Well, just when you think you've got the Chrons Challengers taped, they go and surprise you! I was convinced there would be variations of the Bluebeard story, yet nary a one appeared, and the usual splattering of gore and gruesomeness went AWOL, with multiple heartwarming tales instead! We perhaps ought to have wedding images more often!
Anyhow, my shortlist:
Aknot -- The Old Ways -- a traditional tale with a twist
Astro Pen -- Here, Inside -- a story to make one question what it is to be human (with a clever use of "it" and "she")
BigJ -- To dream, to dance, to love... -- a poignant tale of loss and meeting again
Cat's Cradle -- The Color of Fireflies -- lovely images, as always
Luiglin -- ...of the same coin -- a view of a wedding from the other side
Phyrebrat -- Third Player -- a heartbreaking story of spurned love and a fatal decision
Rafellin -- All Rise -- an assassination that made me laugh, not least because of that tattoo!
Stuart Suffel -- Angles. -- double-crosses from all angles
Votes for once were easy, and I went for
Rafellin's incongruously-dressed assassin,
Phyrebrat's grief-stricken, jealous ghost, and
Luiglin's brilliant mirror image of his 75 worder last month. If I'd had a fourth vote, then it would have gone to
Stuart for his clever story of multiple deceptions.
Silken ribbon thanks for the kind mentions/shortlistings Stuart, johnnyjet, Starbeast, Phyrebrat, Bren G, Chris p and CC, and many violet-scented lace thanks for the wonderful votes Ian, Rafellin and Astro Pen, and for the stealth vote, Peter!
