SwordcaneLal

Shannon’s responses are doing my head in. If she hadn’t responded to her name, I would have guessed twin (identical DNA might mean same smell). But, this seems like the same woman, and I’m wondering why she was so vicious instead of just pretending not to know him. That video of the collapsing bluffs is really mind blowing. I’m glad no one was hurt!

I thought it was only 2 fingers? Am I misremembering?

You are spoiling us, giving us this chapter so soon after 2 chapters from The Royal Consort! It feels like the year of the rabbit has made you quite prolific!

Thank you for this. It was intriguing, suspenseful, and had a deep, underlying hopefulness. Quite a journey you’ve taken us on!

I think killing Armin had been his sole purpose, and it was only after Kavan killed Armin that he was able to really look back into the pain of his past. He had a hell of a traumatic turning and early years as a vampire, and it’s only now that he has the ability to both grieve and look for vengeance.

Hmmm. I’m really torn on the question of whether Gideon knows Kayvan is following him. I’m pretty sure he doesn’t know Van was, or else he’d have stopped her or complained to Caspian by now. If anything, I wonder if Gideon keeps writing off the occasional sense of his bloodsong being nearby as being about longing/wishful thinking?

Since chapter is still part of Extra 4, does that mean there’s still another extra coming? You are so generous with us! I love these characters, and I love the ever-deepening mythos of this world. Firuz can tell when Rashan is lying? The skills of Shadow Guards astounds me.

After saving Kyra, it sounds like she was in cub form for some years. I wonder why Ha feels a worry and impatience this time?

Just two days ago, I thought about how you’d promised 5 extras and reread this whole story, wondering when we’d get the last two parts. I’m so grateful that you’re weaving in so many of the bits and pieces that had been mentioned before. Yasmine visiting Safan’s mother; Niku and Rael working together to find the traitors; Neith admitting her love of Kaveh; and visiting the Silver Shore eyrie. This was lovely. Happy New Year!

What a tough conundrum. He can’t stay awake and beside a charge 24/7, but he can’t miss out on the unexpected essential moments. I mean, even if he had stayed with Linda, he might have had to go to the washroom at the absolute worst moment. People aren’t good at being perpetually on alert.

I just reread the whole series, and I’m wondering about Kavan’s ability to know things he shouldn’t otherwise know. Gideon and Konstantin both said he has “good instincts”, but it rather seems beyond that. He knows that Ombra’s a she, he knows about imprinting, he grabs the Lykan-killer and follows Gideon… The combination of that and his Dad taking up with a shifter makes me wonder if Kavan was fully human before he became vamp? Or whether being the One Childe of such a powerful vamp gave him powers beyond shadow dancer? Most characters who act on instinct without thinking things through occasionally go the wrong way. Kavan often says the wrong thing, but he actually seems to consistently do the right thing by instinct. I sorta wish we had more insight into his life before “the gift” to see whether his instincts were that good as a human.

I’m not sure I buy that Kavan is someone Gideon’s not sure about. I think Gideon’s ultimately not sure about himself and his ability to be a good partner to someone. Wait until he finds Gideon. There’s gotta be an epic one in store: “Gideon didn’t want my blood, so much so he’d rather die.” The thought was suddenly difficult to bear. And finally, said partial blood song tells me I don’t need to worry and has the audacity to leave without discussing our situation with me but decided for me. Kavan is feeling hurt and rejected by his other half, chosen by fate. He is going to throw a fit large enough to be seen in space. And Gideon might sorta deserve it. Thanks so much for this story! I hope that the things keeping you busy this week are full of joy rather than stress. (Edited because Kavan’s more likely to throw a fit than a fir tree, despite it being Christmastime,)

This chapter has me so intrigued that, after 4 years of reading on this site, I finally signed up so I could comment. This is really brilliant stuff.

I think it was Gideon’s blood. It was oily because he’d been bitten by the Lykan. I also think it was delicious because he’s Kavan’s bloodsong, but Kavan is too young to know, yet. I wonder if there’s risk to the fledgling in an elder-fledgling relationship? That would explain some of Gideon’s temperament towards Kavan - trying to hold him at arm’s length for a century or so.