Cane23

I LOVE your terminology!!! 😂

This ritual punishment of the middle brother reminds me of the “whipping boy” from Mark Twain’s novel The Prince and the Pauper. The boy’s duty was to take Prince Edward’s punishment upon himself in the court of King Henry VIII. But there, the boy was an outsider; here, it is the middle brother himself who bears the punishment, which brings out so many additional emotions - mainly guilt, but also revolt and rage. Whatever the Seljuk princes are going to do to their grandfather, it will be well deserved.

The scene with the mask reminds me of Rebecca - the famous scene at the costume ball when the new Mrs. de Winter wears Rebecca’s dress, following Mrs. Danvers’s suggestion. Now, who from The Golden Circle has the wicked mind of Mrs. Danvers?!

And Darien is more of a LORD than many who inherited the title through generations of nobility!

I understand the transformation that war makes of man... But if I had to define my earlier thoughts:

This is interesting because I had a feeling that King Radoslav wouldn’t survive the war.

Extra dose of steam! 😁

I'm so glad you came back to react to these comments, because you reminded me of this... So, tell me, @CasualWanderer82 how “far” would you go... without giving away any spoilers? 🤣

Holding hands in public?!? ...Doesn't sound like a smart idea!

Ketchup is basically sugar.

There are still Stephan and Ashot left to find themselves a “beard,” actually! 😁 By the way, Ashot is far too eloquent for a little desert thief… he really reminds me of Aladdin! 😄

Instead of drama, this wedding was such fun. Since the prologue was rather dark, the first chapter feels like a moment of entertainment before the chaos begins again. Nevertheless, although Julian and his wife are both gay, having intercourse at least once to produce an heir shouldn’t really be such a problem (there weren’t exactly many alternatives in the Middle Ages). Still, the fake performance was hilarious - “Oh, oh, OH!” 😂

Better than apple! 😜

And that’s not all - he’s eventually going to become King of Jerusalem. I only hope Lord Darien and his men will be back in Europe by then.

Not quite the twist or cliffhanger, but still more than enough excitement and anticipation to make me impatiently wait for the next chapter!

@CasualWanderer82 are you going to mark this story as Complete and start Book 2 as a new story, or will you continue from Chapter 11?

Am I wrong, or is this the first time in many years that Azula calls him “Raith” again instead of Draeya Prince or Raithion? 😉

I did it, though I had to register there first. 😄 Ha, I discovered an interesting fact - we’re the same age!

I’m really wondering what will happen to Prince Ishan now. The magic may be gone, but the bond between him and Wylan still feels incredibly strong. If he returns with his brother and the defeated army, he risks facing the wrath of his grandfather, the Sultan. On the other hand, what position could he possibly have among Darien and Wylan’s group? Some kind of protected prisoner of war? Even with Darien and the others defending him, it’s hard to imagine Ishan being able to move freely among the Crusaders.

Book 2 of the Silver Boar Saga masterfully brings to life the epic Siege of Antioch (1097–1098), blending real Crusades history with fantasy, magic, and unforgettable characters. Battles, betrayal, heroism, starvation, and the discovery of the Holy Lance create a dark and gripping atmosphere, balanced perfectly by @Topher Lydon's unique humor. The Vanguard, led by the fearless Lord Darien, returns alongside the fascinating mage duo - the blind lord Wylan and young Seljuk prince Ishan - whose mysterious magical bond grows even deeper. Adventurous, emotional, and rich with historical detail, this is a must-read for fans of historical fantasy. I’m eagerly awaiting the sequel and the horrors of Jerusalem to come. Without doubt, this saga is among the best fantasy novels you can find online.

I like the slow burn at the beginning - it allows for good development of the story and characters before they jump into each other’s bed... Then you can add the steam! 😁

Penis envy...was it Freud?!

I don't know what kind of relationship Neil has with his brother, but I think he should talk to Charlie.

Right now, it feels less like "moving on" and more like "moving back." The situation between Alex and Neil must be incredibly frustrating for Alex - together or not together, exclusive or not exclusive, tell the truth or keep hiding it. At some point, Neil needs to decide what he actually wants. That's only fair to Alex.