The survivors begin the final day of their return to the palace, all deeply affected by the previous day's battle. Garia has some unexpected meetings which result in her discovering certain surprising and shocking facts.

Somewhere Else Entirely

by Penny Lane

101 - Unexpected Meetings

Steve visits his aunt's house during Christmas break and finds a world he never knew existed. Will life ever be the same?

Snakes and Ladders-31

Chapter 31

*Before…

“You’re expecting the guilds to co-operate?”
“Yes and no, we get the information in secret, we offer good clean coin for it and we don’t charge them or even get in the way of them doing business.”
“You won’t, why?”
“Because the guilds are part of the kingdom too, because we need an underground economy as much as the real one and the people will not do better if Lyam takes the throne and imposes his laws on everyone.”
Ryann gives me the look he did in the cells.
“Right, then you have me with you.”
“Good, because this will become a whole lot larger than it sounds before we’re done.”
I move to the door when I hear the knock and let them in with his clothes and the writing equipment and he’s changing as I’m laying stuff out.
“We should get started…”
I turned and he dropped the towel at his waist and is getting into the clothes they brought.
Apparently he’s not bashful.

*And Now…

In the not too distant future, evolution has taken humanity down a different path. In a society where gender is controlled with numbers, one young man finds that being evolved might not be such a good thing.

As Steve finds help and begins to accept his truth, a challenge is set to spread his wings. Someone might be too enthusiastic.

In the not too distant future, evolution has taken humanity down a different path. In a society where gender is controlled with numbers, one young man finds that being evolved might not be such a good thing.

The road turns back again - If you don’t act you will regret it the rest of your life and maybe if you do.

Steve leaves the cocoon of his small town into a world that he's ill prepared to face as hidden feelings begin to emerge. Can he find the courage to accept that he might not be like everyone else?

Greatly expanded, previously part of chapter 98.

Garia's stay at Dekarran consists, as she had expected, of a number of meetings and explanations. Uncle Gil wants to know just what happened during her trip to Blackstone and then there's the whole matter of firearms to explain. The days' hard work is topped off by a banquet in the evening for all, in which the girls get a chance to dress themselves up for the boys.

Somewhere Else Entirely

by Penny Lane

99 - Stories and a Banquet