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WintryElf

WintryElf

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You know, Loki, now that you mention it, I can also draw a parallel between Sandry and Berenene's relationship and Justine and Gray's relationship, Pierce also being one of my favourite fantasy authors. ^^
I liked these adds. I find myself constantly waiting for the point where Lucas decides '**** this' and takes the leap to save his comrade. And boy, will it be epic.
Good job, Smeeze. I've been with you since Sot*, but I've been inactive for a few years, so it's nice to see that you're still writing and I look forward to reading more.

25-Jun-2011 20:06:11 - Last edited on 25-Jun-2011 20:38:43 by WintryElf

Crystal Smee

Crystal Smee

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Thanks guys, it means a lot :) That's some high praise, Loki. I appreciate it. You too, Elf - I'm grateful you've stuck with me for so long. I'm glad you recognize what I'm going for - it means it's working. I'm really trying to explore shades of gray in this (no pun intended), with Gray and Jonah. In the past, my villains were very much evil, but I'm trying to make this a little less black and white, so I'm glad that is coming through.
I think I read some stuff by Tamora Pierce, but it was a long, long time ago, six or seven years probably and I don't really remember anything other than the name, so I can't claim to have used her as a model, but I'm flattered to be compared to an acclaimed author. Those names ring a bell somewhere in my head. The Lucas/Justine story is very Romeo and Juliet, and I've drawn from similar characters and stories, but not hers specifically :P
And Lucas will get there someday; I hope it's apparent that I'm trying to get him to grow up a little - it's just not going to happen overnight. He's getting there, gradually.
We're almost to Karamja. ***** gonna heat up soon :D Meanwhile, Loki, I'm going to sit down and read your story through soon.

25-Jun-2011 21:00:16 - Last edited on 25-Jun-2011 21:05:13 by Crystal Smee

Crystal Smee

Crystal Smee

Posts: 7,994 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Justine sipped the peppermint tea and willed her headache to go away. Usually the scented air of the apothecary’s shop calmed her, but today it seemed to be making it worse. Mirienne studied her from across the table.
“It’s not helping?”
Justine stared into her cup. “No.*
*Talk to me. How are you doing, with everything?”
She bit back a sharp reply, reminding herself that she wasn’t angry at the older woman – she was angry at everything but. She was silent for a long time, considering. Finally, she declared, “I’m miserable.” Mirienne raised an eyebrow. “All I do is sit around and miss him. I can** sleep, I wear his clothes because they smell like him, I read his old books to see his notes, his handwriting.”
“Basically everything you were doing before you heard?”
Justine smiled sadly. “I guess. But now with the added guilt.”
“Guilt?”
She shrugged. “The Prince. He tried to be there for me, but he…he wants something I can’t give him. Not now, anyway.”
Mirienne asked her if maybe someday she thought she could.
“I guess that’s what I feel guilty about,” she answered, flushing. “Isn’t it wrong to move on?”
Mirienne reached across the table and took her hand. “That’s up to you.”
Justine pushed back her chair and stood up, rubbing her forehead. “Thanks. I think I’m just going to head home and lie down for a bit.*
The older woman nodded. “It might help to find a way to occupy yourself. Something to keep busy. It’ll take your mind off things.”
“Thanks,” she said, and gathered her things and left. Outside, she began the walk back to the main marketplace. The summer heat was beginning to lift a little, and she wished she had brought a coat or a shawl to cover her shoulders. The wind carried a chill now, late in the evening. She wandered among the stalls as they began to pack their wares into boxes, load their carts to head home for the evening.

30-Jun-2011 02:17:58

Crystal Smee

Crystal Smee

Posts: 7,994 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
She imagined the men going home to wives, dinner on the table, children gathered round. Such a simple, rich life. Which role did she want? The child, watching her mother lay out dinner, smiling at Gray, or to be the mother, smiling at Lucas across the table. Had Gray once been this man, a gentle man running a table in the market, going home to her mother every evening? He’d mentioned once he came from plain beginnings, that he’d built his own business. But she couldn’t imagine him here, among these men and women, in their homespun cloth, with weary smiles on their faces from a hard day’s work. That wasn’t Gray at all. If that had once been his life, he certainly had never appreciated its value.
No warmer clothing caught her eye, however, so she walked among them, engaging her mind in fantasies of Lucas sitting at the head of the table, she across from a small boy with his unruly, curly hair. He’d always feared joining her world, of lords and ladies and galas and servants, that he couldn’t measure up the challenge, but she would have been happy moving to his world. They did*’t have to work for the castle; they could have moved away. She’d always dreamed of them owning a little house, just the two of them. A place for just them, away from everything that haunted them. She wished she’d told him before he went away.
Maybe he would’ve stayed.
You son of a…she thought bitterly.
Suddenly the vision of Lucas at the head of the table became James, glittering in regal finery, at a laden table with heaps of food. She blinked.
Standing before her was the Prince himself, arrested in his tracks at the sight of her. He was on foot, no servants in his wake. He was dressed plainly, not calling attention to himself. Justine paused, meeting his gaze. She had not seen him for a few weeks now; he had kept his distance, and she had avoided the castle, cooping herself up in her house instead.

30-Jun-2011 02:18:30

Crystal Smee

Crystal Smee

Posts: 7,994 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
She approached him cautiously. “James,” she said softly, and could not prevent a smile at saying his name.
“My lady,” he bowed his head.
Silence prevailed for a few moments.
“It’s good to see you,” she said finally.
“I hope you are well, my lady,” he said, and pushed past her. “I have business to attend to.”
“James! What are…”
She watched him go for a few moments, her voice trailing off when he did*’t turn around, then continued on her way. Why the cold shoulder? She had at least hoped he would be happy to see her, after so long. But not a word, not a single warm acknowledgment of their friendship.
It did*’t matter, she told herself firmly. It was better this way. She kept walking, and forced herself not to look over her shoulder. As she reached an intersection, she saw the city barracks, the army headquarters. She imagined Lucas walking out of those doors, a sword in his hand, on his way to tell her of his decision. Yes, it was better this way.
Then, abruptly caught with an idea, she turned away from her house and headed for the barracks.

Inside the barracks, Gray sat upstairs in an office room across from an army general, his legs crossed and hands folded neatly in his lap. He was dressed much more nicely than the Prince had been, wearing a formal black jacket and a deep red shirt. He carried his usually jewelry, rings marking his position in the royal cabinet, a family sigil, his wedding ring, as well as a gold chain around his neck. The general was dressed in army uniform, but sat much more casually, legs sprawled up on the desk as he leaned back in his chair.
“So why are you asking me about the Karamja mission, Gray? It’s not really your place to know the specifics, that’s confidential information.” The general laughed heartily. “Not that I don’t welcome the visit from an old friend.”
“I was more interested in the fact that it was run by Jonah Barron,” Gray said.

30-Jun-2011 02:19:23

Crystal Smee

Crystal Smee

Posts: 7,994 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
“Interesting,” the general said.
“I just thought he was retired, that’s all.” The nobleman rose from his chair, went to the cabinet to pour himself a drink. He turned his back, so the general wouldn’t see his hands tremble.
“That old bear? He’s a damn good soldier, so we brought him back.”
“And you think he’s fit to be running highly confidential missions in the jungle?” The scotch spilled slightly over the edge of the glass, and Gray wiped it quickly away.
The general chuckled. “You think anyone in this dump is fit to run a high-risk mission in the jungle, Gray? This war’s a farce. I don’t even know how in the bloody hell we’re winning this thing.”
“You ever think it’s maybe because of me?” Gray smirked, turning around and taking a long pull from the drink..
“You whispering away in the King’s ear probably helps—“
“Not the King’s ear, the Prince’s,” Gray corrected. “Our beloved King has holed away in his chambers. I hear he’s built quite a nest. No, his son is the one running this country.”
“And who’s running the war?” the general questioned, swinging his legs down and leaning forward in his chair..
“Call it a joint effort.”
“But back to the original point,” the general sighed, “Jonah’s probably the only damn real soldier in the army.”
“Damn good soldier, but what about commander?”
The general rose and leaned over the table, snatching the glass out of Gray’s hand. “I’ll be damned, my Lord, you’re scared! You thought the old bear had up and retired. Too bad he was just hibernating. Once a soldier, always a soldier.”
“Guess I’ll have to be on the lookout then,” Gray said, and grabbed his drink back.
At that moment the door pushed open, and a familiar face poked around the door. “Father?” Justine said in surprise.
“Darling, what are you doing here?”
“I was hoping to talk to the general, if I might, sir.”
Gray tensed. “Is this about---“

30-Jun-2011 02:20:09 - Last edited on 30-Jun-2011 02:20:29 by Crystal Smee

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