travlbug

So is Lucas being led/misled like Orson Card's Ender? Elliot thinks that they are "outside," but are they really? Lucas' assailant has driven a knife "directly into his side": Is this real or a matrix-driven event? Is the assailant working for Lucas' Dad--or against? Yikes!

I would never buy Chris jewelry: His skin just eats it! (Now that it's finished with the appetizers, what's for the main course! 😂) Kidding aside, he's clearly absorbing additional Elven articles of power, but will they give him additional powers or simply augment the powers he already has? Interesting that Patri et al already have a plan--for limited contact, not reintegration (so the Realm will still remain isolated--or is that even possible?).

While Kushner said it in a memorable way, people have debated for centuries why innocents have to suffer. My least favorite presentation of this issue is the Book of Job, where Job (and his family) must suffer merely as a test of faith. If I had to plug any book on the issue, Rabbi Kushner's would be at the top of the list. 😊

Tim and Jim ("James if you please, Sirrah!" 😂) must seem like angels to the Dundee community. They are true altruists. Quoka provides a realistic portrayal of the aftermath of a natural disaster. (I feel like I'm seeing the damage firsthand!)

“Angela’s happy hour, Reid speaking...." Who knew that Toby is so talented! (Rich Little, eat your heart out. ) Laughter is indeed the best medicine for the post-cyclone blues!

I feel for Reid going through his first cyclone, as his situation reminded me of going through Hurricane Carmen in the 1970s, stuck in the dorms, with the campus flooded. (For a California kid, the situation was tantamount to Dorothy comparing Kansas to Oz!) I love that Tim and James are once again sallying forth to provide help where needed to their Dundee Beach neighbors. They are incredible role models for Reid and Toby. Angela, you have outdone Rudolph, as only his nose is red! I would loan you my Farmers Almanac, but it's only good for the U.S. and Canada. But don't worry: You'll live down the embarrassing...eventually.... 😂

The road to Dundee is an adventure of its own. (I remember the kind of flooding we use to get in New Orleans, which is 5 feet below sea level. Some of the families own rowboats to be able to navigate St. Charles Avenue, depending on how bad the flood. On one occasion, where I had to take an important test, I had one friend wade/swim to the university in a scuba suit, while another friend ferried me in by jeep!) When it was revealed that the carport was below the house, I thought "instant indoor swimming pool," but Quokka provides an excellent explanation as to why the house and its facilities are safe. Whew!

I was waiting for someone to say something! 😂

Reza today is acting differently from the Reza of yesterday. I'm not clear on why he employed misleading tactics when he first met Chris, but his failure to mention Chris's scent is now seen to have been a tactic of discretion: Rather than bring it up at Latham' party, Reza has waited to address the issue directly with the involved parties. I presume he wants to meet with King ZoHal to arrange for an alliance. (Smart Vampire!)

Awww, thanks for that. However, it's the story that's brilliant, and I was just having fun with it. What he said!

I'm not sure why, but the Italian Christmas dinner makes goose and plum pudding sound awfully tame. 🤔 Sorry, Chris, it's hard to be a walking air freshener. 😂 (Hospitals and clinics use chemicals which actually neutralize organic effluvia [can you blame them?], so a dab of anti- cologne behind each ear sounds like a reasonable precaution to disguise the floral scent. [Maybe next time.]) Reza comes across as a suspicious character, refusing to divulge his last name or position, hiding his age, and speaking in a different language right in front of Chris, presumably to disguise what he is saying (the height of rudeness). Why he would purposely leave Chris in the dark is unclear, especially when his true place in the hierarchy turns out to be easily established. Interestingly, he makes no mention whatsoever of Chris's scent, which is extremely suspicious, as his age should guarantee his recognition of it. (His failure to mention it sticks out like a sore thumb.) So what kind of game is Reza playing? 😯

Latham is power hungry: Hopefully, he hasn't sold his soul to the Blood Army for the promise of more power. (Actually, a huge gathering of important Vampires could be a setup for mischief even if Latham is blameless.) So, Chris, Victor, not to worry: Go to Latham's Christmas party and enjoy yourselves. After all, what could possibly go wrong? 🤣

Wonderful story @Westarcher, Can't wait to see what else you have in store for us. 🥰 More, please, with thanks!

Larry may now be a murderer, but he is a needed murderer: His skill set is such that Alex cannot afford to dispense with him. Also, because of the nature of his crime--killing his brother's murderer--he is not likely to reoffend. I dislike that Alex, the head of the Fort, tends to goes out on dangerous missions (he really shouldn't be risking himself), but I acknowledge that he's getting good at it. The missions are more successful because of his presence. Sadly, he has also had to become more ruthless--a true soldier--as evidenced by his need to shoot the boy guard and shatter his ankle. (Letting murderers go free, maiming kids, abandoning kids being tortured [as in the last chapter]: "Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.") I wonder why the aliens are still performing medical experiments on humans? (I have a very bad feeling....) The creation of a second base (and ultimately more, as they liberate more children) is an unavoidable reality, even without all the advantages of the fortess. (If I were Alex, I'd appoint a team dedicated to locating, designing and implementing these bases as they become needed.) Also, kudos to Alex for berthing the alien vessel in a separate location in case it proves trackable. Now that our heroes have killed an alien and stolen a ship, I am fearful to see how the aliens respond....

Excellent point. While the present Realm has been around for only two hundred years, the Elves themselves have been around for thousands (at least), so it's only natural that many Elven artifacts are still floating around the human globe, including those from the Eyaha dynasty. While Chris's original two runes are from jewelry exhibits in the Tower of Knowledge (which I miss, by the way), this third rune is from a "wild" piece of jewelry. Perhaps the Tower lacks an appropriate Eyaha piece--doesn't have it to give (or why withhold it?)--or perhaps Chris's magic is such that he is simply drawn to an item which will trigger the rune (in which case the trip to England seems more than fortuitous--possibly preordained?). I find it interesting that an item of such importance is cast as a simple silver ring, as its appearance has allowed it to hide in plain sight over the centuries. My bet is that the jewelry for the ascension will trigger the last rune, but I could be wrong.... 🤗

"...Any friend of Victor is a friend of mine, that also means any boyfriend of Victor is a boyfriend of mine!” I like Luca! 😂 Now, Luca could simply have asked Chris if he were an elf, but where's the fun in that? 🤗 Does Chris's strength ramp up with each tattoo he receives? Are the tattoos like a lock, with the total combination freeing some arcane power we have yet to witness? Does the ring itself have any unusual properties? (I've never found a magic ring, but I obviously go to the wrong flea markets! 😉)

A fitting epilogue: While no one can know what the future may bring, the immediate future looks great! Thank you, Grandfather, for being so open minded and for being a proponent of young love! Thank you, Mark and David, for sharing your lives with us. And thank you, Geron, for being the one who made it all possible! ❤

"Bad things happen to good people," and Mark's situation is a case in point. His aunt makes clear that he isn't welcome, and his first attempt to get by in the City doesn't work out; and without additional adult guidance, he goes back to the only thing he knows. In practice, he is trespassing and stealing: He is extremely lucky that the person who exposes him is the person who loves him, as he otherwise could have wound up in jail. While Mark thinks his discovery signals "the end," it actually presages a new beginning. His story is archetypal in showing the need to put trust and faith in others, as it demonstrates what can happen when an individual tries to go it alone. 😊 One of the best non-mysteries I've read this year!

“I made Patri promise to make it a simple affair” I grunted. “Simple? Ascension? Uh huh.” Victor said in a tone that I really did not like.... Chris, if you'll pardon the pun, I'm afraid that you are royally screwed! 😂

I think that Chris was cruising even before he gained altitude! 😂 The star of the chapter is the Bombardier Global 7500, and if you're in the market, there's fractional ownership as well as complete ownership. 😏 Of course, if you're an Elven prince, ripping a hole in space and simply stepping through it is the preferred method of travel, but sadly with fewer perks. 😉

Mark's sadness is even more profound as he doesn't know that he's being observed (just like a lonely ghost in a deserted hallway). And it didn't have to be this way.... Kudos to David for not giving up on Mark and for having the courage to follow him into the darkness. (I'd chide him for failing to take a flashlight--Frank and Joe would never have let that happen 😂--but these new-fangled smart phones even have an app for that!)

A nice, quiet chapter filled with family, love, camaraderie, and the joy/anticipation of an upcoming trip. A delightful interlude. ❤

Wouldn't that be the best time? (Wink, wink, nudge, nudge! 😂🥰)

Mark is aware that he needs to share his secrets with David if he wants to make their relationship work, and David is smart enough to give him space: As Mark has already tried once, he will certainly try again.

Mark, confession is good for the soul, but it shortens the story! (Delaying gratification is a perfectly acceptable tool for an author to use to torture his audience!) Grandfather, in discussing Mark's behavior, you have proven an excellent layman psychologist: The world lost a great bartender when you decided to become a chef! Mr. Thief, this is your cue! You're about to become a star!