akascrubber

It is OK to take artistic license with the fine details of the plot. I see it all the time on mystery shows on TV. I have read that police hate the CSI shows which pretend that evidence is easily available with precision and no shades of grey, DNA identified in days-instead of months or years, etc. My hope is that new information comes out before he spends 20 years in prison and might be able to leave with his partner

Kudos to Otis For all his limitations and social awkwardness, Otis is very perceptive about Angel--- " Angel began laughing. How could such a beautiful person appear so ugly? Otis watched the way the corners of the other’s mouth curled up, making his face appear similar to that of a nightmarish clown. His eyes gleamed with darkness and they seemed to give away nothing. It was a bad look, Otis just knew it." Otis can keep his head when heavily stressed. I am impressed with his ability to think on his feet and also to be careful and not get caught. His use of Morse Code was brilliant. He did not realize it but Hudson is sure he knows where he is. Hudson will try and try to follow up, I bet

Bully worked his way into being the foreman. He is leading the jury into Murder 2 and 20 years in jail. Fred is in deep trouble

Oddly, the best situation is that Lord Hemsley has a huge force out looking for them. The worse situation is that Brohm is really in the pay of Lord Hemsley and will turn Nathan over to him in the near future. For now, they need to rest and flee in the morning to a safe place--or to be captured with or without Brohm's help.

Things are unwell in the town. Conflict is brewing. Josel is oblivious, but not his father.

It appears Josel and his family have been on the run from far away. They have been found at last I agree that this is a promising start. I am glad the story will have a beginning, middle and end.

Manny rescued a beaten boy in great pain and near death. Ian and Keith met Joseph and pleadged to take care of him like a brother. They have much to discuss and accept. I am sure Ian and Keith are now even more committed to help Joseph. What a touching meeting that promises a hopeful future for all.

Otis is very calm and shrewdy sized up the people he met. He could tell something was off with Angel and the way Watkins looked at him. Hudson has located him and his room but could not get in. Geres soon later entered and talked to Otis and found out he was thristy and hungry. Angel was supposed to have fed him. Geres has another reason to insure Age was the third kid in the opening act, Otis does not know Otis will be the main act and wickedly hurt and maybe disfigured. Hudson is so worried about Otis. He photography duty was finished. Will Geres have another project for him or will he eventually kill Hudson?I can see Hudson will scheme to save Otis as the police attack. But many more guards have been hired. It could be a shit storm when the police come in to take everyone down. When trouble breaks, I can see Geres try to capture Otis for his later pleasure. If Otis is not drugged, he will likrly do his best to resist being taking to a new place. I hope he can find a gun-maybe on Geres-- who will not expect Otis to be so calculating and skilled with a gun.

Owain has thought about Colin in more depth after their holiday. His insight is very satisfying and encouraging. He was the first person that I'd ever really worried about, wanted to take care of." They are becoming a good and well balanced, caring couple.

But, the killer, Bully, is on the jury. Any thoughts or facts about another person being the killer could be forcefully attacked by Bully when the jury deliberates. One strong opinioned jury member can sway the rest of the jury. Bully needs to be careful afterwards and for a long time. I have read in the US that new trials are orderd when a jury member is found to be prejudiced and has lied during his testimony. It is not looking good for Fred.

I am learning how time consuming and detailed is the overseas adoption process. Things take time. Well, the safety efforts are well underway and handled by trusted friends. Ian and Keith are now on their flight to Israel. Thank goodness they are flying business class. It will allow them to be rested and better able to handle the stress when they land. Be themselves, they were told, and assume and hope Joseph will grow to like them. They really are his only hope for a much happier future.

+ Note the last out of place remark as Xavier and Garnet flew away. Someone was happy the queen died. "Had the few that had the ability been paying attention, they would have heard something else as Xavier and Garnet flew off… The roar of delighted laughter." Is the roar a sign that a green dragon is nearby or hidden in the caravan and will be a threat to it? 3 r and happiness from green dragon hidden nearby?

If Brohm is working for Lord Helmsley, we might out sooner rather than later. Brohm told Nathan nothing was near the keep. He is directing them gently to the settlement that is still nearest to the Keep. Brohm could be funneling Nathan into a trap in the settlement or near it where Lord Helmsley's men could be waiting. Or. it may just be bad luck to find an enemy present. If I were examining the terrain and what is available to aid his escape as Lord Helmsley might, I would expect Nathan to try to get a horse in the settlement and have my men quietly be ready for Nathan to show up. Will Brohm alert Nathan and help them both escape if he sees the enemy or will he turn Nathan into Lord Helmsley's men ? Does Brohm know a trusted person in the settlement who can help them continue their escape?

So worthy of Agatha Christie! I mean this as a great compliment

What a great murder mystery. We need more clues !

Good progress. The Major talked to Keith and a calmed down Ian. They agreed about the need to meet Joseph in Israel to find out his wishes. They are willing to adopt him and follow UK laws. After making the arrangements, they flew to Israel. The Major used his military contacts to watch over Keith and Ian in Israel--and maybe help Joseph leave? The Major is invaluable. Let us hope their meetings in Israel go well and they are safe.

Brohm, the bald headed man in the next cell,met up with Nathan. His skill with a sword and way of looking out for others like a sentinel, impressed Nathan. Unfortunately, he did not have Nathan's stamina. Also, Nathan felt a personal apppeal to him which bothered him. He lived a dangerous life and someone could get killed by being with him. It had happened before and this still concerns Nathan. Well, they walked through the trees and bush and rocky terrain. They did not see anyone looking for them. Before nightfall, they found what they thought was a safe place on the forrest. Nathan stayed in a cave. Brohm did not like confined spaces and slept on the ground. Tomorrow, they might reach a settlement according to Brohm who knew abit about the land. They are not out of trouble by a long shot. Keep guards or at least spies could be waiting for them in the setllement. Nathan thinks he can trust Brohm. But, he does not really know anything about him. He needs to still be wary about Brohm and be careful of stray winds.

I agree drpaladin that Kandic has many goals and different priorities than Xavier. I think the King has found out after the dying green confessed the plan of taking over his kingdom to him that his real problem is not Kandric but the green dragons who have hurt his family and have been hidding for a long time in his kingdom. The greens want their land back from him. He will need Kandric and his forces to fight the greens and also save Rolling Dale from Gambra and her minions who are backed by the greens. Xavier needs to go to Lucas the Lost and hopefully gain the immense magical power available for the right person--him or Lucas. With that power he can move to Scorpion Falls and into the Combined Desert Realm and find and be enabled to recover Seandra. At some point Kandric and Xavier could meet. If the timing is right --it may not be--and they are open to to it, Xavier and Garnet could enter the spirit realm to help Kandric fight Frexla to get his brothers back.

During Kandric's fight with Pyrothermal, he told him that he failed to destroy all in Seandra. Kandric ended Pyrothermal's life. "Some say you failed, Pyrothermal, for a child of Greysac, badly burned, but still living, made her way to Seandra with word of your deeds and before her death gave birth to a son. The boy was last seen with Prince Xavier shortly before the walls fell in flames. However, according to the texts within Protector's Keep I was given access to, the Sand Dragons held long enough to allow some from within the great city of the Sand Dragons to escape before you, your Brown Dragon allies, and their undead armies turned the land into a desert of the dead. Among the escapees were a Drow, a disgraced and declared non-child Alphar prince, a Garm, and the grandson of Greysac, a young Highman Mage by the name of Lucas. For, unless there is a tome saying otherwise, the Great Sand Dragon Xavier, son of the King of Seandra, along with those who fled with him, was never located." If Kandric is told Xavier lives now, Kandric may seek him out. He has the pouch with soul stones and the Queen's scepture for him. Xavier needs to find out Kandric does not kill all dragons and some are aligned with him. Xavier should not fear Kandric.

I think Garnet and Xavier should check out all the new hires when they come to camp. Any green dragons should be killed right away. When Garnet and/or Xavier shift to killl a hidden or suddenly revealed green dragon, Mablin will find out the secret nearly everyone ( but Hontel) in camp already knows. BTW, there was no mention of Mablin bringing in a very powerful mage to transport the caravan to the City of Lucas the Lost. Did he secure a mage?

What a conclusion--Xavier and Garnet turned quickly into sand dragons as they felt something strong and mind bending and cried out and flew away. The camp is in mass confusion and terror. The newly emerging sand dragons felt the death of thousands of sand dragons and Xavier's mother release of her power. Xavier and Garnet were in stunning pain Kandric who is now a mythlet according to Olpha has killed Pyrothermal and many other powerful beings. The sand dragon queen gave up her spirit and let go of her saved energy that healed all near Kandric. Xavier mourned the loss of his mother and felow warriors as it was finanlly made evident. Will the wind spirit who Xavier met eventually mean his presence will be made known to Kandric and other beings in the spirit realm. Will others seek him out. Now that the sand dragon presence is known in the caravan , what new cover story will they make?

Fred has no hope right now. Perhaps, if the real killer messes up and brags to others he thought he could trust to hate gays that he was the real killer--???

Poor guy. The real killer is stll out there. Will that killer go after the wronged man in jail or hire someone to kill him if he seeks out the real killer and studies law to make an appeal?

Talk about being upended. Jamie has a full blown mystery on his hands. He needs to really learn about his powers and how to use them, It will be near impossible to keep his powers from Mike. Plus, the MP knows and might even draw upon him when a crisis arises

I feel for Ian and the pain he experiences as he sees his role as the strong one as they face serious crises. But, now they both know what to do instinctively about Joseph, a legacy from Manny before he died in Israel. They request that he be brought to them and they will be his guardian. Without their help, Joseph, as a bereft, dirt poor Palestinian, will face a terrible life in Isreal. They are starting a family early with a boy who might have serious mental health issues living discarded in a tense region and now facing a completely new culture in a new country. It will be time for more love and compassion.