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As I’ve mentioned before, late in a project almost anything can be a spoiler–so many clues, so many established patterns missing just one piece. Early on, all roads are open, but by now, many of them, the ways not taken, have been left behind.
So this may be a spoiler for some, though I’ve tried not to let it be. If you are a reader who hates knowing anything before its time, then don’t read below the break. Stop now. Turn around, don’t look back, ignore the rest of this. For those who proceed, please do your speculating about where in the book this is, or what character you might know, in the Speculation Space.
Because of the spoiler possibilities, I’m not going to say where, or who, and just let the situation explain itself.
The ship rocked gently in the waves, as the other ships came nearer. All were galleys, one of them rowed by men in green and black uniforms, and the others by crews of what looked like brigands, but with green and black badges to match the pennants from flapping from the mastheads. Two slid alongside, one on either side; the others waited at a little distance. One hailed the captain.
“You have a passenger.”
“Aye, so I do. Standing there on deck.”
“We take.”
I can say a little about the ship–I had help with its design and details from David Watson, who lent me a huge book with period illustrations of ships in the Dutch fleets. I wanted a bluff-bowed sailing ship somewhat out of period for the tech of the rest, but not too far ahead. We did a lot of looking and talking about different kinds of craft in different waters–the ship had to be capable of carrying cargo from the Immerhoft ports out into the Eastern Ocean, out around the Eastbight, and then into Bannerlíth. I asked a lot of questions and got more information than I could use in the book itself without turning it into a sea tale. Having had to change out monitors twice since I finished, I can’t find my notes on the exact size, or the many different diagrams of its arrangement. But I see it clearly in my mind.
I also needed other vessels, not only for this incident, but for general background–specialist vessels, general vessels large and small. There are boats on rivers, boats using only sail power, boats using only oars, and boats that mix these. The book of illustrations was invaluable though I didn’t begin to use every kind of boat and ship in there. More than one character travels by water in this book. More than one body of water is involved. (Yet another was scrapped for not fitting in well enough.)
Comment by GinnyW — November 22, 2013 @ 9:48 pm
I think that the passenger standing is good news. At least he/she/it has not been knocked on the head or tied up below decks. Does “the pennants from flapping from the mastheads” appear in the page proofs? Or is it an artifact from the changing monitors and general electronic confusion?
As always, thank you! I will speculate in speculation space.
Comment by elizabeth — November 23, 2013 @ 10:42 am
Oops…I will have to look at that error. I may have corrected it in copy-edits but can’t recall. And I’m not there yet in the page proofs. (Rats–dropped a spoiler. It’s not in the first 20 pages.)
Comment by Linda — November 24, 2013 @ 11:45 am
Thank you, lovely treat. Happy Thanksgiving!
Comment by Nadine Barter Bowlus — November 24, 2013 @ 10:12 pm
Thank you for the snippet, and as Jacques Pepin would say, “‘appy cooking!”
Comment by Sharidann — November 26, 2013 @ 1:33 am
Thanks for the snippet! Happy Thanksgivings
Comment by Jenn — November 26, 2013 @ 4:36 pm
Hello from rural nowhere! The place where 72 acres is considered a decent back yard and most of my “neighbors” addresses are land location #s.
I found the internet at my village library which keeps unusual hours so when I can make it in I will stop and say hello!
I hope the Verrakai children have been behaving.
Thank you for the snippet Elizabeth. I can wait for May. Have a wonderful thanksgiving.
Comment by GinnyW — November 26, 2013 @ 7:54 pm
Jenn,
We are glad to hear from you. The Verrakai children have been behaving. Mostly. They have discovered climbing with an assist from the apple trees in the garden. So far none have shown any inclination for taig sense, however.
Comment by elizabeth — November 27, 2013 @ 9:39 am
Jenn: good to see your phosphors again. I hope you can make it to the library when it’s open often enough that we can keep in contact with you.
I suspect the Verrakai children are learning new things but still influenced by their time with Paks and Dorrin and the young squires. Children often do blossom when moved into a healthy environment, though there may be some serious old traumas to deal with. Dorrin may be the only one who really understands them, but the main plot arc means that we don’t see those times when the already-busy Duke Verrakai sits with a troubled child and comforts him or her.
Comment by Sharidann — November 28, 2013 @ 6:16 am
I just reread the blurb of Crown of Renewal…
and then reread the snippet…
6 monthes to go! grrmble!
P.S. : I hope the comment was not spoilerish for anybody…
Comment by Linda — November 28, 2013 @ 12:56 pm
Elizabeth, I am thinking about your Thanksgiving feast and hoping it is going smoothly. I discovered earlier this week that it’s possible to roast a frozen turkey. One just has to be alert to get the giblets out as soon as the bird has thawed enough to yank them out with tongs.
On my latest re-read I’ve noticed that there doesn’t seem to be mentions of religious services, even among the followers of Gird. I know your characters are mainly soldiers, but I wonder about gatherings of some sort for those who are not yeomen.
Since one of the things I admire about the Paksworld books is the various faiths, I’ve been re-reading with that in mind.
Jenn, In my rural town with Internetless pockets and limited library hours, the librarian leaves the wi-fi on 24/7 and gladly gives out the password so anybody can park there and have access. It’s not advertised, but the number of cars seen there at odd hours makes it clear that lots of folks know. After Hurricane Irene it became clear that it was common practice in other towns too, as the wires were down and roads out in large areas and even more folks turned up with laptops outside the libraries.
I would be a very unhappy camper if I had to do without Paksworld, unless I was doing something else really terrific … like long distance hiking or visiting an exotic locale. Good luck!
Comment by Genko — November 28, 2013 @ 5:05 pm
Depending on what you mean by “religious services,” I would think that midwinter qualifies. And the vigils before new yeomen and paladins have a religious flavor to them, I would think. There is talk of prayers at granges, and relics. All of those would constitute religious practice in my book.
Comment by elizabeth — November 28, 2013 @ 5:40 pm
Religious services: For the Girdish, the regular grange meetings, though they’re also weapons practice, often (at least once a tenday) include recitations of “scripture” (the Ten Fingers and sometimes more of Gird’s Code), a talk by the Marshal, and communal singing. Nearly all granges have a relic of some sort, housed in a special niche. Falkian “field” meetings are much the same.
All the cultures observe Midwinter and Midsummer with religious rituals, though these are much shortened for soldiers on campaign. The Eveners are also usually observed in the country (less in the city) with the ritual fires, songs, prayers, etc. All of these are religious practices, though they don’t look like a church service. Some are family rites–no less religious for being held in the family home. Others involve an entire community.
There are (usually brief) mentions of these in the various books, and more on the Paksworld website.
Comment by Tuppenny — November 30, 2013 @ 6:00 pm
Didn’t the pirates who killed Stammel have green and black ribbons? Is this Alured’s invasion force aiming for he Honnorgat river?
Comment by GinnyW — December 1, 2013 @ 4:38 pm
It seems to me that in Paksworld faith is a more lived experience than we are used to. All sorts of regular rituals like the flowers at the wells. All sorts of irregular rituals, like the smith hammering the demons out of the blades (OofF). The presence of the clerics at Sibili, and in other places, is a more immediate involvement, and less of a segregated worship.
Comment by Gretchen in Minneapolis — December 8, 2013 @ 4:36 pm
Thank you, Elizabeth!
Snippets, especially careful ones that don’t drop too many clues, are always welcome. It’s like coming to visit family and walking in to a kitchen full of delicious food smells. Any accidental spoilers serve only to whet the appetite for what lies ahead. Wonderful! 🙂