This is going to be a summary of where I intended it to. I may add to it later.

Battle plans rarely survive first contact unless scope for a swift and orderly withdrawal is factored in at first instance. Drustina's initial plans do exactly that. First she must try and measure the enemy's capacity and quality on sea and if possible, on land. She has not the resources to tempt the Vikings to land troops ashore early so she cannot fully determine what she must face in the final analysis.

CHAPTER 4
A little later I left the three of them to find what accommodation they could, and it struck me just then how natural my sister was. I had almost threatened her into doing what we had just started, for I knew it would not soon be finished, but she sat there, skirt and heels and stuffed bra, and every move, every little nuance, was woman. If I could see that, then so must our parents.

Strange Magi, Strange Gifts <by ElrodW Christmas in Joel's home city is worse than bad. Post-apocalyptic conditions prevail because of a very dangerous bio-weapon released in the city. Things are grim — and Christmas is going to be a casualty. However, when Joel wishes he could do something, he has a strange encounter with three very strange Magi, and he receives gifts to help stop the contagion and save the holidays — but there are always complications. Many, many thanks to Megan for helping turn a simple concept for an image into something very nice for the story. Hugs for your help. And thanks to the volunteers who suffered through the first drafts to help get this story edited. Now - enjoy. Merry Christmas. [email protected]

Copyright © 2013 ElrodW
All Rights Reserved.

Three Men & a Christmas Spirit.
By Tanya Allan

Three young men break down on the way to spending the Christmas break in the French Alps, in a region where cell coverage is almost non-existent. Only one speaks sufficient French to seek help. Leaving his friends with the car, Terry Cooper sets off to find a telephone just as it starts to snow. He meets a woman on the road, but before he can speak to her, she vanishes. He believes she has gone though a gate, so he follows to find a large chá¢teau at the end of the drive. On answering the door, the butler mistakes the bedraggled Terry for a girl. On entering the chá¢teau, Terry is allowed to call the breakdown organisation. however, on leaving he sees a portrait of the woman he saw on the road. What is weird is that he bears a striking resemblance to her.. What is weirder still is that she has been dead for nearly two years.

He is then seen by the owner of the chá¢teau, who cannot believe that the young person in front of him is male, or that he has walked here by chance looking just like his dead wife.

So begins a fantastical adventure that can only have one outcome; ...

..... or can it?

A Christmas Story ²

Desiree O'Hara

Special thanks to my Darling Daughters that have taken care of me.

Does not fit the Contest, tried too, but this is the way it wished to be written. Not that I ever seem to have a clue about stories. AS it is I ran out of muse before I got all nine scenes written. May the Season bring you Joy.

The Faithful, North African and Middle Eastern Islamic nations, are plotting to seize the oil resources of the Middle East. By controlling the earth's oil and its major trade routes, they plan to bring the world to its knees. Then, when the entire world is kneeling, the Faithful of Allah will read to them from the Koran, preaching the message of Islam, the True Faith. The Faithful will stop at nothing to achieve their goal. But how far will they go? And how many lives will it cost?

The Maiden of Bronze

Chapter 5 Part 3

Doc Savage and Pat Savage are the Property of Street and Smith. Introducing a future time line inspired by Doc Savage.

By: Desiree

I am most Grateful to The Twins, Rae and Jess as they have done wonders for their Mothers.

A man is feminized by his wife and his business partner and framed for embezzlement. Can he survive the humiliations his wife intends to subject him to and start a new life?

Thanks go out to Marina Kelly for her very valuable editorial assistance in improving the quality of this story.

We find comments (good or bad) to be valuable in helping us to write a good story. Thank you.

The Faithful, North African and Middle Eastern Islamic nations, are plotting to seize the oil resources of the Middle East. By controlling the earth's oil and its major trade routes, they plan to bring the world to its knees. Then, when the entire world is kneeling, the Faithful of Allah will read to them from the Koran, preaching the message of Islam, the True Faith. The Faithful will stop at nothing to achieve their goal. But how far will they go? And how many lives will it cost?

My Super Secret Life…Scarlet-17.

Chapter 17

*Before…

He gets up and pulls a knife and comes at me and I switch my bolt to a ball of shield and think rubber and fire whacking him between the eyes with a “rubber” energy bullet laying him cold.

I lower the shields and say to the people here. “Every please just remain calm the police will be here to arrest this man and to take your statements.
The squad van isn’t too far behind either.

That’s something that we’ve got here that home you’d never see and that’s the police have an entire force of guys that all they do is come and take and transport the perps and log in the arresting officers badges and all the reports and stuff is filed at the end of their shifts and the actual officers on patrol go back on patrol instead of having to run in the crooks.
I just get my badge scanned in and leave them to it when I get another call of officer down.

I give the guys a nod and they just point go and I blast off into the night sky.

*And Now…

Basically a 'filling in' chapter as Drustina makes her way unobstructed up the West Coast of Hibernia. The Munster men who act as her pilots can only advise her as far the estuary of the River Shannon for the kingdoms are divided tribally near this border and the Vikings are active in the Shannon estuary.

The only true beauty is inner beauty, but Michael is about to discover that while untrue beauty can take time, there can be some interesting events to provide distraction.

With the author having skipped an evening, and having gone to a comedy club, Michael has to make up for the calories with some exercise.

Drustina Briefly kidnaps the Bishop Brendon and his two theological supporters but she avoids using actual force or sword to cenvey her message that Queen Marag should be reinstated to her throne.