Long Game a fic for Thimbleful Thursday

http://www.lynthornealder.com/2020/09/24/longgame/

"That investment is a long shot, you know."  The broker frowned across the table at Freida.  "It won't pay out for decades, maybe even longer.  Now if you want something that'll give you some money to play with-"

"Decades is fine."  Frieda knew what the broker was seeing - a young woman, maybe in her early twenties, who was going to get bored with this whole thing too quickly and demand greater returns in the short term. 

A Matter of State

http://www.lynthornealder.com/2020/09/25/a-matter-of-state/

"There are things you will need to consider as the Queen of this place."

The sand-cat paced on the desk, lecturing the girl, who had been named Malina Serafina Anastazja Dominika Naveed Jeleń nic Cecília O Alexandre, but who we will call Malina for the purposes of this story. “There are many things about which you will need to learn,” the cat continued. 

Saving the Cult (if not the World), Chapter Twenty-Nine

http://www.lynthornealder.com/2020/09/25/cult29/

"Lina here saved our asses.  Lives.  Sorry.  Twice, maybe three times already.  So loyalty..."  He shrugged eloquently. 

"Loyalty is, uh, with the person - people - who value us," Dylan filled in very softly.  "I