tagmeth @ 2011-04-12T20:18:00

I see that I've been quiet for awhile. Blame that on struggles with the new novel which doesn't seem to want to jell. I hate this stage of composition. It makes me feel stupid and incompetent. Perhaps it's time to start organizing notes on a big piece of poster board again, once I write the notes.

Prowling around on Amazon, I found myself on two lists, one positive and one negative. The negative list dismisses God Stalk as childish -- this, I gather, because Jame doesn't show more signs of the trauma she experienced growing up in Perimal Darkling. It's a fair cop. I still haven't dealt with that material in any detail, nor do I particularly want to. Perhaps that's a mistake and a weakness. At this stage of Jame's life, I find myself wondering what other development she needs as a character. Oh, she still has a lot to find out and some seriously unresolved issues with her brother (although less after HP). Perhaps it's time to focus more on bringing Tori and Kindrie up to speed.

Anyway, here, as a reward for your patience, is another tidbit:

II

Something woke Torisen in the small hours of the night: a splash, a muffled cry. Under the cot, the Wolver growled and Yce sat up at its foot, ears pricked.
Torisen rose, knife in hand. At the outer flap he found Burr, Rowan, and most of his escort, the rest presumably guarding the tent's far side.
"What?" he breathed in Rowan's ear.
The Kendar shook her head, still listening intently. The moon had either set or been overwhelmed with clouds, for it was very dark. Neither Wilden nor Shadow Rock showed more than a star-dusting of dim lights, barely enough to distinguish the bulk of each fortress from its enclosing valley. A faint breeze stirred the tent's canvas.
… bloop … bloop, bloop …
The listeners stirred. More plopping sounds came from every part of the meadow.
"It seems that I spoke too soon about the lack of shwupp," said Torisen.
"But what are they after?" asked a young guard nervously.
"We'll find out in the morning," said Rowan, "or not. Shwupp don't leave much. In the meantime no one is to leave the platform. My lord, you should go back to bed. Tomorrow will be a long day."
Torisen acquiesced, but didn't sleep. He could hear the guards speaking softly to each other all around the perimeter of the tent and their feet shuffling on the wood. From beyond them, out in the sodden meadow, came a stealthy sound as if of some great pot boiling.
… bloop, bloop, bloop …
Near dawn it at last fell silent.
Torisen emerged to find Holly already on the platform, bearing panniers of breakfast. Together they stared out over a field now blotched in half a dozen places with spreading circles of blood.