mander-lee replied to your post: I was wondering if you've read Storm From The East...
Ahh, I started Storm from the East as soon as it came out, but I had to put it down about a third way through. It’s just so intense! I’m going through some rough period at work, and I just couldn’t handle that much intensity and went off to look for a more comfy book. I love the world, I love the writing, but every chapter is filled with so much tension.
I can completely understand that! It isn’t a comfy read, to be sure. Did you find another book that was?
I'll ask you the same one as you asked me: 15. I want to see what you come up with!
You know that thing, when you know exactly what you want to say, but can’t figure out how to say it? That’s what happened here. Also, this turned out less shippy than you probably wanted, but it’s still about Gen/Irene’s relationship, so I hope it suffices.
Thank you so much for the prompt!
Warning: Some spoilers for Thick as Thieves.
15. “Shouldn’t you be with him/her?”
The temple ofHephestia in Attolia was a stunning building, the product of bothAttolian and Eddisian artisans. The sturdy, square, pillared designsof Eddis, combined with the rounded, swooping styles of Attolia. Atthe dedication ceremony, Ornon admired the powerful appearance (forboth the political statement it made and the piece of architecture itwas). It had been his first visit; he was indifferent when it came tothe old gods—any gods—and might not have visited the temple atwere it not necessary for Eddis’s ambassador to be present at theceremony. But, he would not deny that the building was beautiful.Particularly then, with the midday light gleaming off the stones, andthe place alive with visitors, colors, and the echoing chants of theHigh Priestess.
It was lessbeautiful now, during his second visit, much later. The lamps stillhad not been lit for the evening, and shadows were growing in thecrevices of the lonely, cold chambers. Even the priestesses andpriests were nowhere to be seen. The place seemed empty.
The king wasn’tthere; it had been a mistake to come, then. Ornon turned, to leaveand searching elsewhere, when he caught sight of Eugenides. He was kneeling before the inner altar, bowed low to the ground, arms stretchedforward in supplication.
Ornon’s footstepssounded loudly as he approached, and the king stiffened as thoughstartled. He straightened and turned, an odd look on his face. Ornonwondered if Eugenides had expected another, less less earthly, lessmortal visitor.
“Has there been achange?” Eugenides asked, before Ornon could even open his mouth togreet him.
He shook his head.“I’m afraid not.”
The king slowlyturned back to the altar, bowing his head once more. He did notspeak. In the silence, the atmosphere of the room grew cold and tenseand heavy. For the first time in a long while, Ornon felt awkward andunsure. With a desperate search through his mind for what to do andsay, he decided to risk what repercussions he might bring, and asked,“Shouldn’t you be with the queen?”
It was blunt, and itwas bold, and may have been the wrong thing to say. For all that thiswas Eugenides, the trouble-making boy Ornon has known since Gen was ababy, he was the king of Attolia. And surely, given the presentsituation, he would be less giving than usual and twice as shorttempered.
Surprisingly, therewas no snapping reply. There was no growl. There was no reaction atall from Eugenides for a long moment. And then, when he did speak, itwas in a calm tone without bite.
“And do what?”he asked, sounding more tired than anything else. “Should I paceoutside her door? Sit uselessly at her bed, and watch as…” Heshook his head. “No. I’m here, like the good little believer thatI am. I’m making sacrifices and pleading with everything that is inme for the gods to let her stay, even if—“ There, at last, thedisturbingly calm voice shook and broke. Desperation and sorrowfilled its cracks as he continued, in a whisper, “Even if they didnot choose to intervene and save my child.”
His shoulders shook,but there was no sound. And as Ornon watched Eugenides grip thefabric on his right arm so tightly that the knuckles on his one handturned white, he realized he was not dealing with an angry king. This was a young man plagued with fear.
A Eugenides who wasafraid was a terrifying sight.
Sighing, Ornonstepped beside the boy, and dropped to his knees as well. Heremembered a few prayers from his youth. So he stayed bowed at the side of the scared young man, and joined him in petitioning the gods Eugenides believed in. And their voices filled the quiet, cold chamber.
I hope you enjoy the picture! I meant to only spend a short time on it then I got carried away! It still doesn’t look great but it’s not terrible for a speedpaint either!
I just saw your tweet about Dark of the West and how much you enjoyed it, and I'm just 30% of the way through it right now, and I just got so excited to read the rest of it!! Also, I picked it up, because I saw your photo of it on twitter! ^^
Oh, I’m so glad you’re liking it! I really enjoyed it a lot, especially since in some ways it reminded me of the QT (quasi-historical secondary world fantasy with complex relationship dynamics and a strong political component) without actually being derivative of the QT at all. I also liked that both the hero and heroine have a sense of humour -- that goes a long way with me. Looking forward to Book Two!
Ornon...might be, actually? Now that you say it, that sounds right. I did flip through my copy of TaT quickly and didn’t see anything about him being in the Mede Empire, but I might have missed it. *face-palm* Thanks for the catch!
I hadn’t planned to make it part of The River Knows Its Time, buuut...maybe it will be. We’ll see. I have two different ideas for what Gen was doing right then, and I might write the second one instead.
Aaahhh, I’m glad you like it! Thank you so much for the kind words!!
