THE METAL WOMAN Jennifer and Martin have been going out for a few years and really get on well he is the quiet one she is the extrovert and it seems to work quite well. “As as a treat can I take you to the jousting at Blenheim House? It’s the European knights performing today and they are the best in the world.” “You really know how to please me, don’t you?” ...
Alethea lay on the grass, her side was no longer hurting, as her brain took over from the pain and allowed shock and the numbness to creep through her body. She attempted to sit up, but the poles of the chariot had broken, and now lay across her chest in such a manner that she was imprisoned within their embrace. Alethea sighed a deep breath of air, letting the pain from the wound shudder from within her, as she stretched her legs out and flipped onto her side. She screamed as the broken haft of the spear, puncturing her side, caught on one of the poles, and then slipped into unconsciousness, whilst the sun in all its glory, also lost the day and started to set behind the hills to the east. ...
Madeline Rogers paused as she entered the long hall. For long moments, her eyes happily roamed the rows of her collection. In the soft light, metal gleamed, seeming almost to quiver with suppressed movement, as if waiting only a signal to burst into life. Ancient armor was a passion for Madeline, second only to her all-consuming passion for acquiring wealth, power and influence. Thus far, she had an even dozen sets of armor from all over Europe, and from all periods of history. Rare enough, but each suit was made for a female body, which was vastly rarer. These were spaced evenly down the hall, six on each side. A thirteenth spot, centered in the wall at the far end of the hall, held the only set of armor that wasn’t an antique. ...