Brief Interludes Read Free Page A

the flames. Steam rose , almost scorching her face. Struggling to see through the m u rk , she spotted Roland astride his great black mare, Tank, her pony, Misty, trotting alongside. Both glistened with rainwater.
    Roland charged into the clearing, his dark reddish hair swaying with the wind, sword high and swirling through the air . Silver gleamed and spark ed as metal struck metal. Then for several heart-stopping moments , Solange's breath caught in her throat as a huge net came down over Roland and Tank , the dreaded trap she had feared successful, with her a s the bait.
    Tank snorted and twirled with confusion and Roland patted his side with strokes of confidence. As he controlled the rain, he commanded the energy around him, hoisting the net in the air, and swinging it over Solange's captors before bringing it down and around several of the men on horses.
    A taste of their own! Solange cheered in her mind, smiling with relief. Roland, thank Zola, you came just in time.
    Solange, are you hurt?
    I ... don't think so . His presence gave her renewed strength .
    The fire fizzled out but her hands and feet remained tied. The nerve endings in her limbs tingled from being bound so long . Roland rode toward her, pulling Misty behind him. With one swoop , he cut the ropes that bound her wrists . She forced her hands to move and untied her feet while Misty stood a few feet away. Roland threw her a sword.
    Remember to stay low on her back, my sweet . Roland rode off and attacked with vibrant tenacity.
    Roland, look out behind you ! Her admonition came too late as Broderick thrust his sword into Roland's thigh.
    Roland winced as the sword twisted in his flesh. Broderick laughed, forcing the metal deeper into Roland’s leg.
    Solange came in low as Roland had taught her, sword waist high and pointed at Broderick. With all the energy she could summon, she jabbed it into the center of his back. Misty jolted from the sudden stop and Solange almost lost her balance, but held fast. Misty, heeding the commands of her mistress, stood still as Solange pulled the sword out and thrust it in again, this time straight through to Broderick’s heart.
    Roland pulled the sword from his thigh , climbed down from Tank and limped to Solange, pulling her close, lean ing his forehead against hers.
    “ Sorry I a m late, my sweet. ”
    “ Apology accepted. ” Wrapping her arms around the nape of his neck, Solange sighed just before Roland's lips captured hers.

Stuck!
     
    My trip back east had me exhausted and the two-hour plane delay didn't help. All I wanted was a little relaxation in a warm tub.
    Shock took hold as I entered my house. I glanced around. Everything was different—nothing looked familiar. Where did this furniture come from? I placed my bags down and staggered back, leaning out the door to recheck the number hanging under the porch lamp.
    “ Yep, number 55. ”
    It was the right house—our house, but not our stuff. A sofa, red with overstuffed cushions, sat next to a black leather recliner—one like you might see in a shrink's office. I wondered if it felt as comfortable as it looked, but I didn't bother to sit. I stood in the middle of the room next to a square glass table and turned a complete circle. I’m sure my eyes were as wide as those of a kid lost at a circus, everything new and exciting, but at the same time strange and foreboding. The jumbo screen in the corner played some war flick I didn't recognize as it assaulted my ears with multiple sounds of gunshots, helicopters whirling, and people shouting.
    I walked through the door on the other side hoping for some familiarity when my eyes fell upon a huge etched marble globe of the world sitting in the middle of an otherwise empty room. Glistening water sprayed from the top and slithered down the sides into a sparkling pool surrounding the bottom. Steam rose, filling the air with the smell of salt. 
    “ What the hell? Jack? What's going on? ”
    I stepped back to the living