The Norse have defeated an ambush and mounted an expedition to deal with the remaining renegades, capturing the farmstead and those within. However, the outlaws at the other farmstead are concerned and mount their own expedition - against the village of Bakhrad.

The Voyage of the Visund

A tale of Anmar by Penny Lane

52 - Day of Reckoning

3525 Clam Dig Road, Los Angeles, California:
“Who’s our guest?” Leland watches as Tammy removes the body armor the person was wearing off their body.

“I don’t know, but you wouldn’t believe what they went up against.” Tammy slowly removes the body armor.

When she gets all the body armor off the person. She could see they were wearing some sort of black bodysuit underneath the armor. It had a spongy feel to it as she touches it. There was a hole where whatever hit the person had gone through the armor. The skin was burnt and blistered.

Dakota looks at herself in the full-length mirror in her and Terry’s bedroom. She tried one of those blue pills Rebecca took and couldn’t believe what it did to her body. It didn’t change how she looked, except increasing her breast size up one cup size, her hair was fuller and made her hips and buttocks look bigger.

Chapter 3.11

Wednesday, May 12^th, 2023

8AM

Marcia, Chet, and Fraiser were perusing the area near where the body had been found when they saw French and Coleridge approaching.

“G’Mornin’,” Fraiser called as they got close.

Marcia was worried that they’d be ordered out of the area, but Coleridge asked, “Find anything?”

Here is the original story that I submitted to my former publisher (the now defunct Torquere Press).
There were a few changes:

“You have the right to remain silent”
I nodded my head; at least I think I did…I was pretty sure I was 3-squared sheets to the wind.
“Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.”
I had a pending court date for a speeding ticket…for going five miles over the speed limit out in the middle of nowhere.
“You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you.”
Yeah…in twenty days or so…

The Visund has berthed at a remote Yodan village in a side creek. Unfortunately, troops of the Ascendancy are in charge and threaten the Norse with firearms, with the potential to kill most of the men with a single volley.

The Voyage of the Visund

A tale of Anmar by Penny Lane

50 - The Battle of Bakhrad

The Visund continues along its journey to their next port of call. Hashim proves his worth by reading the currents and shallows of the great river as they head into unknown waters. Because Ursula is still looking for herbs, a side trip is called for. Unfortunately, danger lurks!

The Voyage of the Visund

A tale of Anmar by Penny Lane

49 - Sandbars and Creeks

Carly looks at the books in her new office. She couldn’t believe that for the past five months all the business ventures she had invested in has started paying off. The detailed business brought in business every other day. The food truck was making a profit, and the vehicles she fixed and sold brought in a decent profit as well.

Link: Lost Faith Title Page and Description

CAUTION - emotional pain/open emotional wounds

--

Lost in the sorrow of her memories, Erica didn't even notice the boy who stood in front of her.

Link: Lost Faith Title Page and Description

CAUTION - emotional pain/open emotional wounds

--

Sitting at the vanity in her room, Erica watched the mirror while her aunt finished braiding her hair into two pigtails that came down the side of her head. The costume had been dropped off the day before and fit perfectly. With the shoes, dress, red braided pigtails, and a picnic basket with a small stuffed Cairn Terrier sticking up out of one side, she was the perfect image of Dorothy Gale. Watching her aunt tying off the blue ribbons at the end of her pigtails, she smiled at the reflection, still happy to see her young mother reflected back at her, even through her costume.

Link: Lost Faith Title Page and Description

--

Enjoying the ride in her aunt Heather's limousine, Erica was finally much more comfortable in her fantasy. Now fully immersed in being Erica Hargrave, she relished the view out the window, watching the countryside blanketed in snow glide by them. After a while she realized they'd been driving for far longer than the trip back to her aunt's home.

Link: Lost Faith Title Page and Description

--

Erica stepped out onto the front porch again, this time fully decked out in dress, tights, bloomers, coat, scarf, hat, mittens, boots, and a burning desire to run out into the front yard, plow through the knee-deep snow, and bury herself in it. Carefully making her way down the front steps, Faith by her side, she still couldn't help but giggle at the sense of wonder she felt experiencing her first snowfall.

Link: Lost Faith Title Page and Description

CAUTION - emotional pain/open emotional wounds

Clarification: The entire first part of this chapter is a traumatic flashback.

--

Erica bounded into the living room, gay as a lark. It was just before six o'clock and she knew April would be home from school by now. "Aunt Heather? It's almost six. I know it will be time for dinner soon, but before dinner, can I call my friend April and let her know I'm OK?"

Chapter 6

Thursday, May 5^th, 2023

6:37 PM

Chet was surprised, but he pointed with his thumb to Bruce’s trailer. “He’s staying in his camper over there.” He wasn’t sure what was going on, but being police, he really didn’t want to question them.

Detective Fraiser nodded, then stepped off the porch and started toward the trailer.

Link: Lost Faith Title Page and Description

--

Stepping through the door to the right of the old grandfather clock in the living room, Erica walked into the library. Its dark interior illuminated only by the little light that managed to seep its way past the heavy curtains that covered the room's single massive window, she followed her aunt to the right; rows of bookshelves jutting out from the wall opposite the door.

Chapter 5

Thursday, May 4^th, 2023

2:05 PM

Darryl was sitting on the porch of the farm house. He had been helping in the gardens, but now was on a break. It was strange. He wasn’t used to being away from Marcia for so long. Even on base, they had worked together, and had dinner together every day. Granted, they had spent the nights without each other, but they were back together the next morning.

Link: Lost Faith Title Page and Description

CAUTION - emotional pain/open emotional wounds

--

Awaking slowly in a dark room, his mind was groggy and dull. The satin pillow and distinctive sweet smell that screamed 'girl' told him he wasn't in his room at the Stone's house. That room still stank of teenage boy from its occupant before he'd taken it. Unable to remember where he was, he had a vague notion of going to sleep in someone else's bed and there being a storm. He reasoned that he must have sneaked into April's bedroom last night like he'd done a few times after his mother's hospitalization when he'd been especially scared. April would soothe away his fears and he would sleep on her floor, returning to his own room in the early morning. That's when he remembered he was in a bed and noticed he wasn't sleeping alone.