In this chapter Drustina returns from her spying trip but finds the essential information lacking. She still is not absolutely certain where Harald Cold-blood, the Viking king will land his invasion fleet. There is no other option than to try and tempt him into her prepared killing ground but the risks are high because certainty of success is low. She will have to sacrifice some ships (but not the crews)to get Harals to land on Selsey Bill. Then she must carefully prepare the killing grounds.

"You have to grow up and run The Marathon"

(to herself) (what does he mean? I don't understand...)

In this sequel to No Obligation, it’s a few months into Becca’s new life as the Advocate, and she’s trying to do the impossible — meet all of her duties and obligations and still have a life. But the Multiverse has hidden dangerous powers, and one of them may be taking an interest … in her.

Snakes and Ladders-26

This was hard to come back to. I started this as a present to Wren who had very quickly found herself a place as a dear friend in my heart. I’m sorry it’s taken me this long to put another one out and they’ll be coming out probably infrequently so I hope everyone is patient and understanding.

Wren…. We love you, we miss you.

Chapter 26

*Before……

“No, you’ll be protected.” She passes me the sword in that knightly over her wrist way.
“Me?”

“Wren, you are Erendae, Wren Phoenix yes and I’m here able to unspell this warded box on this mission and theirs is a blade form and you think that this wasn’t something the gods set into motion? This blade was meant to be your sword Wren.”

I take it and stare at it and step back and charge it up and there’s this red-gold light that shines out of the bird decoration with raptors scree and its glowing red…and there’s little tufts of flames coming off of it.

I’m not even hot holding it.

I’m not sure about the whole gods thing since I’m kind of a Christian but this…this looks a whole lot like one of those flaming swords that an angel might have had.
I’m kind of scared of this and yet…

Was this meant for me? Is this a sign?

I have good people here looking at me and nodding like this is.

I cut the power. And look up? “I’ll try; I’ll do my best to keep them safe.”

*And Now……..

Synopsis: Since the death of his wife, a widowed father found there was no one to turn to for help in raising two small children. A co-worker suggests a place to relax where she works part-time, Bikini Beach. Is this a chance for him to understand how to raise a ‘tween daughter?

Bikini Beach: Mr. Mom.
Story by Ib12us

The author is grateful for the help, suggestions and editing done by his editor. As always his touch has enhance my stories.

This story is copyright by the author. It is protected by licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Dance, Dance, Dance

The end of term dance, not something you can miss but it's a bit weird too as some people won't be back after the summer, moving on to college or different schools, some even starting work. All my friends will be back but there are people I know who won't so this could be the last time our paths cross.

This chapter describes how the Western Celts from Brithony decide to join forces with the beleaguered Saxons in order to protect their own interests. In the second part of the Chapter, Drustina decides she will have to make a spying trip of her own and the cost of getting vital information is painfully high.

Drustina has to choose between accepting being raped in order to gather information and take it back alive or to kill her rapist and probably be executed for regicide.

Midrun suggested that we all swim away, and let the wizard relax his guard and restore his hearing. Then we could surprise him tomorrow evening and lure him overboard. But the rest of us objected strongly: how many innocent men might jump overboard along with the wizard?