I’m pleased to have Cerridwen author Charlene Leatherman with me this week. Take it away, Charlene!
My name is Charlene Leatherman. I love stories about strong women and find historical women like Catherine the Great, Queen Elizabeth and Deborah, Judge of Israel, to be fascinating. In my stories, my heroines are strong willed as well as physically and mentally strong.They are faced with problems that demand as much as they can give, and they always rise to the occasion. It’s not surprising I’m drawn to strong characters as I myself am a strong woman!
I live in Desert Center, California. It is a tiny town founded by gold miners in the early 1920s, in the exact midpoint between two towns, fifty miles from each town – hence the name! The population is about 150 people and swells to about 1000 during the winter with tourists.
I am the caregiver for my quadriplegic husband of 35 years. I have two wonderful sons and two marvelous daughters-in-law. I have two grandbabies, one from each son. I love being a wife, a mom, a grandmother, and a writer. I have been writing since I was old enough to hold a crayon, but never tried to get published. I am thrilled to be working with Cerridwen Press. I visit exotic worlds with my characters. I reach for the stars with them. I fight the good fight, defeat the bad guy and win the love of my life. I hope you enjoy reading my stories as much as I enjoy writing them.
Charlene’s tag line really says it all:
Defeating the villain, destroying the monster, delivering the hero, and never breaking a nail!
Prophecy of Vithan
by
Charlene Leatherman
Morgan had the life she had always dreamed of. Although still a brothel slave, the king and queen treated her like a free woman and the prince she was training was like a son to her. Then everything goes to hell. Morgan is forced into a marriage with a man she cannot respect or admire. Her prince is missing and the king and queen are killed. Morgan is blamed for the murder. Morgan’s primary concern is to find Prince Khai.
The only thing slowing Morgan down is the prophecy about her saving the galaxy, remaining a virgin and that damn electric attraction she feels every time Len touches her.
Len had his orders. The ones everyone knew about and the other ones. Marry his soul mate and consummate the marriage, and determine if his new wife was the original Morgan Taj Zephyrain. The first he looked forward to. The second he preferred to ignore. Obviously Morgan Taj Zephyrain is the criminal Len is seeking. It is Len’s job to bring the murderer to justice.
Excerpt
“Going somewhere?” The man in white, Len Braxton, stood leaning against the door jam, arms crossed over his chest.
Morgan put her hand to her chest. “Need alcohol.” Morgan gasped. “Low blood alcohol level.”
“Really? Hildai 37 zeta 845 beta delta 599 unit 2, what is Morgan’s blood alcohol level?”
“I prefer Hildai, only. The rest is so pretentious.” A mechanical voice said from inside Len’s pocket.
“Answer the question, you annoying piece of junk.”
“Ninety-eight percent.”
“Does she need a drink?” Len asked.
“Only if she wants to forget you, you pompous ass.” Hildai said. “Sorry, Morgan. He overwrote my programming.”
“Where did you get her?” Morgan demanded.
“Your room. I met the technician there. Very clever getting him out of the way. I’m not clear how you shut down the shield without setting off the alarms.”
“I know the codes.” Morgan lied. “I’m an escaping Sonij slave. Quite a reward. Are you going to turn me in?”
“No. I’m not interested in rewards. Seems the Royals are having a dinner party tonight. Some bigwig coming and you’re to be extra special pretty tonight.” Len looked Morgan up and down. For some reason, Morgan felt self-conscious in her jeans and leather jacket. “I came to escort you to the harem.”
Harem?” Morgan’s throat constricted. She tried to keep the alarm out of her voice. She failed.
“Is this fear I see on your face? I thought all female Sonij slaves are comfortable in brothels or harems.” Len said sarcastically.
Morgan swung at Len. He stepped out of reach and held his hands in surrender.
“I’m not fighting with you again. I have several badly bruised ribs to mend before I do. If you get nasty, I’ll simply put you out.” Len pulled a phaser from his pocket.
Morgan shrugged. “Get the med-tech to heal you. You have your disk, don’t you?”
“The ribs will heal on their own. Besides, I don’t have a disk.”
“A Protector without a disk?” Morgan shook head in disbelief. “Tell you what. I’ll be good. But,”
“OK,” Len interrupted. “Let’s go to the harem.”
“But,” Morgan continued, “First I want to check on Khai. I’m concerned about him.”
“No. You were accused of trying to kill him.”
“I was exonerated.” Morgan said firmly.
“The answer is no. Let’s go to the harem.” Len said. He waved the phaser in the direction he wanted Morgan to go.
Morgan raised her fists. “Do you know anything about Sonij physiology? We are a strong race. Phaser shot does not affect us as it does others.” Morgan lied. “When I reach you, I’ll hammer your ribs. I don’t know much about human anatomy. Do the ribs house anything vital?”
“Okay, you win, but I stay with you and the boy at all times.” Len agreed.
Morgan lowered her hands. “Call him and ask him to meet me in the armory workout area. I promised him a lesson.”
“Call him? Why should I call him? You’re linked to him.”
“Only in emergencies.” Morgan lied. She did not want this man to know she could not touch Khai’s mind. “I prefer to give him his privacy.”
“Cat told me she interrogated you. Any residual effects, like being unable to link with Khai?” Len asked.
“Unlike you Protectors, I will not invade someone’s privacy.”
Len looked at Morgan. She couldn’t tell if he believed her or not.
“Back against the wall.” Len motioned with the phaser. “I want to check for weapons.”
“You know I don’t have any weapons on me. You searched me before you put me in here.”
Len motioned with the phaser again. Morgan sighed. She backed away from the Protector. She put her hands behind her head and spread her legs, her back against the wall. Len pocketed the phaser. He walked to Morgan. He put his hand behind her neck, searching for a knife. Morgan breath came a little quicker. Len stood slightly taller than she did. She could smell the cologne he wore. Len stood close enough for his cheek to brush hers. Morgan closed her eyes to keep from going cross-eyed. Fantasy images of her and Len drifted in her mind. Len edged himself between her legs, forcing her feet wider. Morgan, startled, opened her eyes. The Protector pinned her against the wall, holding her wrists against the back of her neck.
Len leaned in and kissed her on the mouth. Hard. Morgan struggled to get loose. Len tightened his grip on her arms. He kissed her again. Morgan’s knees weakened after the second kiss. She wanted to wrap her arms around Len and keep him there. She felt desire rising in her. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach. Her mind swirled with emotion.
With his other hand, Len slipped a black collar around her throat. The collar snapped on.
Rage curled in Morgan’s mind, pushing every other emotion. She wanted to scream. She let herself be caught by the mind control of a Protector, so he could put a slave collar on her. Morgan glared at Len.
Morgan saw the look in his eyes. The kiss affected him, too. Len looked visibly shaken. He swallowed and composed himself.
She shut off her emotions. She willed her eyes to blank. He’s a Protector, she reminded herself. She wanted nothing to do with Protectors, especially this Protector. Her only concern must be Khai. She needed to talk to him. The broadsword lesson would be good cover.
Gaining control, Len grinned lewdly. He released Morgan and stepped out of punching and kicking range.
“I’m a slave.” Morgan said, irritated with the man. “You’re a freeman. You could have told me to put on the collar. You could have ordered me to kiss you, or fuck you. Was the kiss enough? Do you want to have sex? You can have me before the guest arrives. I am a Sonij slave. I am used to brothels and harems. Isn’t that what you said? Well, Protector, do you want to fuck before I check on Khai, before I’m ordered to pleasure the guests?”
“Knock it off.” Len said, angrily, coloring with embarrassment.
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The mummy of King Merenre 1, as seen on display in the Imhotep Museum in Sakkara
What is it about camels? I can never resist taking pictures of them!
He’s using an old toothbrush to wash the pieces
Heremheb was a vizier to Tutankhamen and he began building this tomb at that time. After he himself became Pharaoh he went back and added little cobras to his headdresses in the drawings to show that he was the now ruler.
We went next to the site of the city of Memphis. There isn’t much left to speak of because the every day houses were built of mud brick and it has all disintegrated over time. There are a few things left though, like the Sphinx of Memphis. He’s not as large as the Sphinx at Giza, but he does still have most of his face.
