tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48276533675073834392012-01-25T23:35:14.198-05:00She wants to go home,<br> and all she needs is a unicorn. <br> An online novel.S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.comBlogger771100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-32635259301661369902013-02-15T20:01:00.014-05:002012-01-14T23:36:54.465-05:00

Unicorn Bait is the story of an Earth woman's adventures on another planet. She seeks a unicorn to transport her home. It won't be easy, especially since she's forced to marry this guy, and he's kind of scary.Comments are welcome. An account is not required. I try to respond to comments in a timely fashion. Thanks for stopping by!You can download the story for FREE from several different vendors.

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-36554753571760079012011-06-24T22:28:00.003-04:002012-01-14T23:44:15.892-05:00

“I always thought unicorns were magical and special. They were like horse angels. When I was a little girl, I wanted them to be real.” –Naomi TaylorNaomi smiled down at the long glass case a little misty-eyed. She stroked the top and wished her grandfather had gotten the chance to give it to her as he’d intended, instead of her finding it while helping to clean out his place. Where he could’ve

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-88001100253354369542011-04-06T10:52:00.003-04:002011-04-06T11:13:18.908-04:00

“Unicorns did not save my life. They gave me one.” –Lord TavikNaomi knew no fear as she stood outside the main gate to Tavik’s castle because this time she had her own guard to protect her, for who would be foolish enough to attack a blessing of unicorns? The guards were slack jawed as she waltzed past them. Mrs. Boon met her at the foot of the stairs leading to the private chambers. She didn’t

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-18797516483015151432011-04-06T10:48:00.002-04:002011-04-06T10:57:08.757-04:00

"What use is wizardry if it cannot save a Unicorn?"--The Last Unicorn“Naked! You want me to face an evil god NAKED!” “It’s the best way to use the vanishing oil, and you’ll have the shield. We’ll coat that with the oil as well,” Agatha said in a far too reasonable tone.“But I’ll be naked!” “Modesty isn’t really an issue when you’re invisible.”Naomi shook her head. She’d always thought it was

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-57533408225393648062011-04-06T10:43:00.001-04:002011-04-06T10:52:04.459-04:00

Unicorns are peaceful creatures…until crossed. Then they fight dirty.She looked around, and felt relief cascade over her. It’d worked. She’d teleported into Tavik’s room, not into some fiery hell, not halfway into a wall, or worse into Mrs. Boon’s chamber, and best luck of all, there weren't any healers or guards there to raise an alarm. Her head swiveled to the bed. There was someone in it. She

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-17148048312729955312011-04-06T10:40:00.001-04:002011-04-06T10:48:04.454-04:00

Unicorns make lousy travel agents.“We need to get out of here before we can't,” wheezed Mr. Squibbles. He was right. She already felt dizzy from the thin air. She jabbed her finger, and blood spilled onto the horn. The purple desert went dark, and when there was light again, her eyes were assaulted by so many shades of green that she looked down to make sure that she wasn’t green too, but there

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-37806288351575913362011-04-06T10:37:00.001-04:002011-04-06T10:43:04.497-04:00

Unicorns are not indigenous anywhere.“What do you mean you’re moving away and can’t say where? How will we reach you?”Naomi winced and hunched her shoulders. “It’s not like you could call me anyway. There aren’t any phones.”“What?!”She winced again. “It’s a real rustic place. The phone companies haven’t gotten there yet.” The idea of the Verizon guy walking by Agatha’s cabin asking ‘Can you hear

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-76701340265825515582011-03-30T09:40:00.002-04:002011-04-06T10:40:03.886-04:00

Unicorns never say goodbye, but then again, they never say hello.Agatha pressed yet another cup of tea into Naomi’s hands. She pushed it back. “No, no more. My eyeballs are swimming in this stuff,” she croaked. Her throat was still sore, but she didn’t like tea. She’d already drunk three cups, and she did feel better, but no more. Her gag reflex wanted to kick in, and her throat definitely couldn

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-48162896372998420942011-03-30T09:37:00.001-04:002011-03-30T09:44:58.591-04:00

Unicorns don’t like the color orange.“Are you mad? He will never help you!” Agatha declared.She stared into his eyes a few moments longer and then calmly turned away. She didn’t know what had possessed her to say he could decide whether to help her go home, but she would stand by her decision. She would not force him to do this for her. Yula cleared the breakfast dishes. Mr. Squibbles jumped into

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-67216016860591821282011-03-30T09:31:00.003-04:002011-03-30T09:43:20.259-04:00

A baby unicorn is called a foal just like a baby horse, and their mothers love them just the same.From roughly fifteen feet away, the unicorn stared at them. He held his head high, his coat glowed in the deepening dusk, and from the center of his forehead, his horn shone. There was no mistaking him for anything else. “I just looked, and he was there,” Yula said. The unicorn seemed curious about

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-67277371139748134402011-03-30T09:28:00.002-04:002011-03-30T09:36:04.898-04:00

“A truly wise man never plays leapfrog with a unicorn.”--Tibetan proverbThings were quiet now. She stood at one of the windows looking out at the passing scenery. She wasn’t sure why, but a sense of unease had settled upon her. Everything was going according to plan, what there was of a plan. No one could possibly be following them. Tavik was still tied up. Why she felt something wasn’t right

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-82544312490773531232011-03-30T09:23:00.002-04:002011-03-30T09:31:52.102-04:00

A unicorn weighs more dead than alive.“What just happened?” Tavik lay sprawled on the floor unconscious. She wheeled around looking for Agatha. The black cat crept out from under the bed“I didn’t do it.”“I did,” a small, squeaky voice said.“Mr. Squibbles!” “That’s me.” The familiar poked out from a rumpled napkin on the table. Her eyes darted to the corpse on the floor.“Then who--““A stupid field

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-87040011398837953082011-03-25T10:47:00.002-04:002011-03-30T09:28:09.434-04:00

Taking a unicorn’s horn won’t kill it, but he’ll die before letting you have it.Yula pulled the brush through her hair and quietly said two hundred. Naomi thought fifty strokes had been more than enough, but Yula had paid no attention to her opinion. She was more excited about the private dinner than her. Naomi tried to dampen her zeal, but Yula was having none of it. She kept muttering things

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-9178609820882322152011-03-25T10:33:00.012-04:002011-03-25T14:21:14.803-04:00

“Unicorns find humans irritating. The whole have to be a virgin thing is just an excuse to not have to talk to most of you.” --Mr. SquibblesNaomi stared at the witch a moment and then began to giggle. “That’s ridiculous. Tavik isn’t a virgin. How could he be?” Agatha’s eyebrows rose. “Slept with him have you?” She hunched her shoulders. “No, we made a deal, but surely--““Squibbles’ nose is rarely

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-23566596919570763642011-03-25T10:22:00.002-04:002011-03-25T10:36:56.782-04:00

Frogs hate unicorns.Mr. Squibbles flattened his ears and burrowed into her pocket. Naomi quickly looked over at Yula and saw that she looked alarmed. She waved and moved out of eyesight. She hunched over her pocket and hissed, “Are you insane? Tavik will kill anyone who tries to sneak in.”“That will be problematic, but a nighttime departure is still your best option. If you try to leave during

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-33788606386947907292011-03-25T10:19:00.001-04:002011-03-25T10:32:29.097-04:00

For fun, unicorns chase frogs.Naomi fidgeted in the chair as Yula arranged her hair. She’d pulled it up and fastened it with small bejeweled combs and hair pins. Naomi knew the hairdo was going to give her a headache after a couple of hours, but Yula was so determined to make her look like a fairytale princess that she kept her reservations to herself. She had the feeling that Yula was using her

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-51786902753807011062011-03-25T10:14:00.002-04:002011-03-25T10:20:46.963-04:00

Unicorns speak from the heart, not from the throat.Naomi looked around the room then down at the cup. Then back around the room. Then again at the cup. No. Way. “Hello?”“Hello! Is this how you greet all new acquaintances? Trap them, maim them, and then chit chat!”She looked around the room again to see if there was any explanation other than the ridiculous one before her. She was definitely alone

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-65139398925550974242011-03-25T10:09:00.002-04:002011-03-25T10:17:15.839-04:00

A group of unicorns is called a blessing.Naomi watched helplessly as she continued to pull ahead of the other horse carrying Yula and Dennis. She couldn’t turn the draft horse back, stop it, or even slow it down. All she could hope to do was not get knocked off by low tree branch. An Umbrek caught up with Yula and Dennis and reached out to swipe at their horse. They dodged the swipe but just

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-25974215723987212832011-03-25T10:05:00.002-04:002011-03-25T10:11:51.394-04:00

Unicorns are fierce creatures and have been known to kill dragons.Naomi sat hunched over beside Yula in a covered wagon. They’d been packed in like any other supply. There’d been no carriages left at the castle, though she wasn’t sure if a carriage would’ve been any better. She was sitting on two pillows, but she already had butt bruises, and they were still in their first hour of travel. She was

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-27371198881600695902011-03-24T22:48:00.003-04:002011-03-25T10:08:05.913-04:00

Unicorns mate for life.Naomi resurfaced unwillingly. She was lying on a bed on her stomach. She didn’t know how long she’d been out, but it didn’t feel like long enough. Her arm ached. The brand shot pain out in a steady throb. From her right, she heard Tavik say, “Why hasn’t she awakened yet?”Yula’s voice came from her other side. “She’ll be fine. She’s just had a few too many shocks is all. She

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-65395948062586911622011-03-23T22:43:00.001-04:002011-03-24T22:52:19.856-04:00

The horn of the unicorn is called an alicorn.The masked man stepped down from the dais. She strained back in a feeble attempt to get away from him, but the soldiers held her firmly in place and would not give her even a quarter of an inch. The masked man came to stand in front of her. He was not tall. Had to be about five foot seven. Instead of looking up to quiver in fear, she looked into the

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-57262654093379140572009-02-14T00:00:00.004-05:002011-03-24T22:54:25.361-04:00

“I always thought unicorns were magical and special. They were like horse angels. When I was a little girl, I wanted them to be real.” –Naomi TaylorNaomi smiled down at the long glass case a little misty-eyed. She stroked the top and wished her grandfather had gotten the chance to give it to her as he’d intended, instead of her finding it while helping to clean out his place. Where he could’ve

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-18309217335306589912008-08-14T00:00:00.003-04:002010-07-10T23:29:37.425-04:00

Naomi wanted to be sick, and puking directly onto the shriveled corpse hanging off her arm might actually improve its looks. She didn’t know if this body were once Errilol’s, suggesting he was once mortal or if the corpse were of a favored follower, and at the moment, she didn’t much care. She wanted to be free of the abomination and to kill the entity that animated it. She continued to pull away

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com52tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-64470796114600459692008-08-07T00:00:00.002-04:002008-11-21T14:53:37.070-05:00

“Naked! You want me to face an evil god NAKED!” “It’s the best way to use the vanishing oil, and you’ll have the shield. We’ll coat that with the oil as well,” Agatha said in a far too reasonable tone.“But I’ll be naked!” “Modesty isn’t really an issue when you’re invisible.”Naomi shook her head. She’d always thought horny, old, puritanical men made up all that sky-clad stuff about witches, but

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-90922079161590794372008-07-31T00:22:00.004-04:002008-08-07T08:02:12.767-04:00

It was Errilol. The god had come to stop her. Naomi freed herself from the guards. They didn’t pay her any attention. They were staring at the fireplace in terror. An angry, insane god was in the room with them. They should be afraid. She was afraid too, but she was also furious. Errilol was hurting Tavik, making him ill. She wasn’t going to let the god continue. “He doesn’t serve you anymore!”

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-44418690510120219652008-07-24T00:54:00.003-04:002008-07-31T00:28:14.052-04:00

Naomi was going stir crazy. All she could do was pace, and her feet were beginning to hurt due to all the pacing. She flung herself into a chair and put her head in her hands. Where was Tavik? Where were Agatha, Yula, and Mr. Squibbles for that matter? It was like she’d been forgotten. This was a fine homecoming, she thought. She’d left her world to come here. She’d given up her nice normal job,

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-436982413292455482008-07-16T22:57:00.004-04:002008-07-24T01:01:04.243-04:00

Naomi felt dizzy from the thin air. “We need to get out of here before we can't,” wheezed Mr. Squibbles. She jabbed her finger, and blood spilled onto the horn. The purple desert went dark, and when there was light again, Naomi’s eyes were assaulted by so many shades of green that she looked down to make sure that she wasn’t green too, but there was plenty of air. She took deep breathes in relief

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-33095405986229681842008-07-07T21:01:00.005-04:002008-11-21T14:44:59.128-05:00

When Naomi checked the pot the next morning, her lip curled at the sight. The milk had burned away while on the stove over the night, and the ingredients had formed a brown slimy sludge at the bottom of the pot. She turned the stove off and contemplated her next move. “Well, is it fixed?” Mr. Squibbles asked. Naomi picked the mouse up and held him over the pot so he could see the ugly mess. His

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-19498500401357766182008-06-30T00:00:00.007-04:002008-11-21T14:16:57.091-05:00

Dinner that night was spaghetti with meatballs, one of Naomi’s favorites. Too bad she felt too guilty to enjoy it.“What do you mean you’re moving away and can’t say where? How will we reach you?”Naomi winced and hunched her shoulders. “It’s not like you could call me anyway. There aren’t any phones.”“What?!”She winced again. “It’s a real rustic place. The phone companies haven’t gotten there yet.

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-12100809289714769292008-06-26T22:42:00.006-04:002008-07-04T22:55:36.961-04:00

Naomi blinked. It was all she could do when a mouse said hello, even one that she might very well know. He stood on his hind legs and peered up at her. “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten me. I really don’t want to have to go through introductions again. And you better not come after me with a broom. That’d be just rude.”It was him. It was really him. “Mr. Squibbles, what are you doing here?” She sat

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-69026547403904831092008-06-23T00:00:00.003-04:002008-06-26T23:03:04.185-04:00

Naomi called her parents once she regained her composure. They were happy to hear from her, but they had seen her just that morning. Naomi’s mother told her how well the yard sale had gone and who she’d seen. Naomi held the phone numbly as she listened to her relaxed and happy voice. When a couple of tears fell onto her lap, Naomi quickly said her goodbyes and hung up. She was home, and nothing

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-83704690511688866062008-06-19T00:00:00.003-04:002008-06-23T14:36:24.442-04:00

Agatha pressed yet another cup of tea into Naomi’s hands. She pushed it back. “No, no more. My eyeballs are swimming in this stuff,” she croaked. Her throat was sore, but she didn’t even like tea. “No, you’re going to drink this cup too. It’s only your fourth,” the witch whispered. She’d completely lost her voice due to the chanting. Tavik was dabbing at the unicorn slash on his chest with a wet

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-75121066841653653292008-06-17T01:01:00.004-04:002008-06-23T14:35:24.509-04:00

When she saw Tavik had stayed behind, Naomi slipped to a halt and scrambled to go back to him. “Tavik!” she screamed. “Naomi, go!” he shouted. He stood with empty hands as large murky objects raced toward him. The unicorn stood by his side with head lowered ready to fight.Yula grabbed her arm and began pulling her back. “We must get back to the cottage!” “I am not leaving Tavik!” Naomi shouted.“

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-42364239877943415622008-06-11T21:46:00.006-04:002008-06-17T21:55:45.773-04:00

Naomi shot up in bed with a gasp. Her hands instantly checked her chest for a stab wound, but she was unhurt. Tavik sat up too and blinked sleepily at her. “Are you all right?” She nodded, but pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around them, not wanting to lie back down. He ran a hand over her back. “It was just a bad dream,” she told him. “Go back to sleep.”He leaned back against the wall

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-34296446736463621992008-06-11T00:22:00.004-04:002008-06-12T00:47:43.960-04:00

“Are you mad? He will never help you!” Agatha declared.Naomi stared into Tavik’s eyes a few moments longer and then calmly turned away. She didn’t know what had possessed her to say that it was up to Tavik whether to help her go home, but she would stand by her decision. She would not force him to do anything else for her. She had already forced him to do enough, maybe even too much. Yula stayed

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-51120539394049404152008-06-09T00:00:00.002-04:002009-06-01T17:52:35.864-04:00

Naomi didn’t want to wake up. She could feel the pins and needles pricking her even in her unconscious state. She knew if she woke up those pins and needles would begin to stab repeatedly. Unfortunately, someone dropped a large metal pot to the floor which jolted her awake and straight into pain. Naomi flailed about unsure what to clutch first. Her back, her head, her legs, everything ached.

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-18716436367665985102008-06-05T00:15:00.005-04:002008-11-21T13:52:34.958-05:00

Tavik stood up to face Agatha. A muscle in his jaw twitched as he stared across the room at her. “Errilol made me the man I am.”“I wouldn’t be so proud of the man I was if I were you. Having your people fear you and wonder if you were a fiend is not something to be proud of.” He clenched his jaw, and Naomi hoped this didn’t go beyond a heated argument. “I became the man I needed to be.”“And what

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-90365645473659010212008-06-02T00:00:00.005-04:002008-11-21T13:45:39.887-05:00

From fifteen feet away, the unicorn stared at them. He held his head high, his coat glowed in the growing dusk, and from the center of his forehead, his horn shone. There was no mistaking him. “I just looked, and he was there,” Yula said. The unicorn seemed curious about the two women. Naomi wondered if maybe all the virgin business with unicorns was nonsense. This unicorn didn’t seem skittish.

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-88116012861636312572008-05-28T22:45:00.004-04:002008-06-05T00:41:50.870-04:00

Naomi led Tavik to a small copse of trees to shield him while he did his business. She wasn’t worried about him running off anymore. Her lips still tingled. Maybe she shouldn’t be the one holding his leash. He’d brought up their marriage like it mattered. She hadn’t thought about them being husband and wife. Not really. She’d viewed him as her jailer. They were married, but were they something to

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-61840686450507654802008-05-26T00:00:00.001-04:002008-05-29T00:11:09.182-04:00

The flying house settled in a small field after lunch. Everyone except Tavik exited swiftly to walk around and stretch their legs. Yula looked back at the cottage with pity.“We should let Tavik come out and relieve himself. I would think he needs it.”Naomi looked back at the house too. She frowned. “It would be too easy for him to escape. He could overpower us in a snap.”“He will not escape,”

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-33548285206430634422008-05-22T00:00:00.001-04:002008-05-29T00:11:44.990-04:00

Naomi picked at her dress as she stared out the window. Agatha was at the wheel holding it steady. Mr. Squibbles slept on the witch’s shoulder. Yula was dusting. Tavik still sat at the table. No one had replaced the mask, and he had not demanded it back which was probably good because if he had, Naomi would have pitched it out the open door. She had no idea how this whole thing was going to play

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-79602398071673749272008-05-19T03:00:00.001-04:002008-05-22T01:20:57.017-04:00

Yula stood with her nose pressed against one of the windows. “Oh my lady, come look!” Naomi looked over Yula’s shoulder at the land racing below them. “Isn’t it wondrous?” the older woman asked.“It is pretty amazing that the cottage flies,” Naomi said.“And us, we’re flying too!” Yula said.Naomi shrugged her shoulders. “I’ve been on airplanes. They fly even higher in the air and take people to

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-56193272398131756602008-05-15T03:00:00.001-04:002008-12-04T21:21:14.542-05:00

Yula finally acknowledged Naomi’s presence by turning to her. “Naomi, you can’t be serious about this.” Naomi looked up from where she sat on Tavik’s stomach. She’d been picking her nails while the two women argued.“I would get serious if I could get some help hauling Tavik’s heavy ass out of here,” she answered.Agatha nodded and went to grab a leg again. Yula hung back shaking her head. “What

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-58075572881426780632008-05-13T00:34:00.002-04:002009-06-01T18:14:10.994-04:00

“What the hell just happened?” Naomi said. Tavik lay sprawled on the floor. She wheeled around looking for Agatha. The black cat crept out from under the bed“I didn’t do it,” she said.“I did,” a small, squeaky voice said.“Mr. Squibbles!”“That's me.” The familiar poked out from a rumpled napkin on the table. Naomi's eyes darted to the corpse on the floor.“Then who--““A stupid field mouse who

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-63011478064431582062008-05-08T04:40:00.004-04:002009-06-24T23:47:47.739-04:00

The body made a small muffled thump when it hit the floor. Naomi felt sick. That furry lifeless lump was Mr. Squibbles.“Oh my God, you killed him.”Tavik wasn’t paying attention to her. He was trying to reach around to pull Agatha off his back. He was going around in circles with the cat just out of his grasp.“Get your damn cat off me!”Naomi approached him, but she didn’t grab Agatha. She began

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-71371804107231494162008-05-04T23:15:00.001-04:002009-06-24T23:36:24.608-04:00

Naomi sat still as Yula rearranged her hair. The older woman had a serene look on her face. “You really care about him, don’t you?” Naomi said.Yula stopped brushing her hair and looked at Naomi through the mirror. “No, I don’t. The fact is, I often hate him.”Naomi turned to look directly at her. “You do? But you look after him. Take care of him.”“It’s what I have to do to stay close to him.”“Why?

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-76309787910159107552008-04-28T03:20:00.001-04:002009-06-24T23:30:45.820-04:00

Naomi took another blind step back as Tavik kissed her and felt something furry tangle with her feet. She faltered to try and get clear of it, but Tavik had already taken a step for them. She lost her balance and began to fall. In the back of her mind, a voice cried, ‘Timber!’ She landed on her back without her arms to offer any buffer. Tavik landed on top of her, squashing her. She groaned in

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-43401739779946750072008-04-24T06:00:00.003-04:002009-06-24T23:22:46.257-04:00

Yula woke Naomi far too early for her liking, but then anything before noon would have been too early for her. Naomi moaned and tried to burrow under the bed covers, but Yula began tugging on one of Naomi’s feet to get her out of bed.“What is so important that I have to be awake?” Naomi complained from under her pillow.“Breakfast, of course.”Naomi rolled her eyes and tried to flop back onto the

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-64541004369650578982008-04-21T04:10:00.001-04:002008-04-24T06:14:12.023-04:00

The cottage was warm and cozy except for the random animal bones that hung from the ceiling. They added a certain deranged something to the place. Agatha settled down into a chair and motioned for Naomi to take the other. “So, Mr. Squibbles brought me…” Naomi said unsure of anything else. The mouse in question had darted off into the shadows of the room. Agatha picked up a long pipe and lit it

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-31204139112554103532008-04-18T15:15:00.000-04:002008-04-21T04:16:12.172-04:00

Naomi clutched her anger tight to keep her fear at bay as she stumbled down the passage. Thoughts of dead mice danced in her head. She didn’t abandon them until she realized the darkness up ahead was lightening from pitch black to moonlit. She quickened her pace and dashed out of the tunnel into a forested area. She blinked and was relieved to see anything again. “It took you long enough.”Naomi

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-24428943122319044812008-04-14T04:52:00.000-04:002008-04-18T15:25:18.474-04:00

Naomi peeked out of her room cautiously. She’d told Mr. Squibbles that there were no guards, but she didn’t want to take any chances. No one was in the hallway. She crept out, carrying a bag with some clothes and a few pieces of fruit that had been left in her room. “Come on, let’s go,” Mr. Squibbles said as he ran down the passage. Naomi closed the door to her room and stepped quickly to catch

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-51415009654999067832008-04-10T06:00:00.000-04:002008-04-14T04:58:05.728-04:00

Mr. Squibbles flattened his ears and burrowed into her pocket. Naomi looked over at Yula and saw that she looked alarmed. Naomi waved and quickly moved out of eyesight.She bent closer to her pocket and hissed, “Are you insane? Tavik keeps his door locked every night and will kill anyone who tries to sneak in.”“That will be problematic, but a night time departure is still your best option. If you

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-28651867013911033442008-04-07T04:02:00.001-04:002008-11-21T13:07:17.519-05:00

Naomi’s tumble from the saddle startled Stomper and Geoff. The stable master quickly handed the horse off to a stable boy and went to Naomi’s side. “Are you all right?”Naomi winced and took his offered hand to pull herself up. “I think so. A spider startled me. Sorry.”“Nothing to apologize for, milady. How about we call it a day?.”Naomi nodded and hobbled back to her rooms without Yula, having

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-40897716436735555412008-04-03T05:03:00.000-04:002008-04-07T04:12:51.690-04:00

“I will teach you how to dance,” he said. Naomi barely registered his comment before he swung her around and showed her where to place her hands. The music started, and it was different from the first piece. Naomi realized it was like a waltz, and the dancing positions were similar to a waltz as well. Tavik’s arm went around her while his other raised her hand aloft. Naomi’s other hand rested on

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-3448189649619194412008-03-31T04:14:00.000-04:002008-04-03T05:11:19.560-04:00

Naomi fidgeted in the chair as Yula arranged her hair. The old woman had pulled it up and fastened it with small bejeweled combs and hair pins. Naomi knew the hairdo was going to give her a headache after a couple of hours, but Yula was so determined to make her look like a fairytale princess that Naomi kept her reservations to herself. Naomi had a feeling that Yula was using her to prove

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-30867318147708280542008-03-27T05:31:00.000-04:002008-03-31T04:20:02.557-04:00

Naomi’s mouth fell open in surprise. She only gaped for a moment before Tavik’s lips covered hers. She snapped her mouth shut, but he persisted. His kisses began as chaste presses of the lips, and with each press, his mouth opened a fraction more. Naomi’s brain was in a tailspin. He was kissing her, and she liked it. Being kissed well was always nice. But they weren’t supposed to be kissing! What

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-10561490059143118422008-03-24T06:00:00.000-04:002008-03-27T05:36:27.010-04:00

Tavik lowered the blindfold over Naomi’s eyes. She stayed still and let him tie it snugly across her face. He then drew her arms behind the chair and tied her wrists. Naomi remembered bad lunch dates, but none of them compared to this. She heard Tavik move and take a seat. She assumed he removed his mask. She listened to his silverware scrape and his chewing sounds. Naomi hoped the mouse did not

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-73796428573593940462008-03-20T05:30:00.000-04:002008-03-24T06:04:13.458-04:00

“Milady, have you lost something?” Yula asked.Naomi sighed and got up off the floor. “Yeah, my marbles,” she grumbled. Had she really made a deal with a talking mouse? When she turned around, she saw Yula’s usual placid face was set in an angry scowl.She stepped aside to reveal another woman behind her. “Mrs. Boon is here.” Naomi looked past Yula at the housekeeper. The other woman was round in

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-74373877584659629172008-03-17T21:02:00.000-04:002008-03-20T05:42:05.220-04:00

“Will you be wanting to meet with the housekeeper, milady?” Naomi looked up from her breakfast. “Does she have stuff she wants to tell me?” “No, miss, but don’t you have things you wish to tell her?”Naomi recalled Tavik saying she could order around the household help if she liked. She had not liked. “No, but I guess I should invite her over for like tea of something so we can meet.” "Of course,

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-58373541304946828572008-03-13T05:31:00.004-04:002009-06-01T17:45:24.694-04:00

Naomi woke to a very odd sensation. It didn't feel bad, but considering it'd been six months since she’d broken up with her last boyfriend, and there had been a very dry spell, a veritable drought actually, waking up to an arm draped over her waist made Naomi pause for a moment and wonder, did she really want to wake up? Either this was a dream, or a very nasty hangover and an awkward

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-2109173902814467532008-03-10T07:00:00.000-04:002008-04-28T03:54:17.349-04:00

When Naomi next opened her eyes, it was to find Yula hovering over her. “What happened?”“You fainted.”“Oh, I need to stop doing that.” Naomi heaved herself into a sitting position. She had been put in a bed. A candle flickered on the night table. The room was large and filled with dark wood furniture. Over the hearth, a shield and a pair of swords hung. Naomi realized that she had been placed in

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-74083739387122786072008-03-06T02:03:00.000-05:002008-04-28T03:53:31.225-04:00

Naomi watched helplessly as she continued to out pace Yula and Dennis. She couldn’t turn the horse back, stop it, or even slow it down. All she could hope for was that it didn’t try to knock her off with a low tree branch. An Umbrek caught up with Yula and Dennis and reached out to swipe at their horse. They dodged the swipe but just barely. Naomi was so concerned with the two behind her that

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-74428985648583484212008-03-03T01:01:00.003-05:002009-06-01T17:45:43.318-04:00

Naomi’s jaw jutted out. She wanted to argue the lunacy of evil kangaroos with Yula, but the wagon hit a bad bump, and they both fell down. She crawled to the back to see what was going on. The soldiers were falling back as they fought with the Umbreks. Tavik was easily recognizable on his large black charger.She watched as as an Umbrek rushed him. Tavik stabbed at the Umbrek, only piercing it

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-60318745196023070232008-02-28T05:48:00.000-05:002008-03-03T02:11:01.352-05:00

“You know, I’m sure we’d both be more comfortable if I got back into the wagon.”Tavik chuckled. “I thought you wanted to learn how to ride.”“I’m not learning anything.”His hand rubbed her thigh. “You’re learning. You’re becoming more comfortable. It’s a start.”Naomi frowned down at her thigh. No, she was learning how to ignore his hand. “Milord, I need to speak to you.”Naomi turned to the man

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Naomi sat hunched over in the covered wagon with Yula. It was one of the supply wagons. Bundles of cloth hemmed them in. There’d been no carriages at the castle or among the army. They’d been packed in like any other supply. Naomi was sorely missing modern suspension. She was sitting on two pillows, but she already had butt bruises, and they were still in their first hour of travel. It was going

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-55471166999910837712008-01-17T05:04:00.001-05:002009-06-09T17:47:41.823-04:00

Naomi did as she was told and stretched out on her back. Tavik stood at the foot of the bed and took her ankles in his hands. He coiled the torn strips around her ankles and lashed them to the bed post. Naomi knew she should fight, but she was done. No more fight left in her. She'd been marooned, captured, branded, and married, all in the space of a day. Why not get tied to a bed against her will

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-121735576328667832008-01-14T03:35:00.000-05:002008-03-19T05:00:15.802-04:00

A sharp rapping on the door made Tavik lower the sword. Naomi let out a sigh of relief and edged back a little. Tavik cursed vehemently as he went to answer it. He swung the door open and filled the door frame with his body. Naomi could just make out Yula on the other side.The woman cowered on the other side in a long gown and lace sleeping cap. “Is everything all right, my lord? I thought I

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-6481647325121199732008-01-10T03:00:00.000-05:002008-03-19T04:53:00.010-04:00

Naomi kneaded Tavik's shoulders as instructed. There was a large scar on one of them. She worked her thumb into it and heard Tavik sigh at the action. Her father had encouraged her to become a masseuse. He said her hands were magic on his shoulders. She'd always laughed it off. She couldn't imagine giving strangers massages. It'd seemed too personal. She wondered if she'd ever see her dad again.

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Naomi resurfaced unwillingly. Her back ached. The branding mark shot pain out to her in a steady throb. She was lying face down on a bed. She suspected she’d been returned to Lady Alyssa’s room.From her right, she heard Lord Tavik say, “Why hasn’t she awakened yet?”“She will be fine. She's just had a few too many shocks is all. She just needs a little rest.” Yula’s voice came from her other side.

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“You have to make a choice. The preparations are almost complete.”Naomi turned her eyes to Yula, but the serving woman was not going to help her. She was standing by with the damned wedding gown ready for her. “What can I do to make you believe me?” she pleaded.“Nothing,” Lord Tavik replied.“You’re going to kill me if I don’t marry you?”“Yes.” “Why?”“To cement my victory. You must either die or

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-70909478786868194602007-12-31T03:00:00.002-05:002009-06-01T18:23:20.495-04:00

Naomi stared at the floor as she chewed on her thumb nail trying to think of something to do to help herself. She was stuck on [shudder] another planet, and her only hope, a crazy old woman with a frying pan, had disappeared. She considered Agatha’s letter. She’d already ruined her chances with her big mouth. The wedding was probably off, but hey, the execution was still on. She could feel the

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-83419466997838142752007-12-27T03:00:00.001-05:002009-06-09T17:40:49.235-04:00

Naomi tried to take stock of her situation. She was in the middle of some uber-renaissance festival. That was the only rational explanation, except it didn’t explain the two moons floating in the sky. And it didn’t explain the man in the mask demanding to know whether she would marry him or die.What in the world had she gotten herself into? What world indeed, her thoughts repeated with an

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-86375924549376404702007-12-24T22:56:00.005-05:002011-03-24T22:24:53.153-04:00

The horn of the unicorn is called an alicorn.The masked man stepped down from the dais. She strained back in a feeble attempt to get away from him, but the soldiers held her firmly in place and would not give her even a quarter of an inch. The masked man came to stand in front of her. He was not tall. Had to be about five foot seven. Instead of looking up to quiver in fear, she looked into the

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-56245392969407427042007-12-20T05:56:00.002-05:002011-03-24T22:26:02.149-04:00

When they reached the castle, they had to skirt past more fighting men in the courtyard. The two women slinked through a large pair of wooden doors into an enormous room. There were people talking loudly and running everywhere. It sounded like they were looking for someone. Agatha stuck to the wall and led the way to a staircase. After several twists and turns, they ducked into a bedroom and

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-47829052174789078922007-12-17T03:11:00.001-05:002011-03-24T22:19:22.349-04:00

“We shouldn’t just get rid of this stuff in a yard sale.” Her mother had asked them to come over to help set up, but she felt like this was some sort of betrayal of their grandfather. He’d loved all his stuff, and the clutter had been a beloved part of him.Bobby, her younger brother, bent down to pick up a box from the floor. “It would’ve suited him. Someone will come today, see a little treasure

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-6981273332979159102007-12-13T08:42:00.002-05:002011-03-24T22:15:35.024-04:00

Naomi giggled with a touch of hysteria at the old woman holding the frying pan, AKA her savior. She smacked her hands over her mouth to hold in her panicked mirth. “Are you okay, girl?” She nodded still covering her mouth. The old woman looked down at the sword. “You gonna pick that up?”She thought about shaking her head. The sword had dried blood on it. But she could hear distant, angry, male

S.A. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14094259995695058081noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827653367507383439.post-31621943180969465512007-12-05T05:22:00.000-05:002007-12-17T18:42:35.859-05:00

I stopped trying to publish my image through blogger. I gave up. Good luck on figuring out the problem. I got tired to waiting.

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