(story continues from Homecoming 6: Silent Witness) Authors note: This is a standalone story featuring characters from Homecoming Part 7: Arietta’s Turn “Mother, do I have to?” Isolda sighed softly. How can it be, she thought, that I can rule and entire kingdom, yet I can’t seem to get through to my own daughter? Maybe the old ways really are best. “Etta,” she said softly, “it’s not like I’m asking you to do anything difficult.” ...
Part One At long last, the day had arrived. In the palace, men cursed and sweated as they moved heavy, ornate furniture, while women and girls dashed about, cleaning and dusting nearly anything that wasn’t moving. In the kitchen, the great ovens, cold for the first time in years, now echoed with the sounds of shovels and rakes removing piles of ash and partially burnt wood. Over all hung the smells of cleaners and fresh paint. ...
(story continues from Homecoming) Part Two “Are you harmed?” Sabelina shook her head slightly, barely moving her mane of raven hair. “You?” Isolda’s head shook just as slightly. “These ropes are very tight, though.” Isolda sat at the base of a tree, her ankles crossed and bound together with rough cord. With her arms bent behind her and bound forearm to forearm, she could only squirm fitfully. Sabelina wore identical bonds, as did Emeric. Emeric, however, remained clothed, while the two women sat naked. ...
(story continues from Homecoming 2) Part Three With their bonds removed, the three captives rode with somewhat greater comfort, despite the swaying of the wagon. After a time, Isolda dozed off. From the other seat, Emeric watched as she lay with her head pillowed in Sabelina’s lap. There was a strangely gentle look in Sabelina’s eyes as her hand gently stroked the other woman’s hair. “Your Highness….” Sabelina glanced up, her eyes suddenly flashing. At this, Emeric paused. “You seem to care for her greatly,” he finally said. ...
(story continues from Homecoming 3) Part Four “Are we safe here?” Instead of answering, Balian gazed around him. In the two days since the rescue, the party had crept on foot through the forests, avoiding Uthrancian patrols. Only a few hours had passed since they had crossed the border into wild, unsettled northern Iznia. Throughout, Balian had kept his men on the alert, refusing to relax his guard even once they’d crossed the border. Now, after a careful examination of the area, he finally turned his attention to Sabelina’s question. ...
(story continues from Homecoming 4) Part Five “What now?” Emeric stood over the body of the dead soldier, captured sword clenched in one fist. Blood oozed from a deep slash on his arm as he gazed across the body toward Balian. “Now,” Balian replied, “you run. Landsedge Farm is that way. Take the women, keep them safe. We’ll see about giving you the time to get there.” From where they stood, the sounds of fighting grew louder, Uthrancian soldiers forcing Balian’s small force to fall back. Close by, disheveled and clutching their own bloodstained blades, Sabelina and Isolda stood panting. Their running battle, which by now had lasted nearly an hour, had spared none of them. ...
(story continues from Homecoming 5) Authors note: This is a standalone story featuring characters from Homecoming Part 6: Silent Witness “Think you’ll be able to keep up this time?” Seated comfortably in her saddle, the willowy blonde grinned at her companion. “I’ll show you keep up,” her companion replied, settling herself with equal ease into her own saddle. “It was only luck you beat me last time.” The blonde laughed. “I was lucky,” she said, “lucky you decided to wear loose clothes.” Cupping her hands over her smallish breasts, she glanced pointedly at her companion’s decidedly larger pair. “All of that bouncing around couldn’t have been good for your balance.” ...