pistol gripped style shotgun.

I go with that, I know shotguns pretty well.

The time has come for all those gathered at Castle Dekarran to make their various ways home, and for Garia that means other partings... which hit her harder than she expects. With the departure of the royal party it is also time to put her own plans into effect, but a face from the past causes an unexpected surprise.

Taranna's death is not the only shock Garia gets when she returns to the castle as they realize she has inadvertantly exposed their plans to discovery. Confined to quarters she faces a scramble to adjust to the changed circumstances. Later, Garia uses her entire musical knowledge attempting to play a dajan, and the following morning causes problems when she visits the bereaved pair.

Preparations continue for Garia's disappearing act, with her stand-in proving an apt pupil. The finger of suspicion for her attempted abduction seems to point ever more firmly towards Yod, and security measures are tightened. Even so, there is a visit which must be made, to the Guildmaster of the miners, a person difficult to please. Can Garia find a way to gain his co-operation?

Garia's semi-holiday at Castle Dekarran continues with dancing lessons and a close look at a local musical instrument. She learns something about the nature of touch and a possible reason why the local music sounds so bad. Then, unexpectedly, everything changes...

Garia rides up to enter the immense pile of stone which guards the confluence of the Sirrel and the Palar. She settles in and meets Gilbanar's nobles of which group she is now a member. The evening banquet and subsequent dance has predictable results but an offer of help is made. Later, Jenet makes an unexpected request.

Don’t Blame Me I’m A Martian-19

Chapter 19

*Cheyenne…

I’d sort of settled here for now in town and got myself a job at the local A&W place and I’m not that bad at the whole service industry stuff. Me and My people have been here awhile and we’ve gotten the proper I.D.’s through various means and stuff but all it just means is I won’t flag things when they go to run my social.