Rosicky

I couldn't help but think of the Rime of the Ancient Mariner reading this chapter! It is an ancient Mariner, And he stoppeth one of three. `By thy long grey beard and glittering eye, Now wherefore stopp'st thou me? The bridegroom's doors are opened wide, And I am next of kin; The guests are met, the feast is set: Mayst hear the merry din.' He holds him with his skinny hand, "There was a ship," quoth he. `Hold off! unhand me, grey-beard loon!' Eftsoons his hand dropped he. He holds him with his glittering eye - The Wedding-Guest stood still, And listens like a three years' child: The Mariner hath his will. The Wedding-Guest sat on a stone: He cannot choose but hear; And thus spake on that ancient man, The bright-eyed Mariner. ... How fortuitous for Dalen to be sidetracked like this! I think we will find than this little detour will only be but a moment in time, but the chance to study under the tutelage of Windfire will be invaluable! He has always seemed to wonder about the path of learning he's chosen and what he's missed by not studying under the Tayledras. Will he learn what he failed to about earth-sense? Hehehe! The adjective best describing Dalen is impetuous. He is always in a hurry. But it is when he stops and absorbs everything around him when good things happen to him ... case in point, meeting Bart in the garden. And with magic, when he encountered the first blood-path mage. So while he thinks time is of the essence to save Valdemar, being a good student of history, he should pay attention to his own ... nothing good happens when he rushes. So I hope he takes this time to take comprehensive stalk of who he's become and what more he has to learn. He is incomplete as he is, and I think Selenay, knowing her son, is counting on impetuous Dalen returning to Haven. Perhaps it will be a "sadder, but a wiser" mage who will "walk the morrow morn" in Haven. :-) Thanks, Dan! On a side note, knowing that this is a reposting, how do our comments (from those of us who weren't following Gay Authors when you first posted this story) compare to those from before? And how does it feel for you knowing that our comments won't influence the story whereas they might whilst you were in the midst of writing the story before? Just curious. :-) Apologies for the long post. :-)

I continue to love the adventures of George Granger, Mark! Many thanks! These stories have served as a catalyst to learn more about late 18th - early 19th century history! So much research you must do! I'm looking forward to George taking down another fort. He's quite adept at that sort of task. Hehehe! He has so much talent aboard Bacchante ... let's hope it all goes well! Looking forward to the next chapter!!!

Hehehe! Remember when Reagan was shot and Al Haig (who was the Secretary of State) takes the podium at the White House Press Briefing Room and says, "I'm in charge" even though he really wasn't? With chaos abounding in Haven, I can imagine Selenay doing that ... stepping in for her cousins at this tragic time. Hah! You're right! I hope the Healers fix up Dell quickly! Though I'm holding on to slim hope that the message transmitted over Teleson was a canard meant to throw off dark forces who might be monitoring communications. I liked Rothar. I also liked Talen. <sigh> And what's the deal with Lackley? I can't say I like him much at this stage. The antagonism between him and Dalen can only be allusions to some complementarity they'll share for some greater purpose. Love your stuff, Dan! I just downloaded Shapers Chronicles: The Wreckers onto my Kindle. :-) Looking forward to reading it!

Wow! What a GREAT chapter! It's funny ... I used to live in the UK and their closets were always really small. How'd Pete find such a big closet to hide in? LOL! And the way Mike re-entered the story in the last chapter ... I've always felt that he's had a good understanding about where he is and innately knows Corbin better than Corbin. For Mike, I've always gotten the sense that being discreet is a choice for him, not a limitation. And he's chosen the path that would make his existence at VMI easier. So maybe it's the thawing of Don't Ask, Don't Tell and the gay weddings in the West Point Chapel that's finally loosening things up for him? Hehehe! I had one of those "not gay" ROTC fuck buds in college. I know the type all too well. We flirted around all Freshman year, hung out some during Sophomore year, but finally hooked up during the summer after Sophomore year. And I remember the morning after our hook-up, we played a round of golf (as many a "not gay" would do) and protested through 18 holes, "I'm not gay." LOL! He stopped after like the 20th time we did "not gay" things. LOL! It will be interesting to see what Pete's deal with his Father is ... some detached British aristocrat with an Italian mistress? I wouldn't be surprised if Pete's father is an Earl and he's a Viscount or something, and has been steeped in the family duty of having to carry on the family line. So his "not gay" is really a "can't be gay" struggle ... so does he choose the path of duty like EM Forster's "Maurice" or does he break free of Britishthink? Even after the jousting between the two, Corbin will be true to his word and gets Pete onto the Crew Team. Pete will become occupied with it, become invested in the Crew culture, but he'll find himself hollow without Corbin in his life. We shall see what's in that mind of yours, JWolf! I continue to love your story. Thanks for it! :-)

An excellent chapter! Corbin knows fully well what Pete is capable of doing to him ... but is the attraction going to be like a moth to flames? Something so irresistible that he'll keep relapsing? LOL! Poor Corbin. And here I thought he was going to hook up with Nick to help from relapsing. LOL! Looking forward to the next chapter!

Hey there, Mark! So just when we think the story is going one way, it turns 90 degrees! I think like Cochrane, I was a bit myopic in how things would turn out ... but there are broader horizons to deal with and perhaps Cochrane would be of greater usefulness back home. And then, wham! Who is this the Spaniards were trying to steal away? Curiouser and curiouser ....

Once again, Mark, you've produced a chapter revealing George's leadership skills maturing. That which seemed to him to be a quick & easy solution seems to require greater consideration for the consequences are less well-defined. It will be interesting to see how he negotiates a complicated diplomatic path. Perhaps George will stick around Rio a bit longer to see whether his hunch of a mystery ship does come into port? Hehehe! Looking forward to how this unwinds! Thanks, Mark!

I've been enjoying this story on Nifty and am happy to see it on GayAuthors where I can easily leave reviews or stars or likes. :-) Looking forward to the chapters ahead! Cheers!

More intrigue! And a whole chapter set in Granger's cabin! I think that is a first in the Bridgemont series! I hope you give us a Thanksgiving treat, Mark, and get the next chapter out over the weekend!!! I'm brimming with anticipation as to how this whole thing unfolds! Thanks, Mark! Happy Thanksgiving! :-)

I've been loving this series for quite a while! What are Corbs & Pete doing for Thanksgiving? :-)

Ooh! Quite the elaborate set-up! This is going to prove to be quite an interesting endeavor! Lord Granger is at his best when he possesses Royal approbation to do what is right in his judgment! Can't wait for the things to start moving! :-) Thanks, Mark!

A fitting solution to the Conway problem. What arrogance to get his hands dirty firsthand. Though I wonder if he's going to try to seek passage to the Indies to find protection under Maidstone. For some reason, I get the unfortunate feeling that this isn't the last of Conway ... I hope I'm wrong ... he's pretty irritating. Lol! Thanks, Mark! :-)

And Lord Granger returns! I felt like Caroline awaiting the return of her beloved George, surprised by his sudden reappearance, but oh so overjoyed! I like the vigor and the movement in the story. How fun would it be for Conwayto swing from the yardarm? Hehehe! Glad you're back, Mark! Cheers!

Is communication to the South Atlantic slow or did I miss a message about a delay in Odyssey postings? I miss George! :-(

I love how methodical Will is. There are many comparisons to Brad, but I see a lot of JP. Can't wait to see the excrement go flying! Cheers, Mark!

So since this chapter ended on sort of a cliffhanger, and knowing how you hate leaving your readers in suspended animation from a cliffhanger, does this mean the next chapter is coming soon??? :-D Thanks, Mark! I agree with Ricky ... Lord Kingsdale will more than compensate George for his new wardrobe and pipes by being of some significant service to George on board or his family on land.

So it seems that George has taken yet another down and out aristocrat under his wing ... we had Michel, the Spanish brothers, and now the Baron of Kingsdale. No doubt they'll be going on a shopping spree and Mr. Kingsdale will be attired according to his station in life. Hehehe! Remember how he's used his young midshipmen before (to impress the Americans) with royal titles. How humiliating would it be if he brought along a Baron who dressed worse than a commoner? :-) The events at the Nore were amusing. Still, we have to see who's replacing Bertie, and how the matter with the good doctor will be resolved. The summer (winter for us under the equator) is halfway over and we have yet to see the Bacchante set sail for the East Indies! Hehehe! Good job, Mark! Thanks!

Well, Mark, more twists and turns in British Byzantium! Lord St. Vincent! Good for Jervis! And I peeked into the future and saw he becomes Commander of the Channel Fleet and then First Lord of the Admiralty! So perhaps we'll find George posted to the dreaded Channel Fleet sometime in the future (if he returns from the East Indies trip triumphantly). Hehehe! But back to the storyline ... a nice reunion with Calvert ... will he retain his Commander rank while slotted in the First Lieutenant billet or is his rank reduced? Should make for some interesting adventures. Can't wait to hear the Tale of the Cucumber! Hehehe! If it was Andrews who ventured to the molly house, did that mean it was one of the ship's crew who had the cucumber misadventure? Let's see how George gets the good Doctor out of this bind! I love the loyalty amongst the crew! Thanks, Mark! Happy 4th!

Thanks, Mark, for the quick back-to-back postings! I can imagine how frustrating it must be for Granger to have to spend so much time on land dealing with silly politics. And how funny it is to be trading Arthur for Calvert. Sad for Francis, but an interesting twist to the story. Remember how Calvert said in one of the stories how he would just enjoy spending his time sailing the seas with Granger. Well, this is his dream come true. So let's see if the activities of the crew will justify the name Bacchante when they finally get to sea! Lol! Cheers, Mark!

When God gives you lemons, make lemonade. And so the question about why Granger accompanied Spencer is known ... he served as the (hopefully) unassailable foil. I wonder what his father must be thinking ... on the one hand, his position with the demands of the sailors seems egalitarian. But then the demands he made of Freddie and Davina could also be considered usurping the traditional order. Could this cause his parents to really wonder whether George is committed to the way of the aristocracy? Looking forward to seeing where things go!!! Mark, your imagination serves as a ship on which we are all eager passengers! What wonderful voyages you have for us! Cheers!

Interestinger and more interestinger things get .... So who's the daddy? George? Freddie? Alfred? LOL! And I also love the fact that the prospect of George going off to the East Indies mollifies that jealousy that the Navy establishment might have of him. But, what will happen when George returns ... so much so if he returns in greater glory. Hehehe! Now with this mutiny ... leave it to George to observe the little things ... the morale of the seamen, how they might be feeling, what they might be thinking ... this is why George is there. Let's see how you use these intuitive skills of his, Mark, to settle the crisis. :-) So you're dedicating your summer to Odyssey? :-) Thanks, Mark!

So George is a Viscount. :-) What I loved about this chapter is that as exalted a status that is, he is very aware of his humility .. he can't escape the back-stabbing and the wiles of the Wilcoxes ... and he's left to do what many a young man does on a night when there isn't anything better going on: "There was really nothing for him to do here, other than soak in the baths and masturbate." LOL! What a great line, Mark! :-) I do worry about Arthur ... he must really be unhinged to pass up a soak with George. For some silly reason, I have a feeling that Arthur, Philip, Robey, Somers, George, and whoever else will be on that ship, will follow in the namesake of their ship and will be more than adequate priests of Bacchus! LOL! So I saw that Odyssey and Paternity posted one after the other ... you must be a busy little beaver, Mark! :-) Looking forward to the next chapter!

If Odyssey were an opera, you have composed a beautiful overture in this first Chapter, Mark! What are the strains we hear ... George developing his own standing with the Royal family that is less-reliant on his father, an assertiveness with the Admiralty in hand-picking his own crew that demonstrates his maturing as a naval officer, his love for Caroline and the new age of their relationship yet clinging to the dalliances of his youth with his love for Frederick. There are the broader themes of the Brotherhood and the passage of Arthur and Philip, again dealing with what started out as youthful passion to considerations of life and death. We have the dangers of the journey knowing that many of his crew might not return, and his mission to snare the spider ... good ole Bertie! I wonder if Bertie will actually make it back. So I'm stowing my gear, getting my sea-legs, and getting all set for a wonderful trip aboard the Bacchante! Thanks, Mark! I'm looking forward to a fantastic spring/summer of reading!

Thanks, Mark for a wonderful book in the Bridgemont series! While Sir George has grown over the previous four chapters, I think we really started to see him mature in this one. George may have reached the rank of captain, but he was always boyish in his charm -- he lacked the gravitas of Sir Evelyn or Nelson. Perhaps the episodes in St. Vincent he had to undergo steeled him in a way that will sober him (but hopefully not too much to overshadow his boyish charm that he uses so effectively). From losing Travers. having the illusion of his father's character shatterd by his ambition, being raped by his sister-in-law and dealing with the fecklessness of his older brother, to dealing with Caroline's public infidelity, perhaps the innocence of youth has needed to make way for the harsh realities of life. This was quite a journey for him. Now let's see how this new George that will emerge from these trials engages his duties as the new captain of a ship inspired by bacchanalia. :-) I sense internal conflict on the horizon! Well done, Mark! Now don't lollygag too long before you start the next book. :-) Cheers!

Hehehe! The Bacchante! Named after a high priestess of Bacchus. I wonder if the ship's name portends for wild times on the high seas. And the favor Sir George seems to be granted by the King and the Prince of Wales underscores that he is no ordinary person. So is he going to tell the Duke of Clarence, as well? And there goes George walking smack into another one of Bertie's webs! But perhaps Bertie's intervention in his life, once again, will prove to be not so bad a thing. It will be interesting to see the composition of his new crew. Thanks, Mark, for another wonderful chapter. I must confess that everytime I log onto GayAuthors, I whisper to myself, "St. Vincent, St. Vincent, St. Vincent!" much in the same way someone might call out for lucky cherries while working the slots. LOL! :-) Looking forward to the next chapter, as always!