The Faithful and the Fallen discussion

'The Year 1140 of the Age of Exiles, Birth Moon'

Here we meet our first POV character, Corban. Straight away we are thrown into a wedding (handbinding) he is minding his own business until he is playfully betrayed by his friend, Dath, who knocks him off balance while Corban is unawares. Gwenith (Corban's mother) is most unimpressed with him for getting his new cloak filthy.

The wedding is between 'Fionn ap Torin and Marrock Ben Rhagor' blood kin to Queen Alona, wife of King Brenin.

As boys of 14 are wont to do Corban and Dath eventually manage to escape the festivities, leaving the adults to dote over the newlyweds. Before the boys make their escape Gwenith gives Corban some motherly advice and gives him a sliver coin. We then learn something of Dath's past. He works on his fathers fishing boat and the couple of coppers he had managed to save had come from months of work. We also learn he has lost his mother and that his father is a drinker.

The scene described is festival like to my mind. The boys pass a sword-crossing ring and talk of the King's first sword, Tull. They determine to return to the sword ring later but for now want to spend their money. They come across a trader by the name of, Ventos. He is in possession of a huge hound that the boys are in awe of due to its size. The three have a conversation and we meet the King's stablemaster, Gar. Earlier in the chapter eventually the boys haggle over some gifts for their loved ones and two practice swords.

They only had enough for the gifts and regrettably have to leave the swords behind. As they are walking away though, Ventos throws the boys the swords. Obviously the boys are delighted.

As previously agreed they return to the sword-crossing ring and eventually try to emulate what they had witnessed and cross (practice) swords.

What did you think to this chapter?

Really enjoyed it, to say the least. It swiftly painted a picture of the surrounds and the people themselves. The castle on the hill, the market with all the people. It really took me there!

J.P. wrote: "Really enjoyed it, to say the least. It swiftly painted a picture of the surrounds and the people themselves. The castle on the hill, the market with all the people. It really took me there!"

I agree, it did that and sent me back to my childhood playing with my mates. I think the relationship between Corban and Dath comes across as very believable.

You get their characters straight away too. So much about them learnt so quickly, without an information overload!

Argh!! I'm down the country with my family won't be able to start malice until tomorrow :/

Ha! Hurry!

I really love the friendship between Corban and Dath, I can imagine two young lads being like this in that environment, acting out the fights they've seen.

Also, I imagine Tull to look like Liam Neeson from Rob Roy, only slightly older!

I love the feeling of a celtic festival with all of the traders and can imagine some Irish Fiddles in the background!

This was a great scene-setter. As well as introducing a few characters who are obviously key it also places a few markers within the world - things like setting, hierarchy and social order, even language and customs etc..

Not big things (and like J.P. says, not via an info dump) but enough to allow you to form the basis of what the world will feel like as it gets fleshed out.

only just started Malice last night, I quite liked this chapter. got a reply vivid picture of what was going on without any over description. I think I'm gonna like corban :)