> Sorry I haven't been around to comment much, but RL has been a pain
> lately. Hopefully I'll catch up this weekend. But I did manage to carve
> out the time to work on AC a bit.
Sorry 'bout life. But thank you for the chapter.
> The party exited the temple of Lathander, grateful to be rid of the
> enthusiastic but irritating Lawrence Lilarcor.
And he differs from Minsc how? Well okay, he's got Boo and has a party to keep him out of trouble, but...
> “Why, Jaheira, fancy finding you in this place.”
Sneaky, self-righteous Harper slime.
> Jaheira tried to hold back her tears. “It was no fairy tale. It was the
> truth… once. I do not understand this. It goes against everything I was
> told when I joined them. Please, let us continue on. We will talk another
> time.”
Again, you flesh out the Harper feud thing quite nicely.
> They returned to the Copper Coronet to tell Hendak that the slaver nest
> had been destroyed. The former slave announced the news to the entire inn
> with a loud voice, and there was much cheering from most of the patrons.
> Most, but not all, Jarran noted.
Hmm. Plot developments ahoy!
> “You have dried mud on your leathers and your trousers, and your cloak has
> weeds clinging to it. You really should attend to yourself more carefully,
> Valygar. Tonight when we reach the Five Flagons I believe Anomen should
> give you some lessons in the proper care of equipment.”
> The ranger sat open-mouthed as his companions tried not to snicker.
> Finally he gave the halfling a slow smile and said, “Yes, Mamma Mazzy.”
> “What did you call me?”
> “Mamma Mazzy. You seem to have a skill for mothering these children, and
> now you're trying to mother me as well.”
Wow. Kewl interpersonal dynamic here. She may *try* to order him around (impressive how you sort of slide this in), but he jabs back (albeit affectionately) with one word. Sort of wonder how he and Kivan would get on...
> Anomen said with a chuckle, “Last night you told me I wasn't eating enough
> vegetables.”
ROTFL!!!!
> And Jarran chimed in, “And on the way back from Imnesvale you hemmed the
> edge of my cloak.”
That's a good one!
> Still smiling, the group left for the other inn. Jan said cheerfully,
> “Well, Valy, it looks like Mazzy has nominated herself your keeper.”
> “Do not call me Valy, gnome.”
> .
> .
> .
Sesame Street: "One of these things is not like the other / one of these things just doesn't belong." Gee, it's like you're foreshadowing something in nearly every chapter, but I won't know what until it happens. Thanks for the suspense...
> Anomen looked at Valygar in awe. “I never thought I would meet someone who
> could silence that gnome.”
Oh, man; for 5 minutes of Kivan & Jan mano a mano! (Or if Ajantis didn't like superkewldude Xan...)
> Jarran felt himself blushing a bit. “But if I am the group father…
> shouldn't that make you the mother?”
> She snorted derisively. “Me, a mother. What a ridiculous notion.”
> “I don't find it that ridiculous, Jaheira.”
And an absolutely seamless way for you to return to this topic, which you'd hinted at in an earlier chapter.
> “I am sure that is not your ultimate fate. You are too kind, too
> good-hearted, too…” She turned her face away from him.
> “Jaheira?”
> “I… I am overtired, I must go to bed. Just… kiss me, Jarran.”
Typical Jaheira, finding excuses for emoting. Nicely done!
> He fervently obliged, but his heart was troubled by her strange mood. As
> she stood, she murmured, “Goodbye, Jarran.”
> “You mean good night.”
> “Of course. Good night.”
D'oh!
Sorry things aren't hunky dory. You wouldn't be able to tell from this chapter, though, at its customary high caliber. Thank you for finding the time to write this. It's always a pleasure reading up on Jarran et als.