This is the May 2015 Open Thread for Merlinscribe.

[merlinscribe]

An open thread where people can ask questions and make comments. Now appearing quarterly for your record-keeping pleasure. It will run until I start a new one.

Comments

[merlinscribe]

1. Tuathal is left and deosil is right. While humans have a "right" preference ("right hand man" and similar phrases), the Elves have a "left" preference.

2. Tsk. Either I or the copyeditor should have caught that. Ivaloriel Telthorelandor is War Prince of Telthorelandor, and Ladyholder Edheleorn is his Bondmate.

3. Runacar was one of the Lords Komen with the right to lead his own meisne in battle by the year Vielle was born. I've never nailed that down completely, but offhand I would say he was between twenty and thirty years older than she is.

4. Gunedwaen was with her, and a member of her court in Oronviel. I suspect the scene of him telling her she was an idiot is one of the ones that was cut, but you may certainly picture him as a mix of exasperated and impressed. (And hoping she'd stop with Oronviel, but no such luck.)

5. Cirdeval is a Less House of the Windsward, and Vieliessar did not fight any battles in the Windsward. I am, therefore, as puzzled as you. The text is:

"In centuries to come it would be said the High King gained her throne through seven great battles: Oronviel, Aralhathumindrion, Jaeglenhend, Niothramangh, Cirdeval, the Barrens, and the Shieldwall Plain. Oronviel was a Challenge Circle, Aralhathumindrion only a skirmish, and the Barrens was not a battle at all. But Storysingers shape history as cabinetmakers shape wood, and it is left for Loremasters to decide the truth."

It may have something to do with Thurion going to the Windsward as her envoy, but I would have to do a close reading of the uncut book to be sure. Sorry not to have an answer.

[(Anonymous)]

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. It means a lot when authors are willing to take the time to answer question.

Much appreciated,
Bridget

[merlinscribe]

You're quite welcome! I like talking about the World of Obsidian, and there are huge numbers of things that haven't made it into the books. Side stories may be required.

[(Anonymous)]

Side stories are always fun to read. I, personally, can not get enough of the World of Obsidian. Considering how many times I read the books.

Bridget

[merlinscribe]

Dear Bridget: Thank you so much! I really do hope to publish the one about Silver Star Free Company: their story was one of the things I had to cut from CROWN.

[(Anonymous)]

I hope you do. I would like to know how or why the Silver Star Free Company joined her.

[merlinscribe]

There is so much to tell about Silver Star and its captains: taken all together, the way their lives went and the choices they made (or were forced to make) is pretty much a snapshot of life among the Hundred Houses--from Landbond to Ladyholder--from the years just before Vieliessar. And so I really want to finish writing it. SCOURGE comes first, though.

[(Anonymous)]

I can understand Scourge coming first, since I can not wait for both Blade and Scourge to come out. Still hoping Blade comes out soon. But I think it would be nice to read more about some of the other people. Why they were willing to, in some cases, give up everything they had to join.

[merlinscribe]

A lot of that *used* to be in CROWN, of course. By Vieliessar's time, if you weren't a member of a War Prince's court (and sometimes even if you were, if you were a member of a Less House), life pretty much sucked. The Landbonds were treated worse than cattle, and the Craftworkers, Farmholders, and hereditary servant classes were severely exploited. Unless you were Lightborn, one of the Lords Komen, or the War Prince, life was uncertain, power was corrupt, and justice was non-existent.

In the specific case of the Silver Star Free Company, it was one of the few Free Companies to escape the Scouring of Farcarinon (one of Bolecthindial Caerthalien's less-stellar ideas), and had a certain bone to pick with the Hundred Houses. Vieliessar's policy of enfranchising outlaws and mercenaries under her banner tended to ensure that any surviving members of Free Companies (after the Scouring) would join her. How Silver Star came to fight under her banner, however, is quite another story...

[(Anonymous)]

Can't wait to read it. I can never get enough of this world. So thank you for putting this world on paper for us to enjoy.

[merlinscribe]

I am so glad you are enjoying the story!