Chapter 24 -- Anyia's Journey Upon arriving at the first church along the route Anyia had to walk over the next three days, the Clergy allowed her to rest, eat, and relieve herself. Then they led her to a stone platform that had chains with cuffs suspended over it. They placed her wrists in the cuffs and immobilized her with her hands over her head. Anyia s...
Chapter Eighteen – Lower Danubia News of the Duchy's victory in Hórkustk Ris did not reach the Kingdom of the Moon immediately. A few survivors from the Kingdom's rout did manage to sneak past the Grand Duke's Royal Guards and slip across the border into the Kingdom. However, the Kingdom of the Moon survivors, who could not have numbered more than a few doz...
Part One - The Ensemble “Are the socks ready?” “Oui Monsieur.” “Put them on the tray in the Hall.” I watched the maid leave the room. By heaven even I was turned on, that tiny skirt and those fishnet tights tottering into the Hall on stiletto heels. Two days getting ready, two days! Still, it’s what he wanted. No one could ‘dress’ the French Maid like Pa...
The small light cruiser made its approach to the Sol's system ignoring the patrolling warships outside the system. Now they were in hot pursuit and they had communicated a warning ahead for the rest of the fleet that a rogue ship was approaching. "It is heading straight for the dreadnought." Said the voice of one unidentified ship commander. "Intercept, in...
Chapter Thirty-four -- Vesna Rogúskt-Orsktacktna So...Danka Síluckt's travels ended when the Path of her Life finally brought her back to Rika Héckt-nemát. Who would have thought she'd end up precisely where her journey started? Certainly not the traveling singers and story-tellers, who already were making up increasingly sorrowful and outlandish versions o...
Chapter Fifteen – The Grand Duke's Favorite By the end of 1753, The Grand Duke was becoming increasingly concerned about the disappearance of the Cult of the Ancients. Their absence meant an end to the vaccination campaigns against smallpox and other illnesses. The mortality rate among the villages due to lack of medical services already was worsening, acco...
The next morning everything from the previous night was cleaned up and the crew was preparing the shuttle for take off. The Grand Admiral ordered the fighters to return to the flagship, seeing how they would not need an escort. "Well are you ready to go into space and meet your neighbors?" Asked Derna'ala. "Is it going to be safe?" Asked Karen. "Trust u...
Chapter Thirteen – The Grand Duke's Castle Danka's ride approached the capitol from the north, following the main road along the East Danube River. The road was thick with travelers and trading caravans. Fine farms, nice manor houses, and prosperous villages covered the landscape. The land in Danubia's westernmost province was the best the Grand Duchy had t...
Chapter 14 -- A summons from the Grand Duchess On Friday morning at the end of the second week in September, Maria Elena began her normal routine at home before reporting to the university for language tutoring and yet more hedge-trimming. However, no sooner had she reported to work and picked up the hedge trimmer, than her boss told her that she had a call...
Chapter 18 -- Property without honor The next morning Maria Elena woke to the sound of the bolt that secured her cell door being unlocked. Immediately she scrambled to her knees and put her head on the floor, just in time to be in position for when the door opened. She was not surprised to see the Lord, the man who had both raped her but also rescued her fr...