Apr 21, 2017
Aaaaaaaand the three dragon kids + Lana
seen from Germany
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Poland
seen from China
seen from China
seen from Türkiye
seen from United States
seen from Saudi Arabia
seen from Russia
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Spain
seen from Latvia
seen from United States
seen from Denmark
seen from Yemen
seen from Spain
Aaaaaaaand the three dragon kids + Lana
Since I finished reading both of the tie-in books, I've been thinking about the differences between Baurus Septim and Attrebus Mede. Because there are serious differences. Apart from them being the Heartthrob Heir to the Ruby Throne, they're almost complete opposites:
Attrebus is the Golden Boy, Prince Charming, "Come Companions, we have a quest!" type, whereas Baur is the darker, quieter, more somber type.
However, Attrebus is also... kind of a wimp? Like, he can't even fight. Everything around him is completely engineered. His whole persona is a lie.
This is opposed to Baur, who only thinks he doesn't live up to his parents' rep. He's been trained extensively by the most powerful, scariest people in the world at the time.
Just compare what happens when someone tries to assassinate them. Attrebus sort of cries and whines about it until people slap some sense into him, vs Baur who is probably a little too used to people trying to murder him.
The one other thing they have in common is that they both fall for curly-haired Breton ladies who have a Thing for potions and whose names start with "A". I swear that was unintentional.
If anyone thinks that I’m not going to have Baurus drop a line at some point along the lines of “I am not my grandfather”, then I don’t know what to tell you.
“What was that? Troll fat?” Julian demanded.
Alessia smirked into her soup and mumbled, “Don’t forget the glow dust.”
“You know that doesn’t come out!”
He ran a hand through his hair and cringed. When I squinted, I thought I could just make out a bit of a shimmer still stuck onto the dark strands. I snorted and tried to disguise it with a cough. Mother shot me an exasperated look in response before turning her attention back to my sister.
The heirs to the Empire, everybody.
Alternately
Baurus: Going somewhere, Meema?
Minerva: Sure are, dearling.
Baurus: Well, have a good time. If you're going to be gone more than a month, drop us a line.
Minerva: But Baurus! This isn't just my vacation. It's a vacation with me and one of my greatest friends.
Baurus: Oh, Lady Mazoga?
Minerva: No, silly. WITH YOU :D
Baurus: O_____o
Rewrite
I always knew my mother was a stern woman. The people of the Empire always loved my father, but they were afraid of her. It wasn’t until I was ten that I understood why.
“Get up!”
My mother was shaking my shoulder. I cracked an eyelid. Everything was still dark.
“Wha–”
“There’s no time,” she snapped. “Get up!”
I did as she told me. Scrambling to my feet, I grabbed some clothes and tugged them on. My parents stood in the doorway, speaking in hushed voices. Mother looked both angry and nervous. Father raked a hand through his hair. Whatever was going on had them both worried. That was never a good sign.
“What’s going on?” I asked them. Mother turned her eyes on me. They were gray like mine, and full of anger.
“Assassins are coming for us.”
“Mara, he’s ten.”
“And how old were your brothers’ children?” She snapped at father. “How old were they, Martin? If they had known, they might have survived. I won’t lose any of you tonight.”
“Very well.”
I heard several knocks on the door outside of my rooms, along with a muffled shout of, “Mara, it’s me! I’ve got them!”
Mother hurried into the other room. Seconds later I heard her open the door and let out a cry of relief. She returned, carrying my little sister in her arms. Alessia cried against her shoulder. Lucia followed, holding Julian. She was in her full Blades armor. It was smeared with what looked like blood.
“What happened?” Mother asked her, kissing the top of Alessia’s head.
"One of them found us. I got rid of him, and we got away before they could get to us again. I don't think they know where we are yet."
"They'll be here soon. Where are the others?"
"On the way. You moved too fast for them."
Mother rolled her eyes. “Right. We don’t have time for this.” She turned to me and said, “I want you to stay with Lucia. Keep your brother and sister safe.”
“But moth–”
“Listen to me.” She knelt down in front of me and took my hands. “If something happens to your father and me you’re the one who has to take charge. You need to be strong. Can you do that, darling?”
My throat felt tight. I nodded and threw my arms around her to hug her tight. She held onto me for a few seconds. Then she pulled away and nodded to the wall.
“Grab your sword. You’ll need it.”
I took it down and strapped it onto my hip. My parents were busy comforting my little brother and sister. Father set down Alessia and hugged me as well.
“You’re going to be okay, right?” I asked him in a hoarse voice. My heart pounded.
“I think your mother is more worried about you three right now. We’ll be fine.”
“–Lucia, you need to get them out. I don't care how. Just get them out of the palace."
Mother and Lucia were discussing their plans.
“And what then?” Lucia asked.
“I'll get Odahviing. He'll find you.”
“And what about you? What are you going to do?”
Mother’s face hardened and she shared a look with father as she said, “I’m going to find these s’wits and let them know exactly what I do to those who threaten my family. Let’s move. Now.”
My parents hurried out first and I followed with Lucia and my brother and sister. We’d barely stepped through the door when a bolt of green fire sailed past and hit the wall. Lucia pushed me back, but I could still see everything.
Three of them stood at the end of the hall: tall elves dressed in black hooded robes. When one of them tried to cast another spell, father flicked his wrist and shot a bolt of razor-sharp ice through his hand. The elf backed away, clutching it to his chest while blood dripped onto the floor.
“Lucia, get them out now!” Mother hissed. She said something else and her voice turned into a roar that made the walls shake.
Lucia pushed me away. I looked back over my shoulder to see my parents advancing on the attackers. Mother had her sword in one hand while the other was covered in flames. Father’s hands glowed blue with frost. Before the elves could defend themselves, fire and ice shot at them and they barely stumbled aside in time. I wrenched my arm away from Lucia’s grip to watch as they tore into the assassins.
Father took on the one who had tried to shoot us, freezing him in place and stabbing him with a dagger hidden in his robes. Mother struck at them with flames and her whirling blade. She cut the first assassin down with ease, but she didn’t seem to notice the third coming up behind her. His dagger was raised to strike.
My shout of warning was drowned out by father’s roar.
“MARA!”
She spun around, catching the elf by the wrist and holding him there. Flames from her hand licked up his arm as she twisted it. It let out a loud crunch. Ripping the knife from his limp hand, she slashed open his throat. He crumpled at her feet.
I stared at her. She still held the dagger, clutching it so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Blood dripped from her face. The fire in her hand died abruptly and father hurried over to pull her into his arms.