Activity

I very carefully hop heads several times throughout each chapter’s narration, but when I do get to settle in long enough to play with internal monologue, it’s usually rather entertaining (for me, at least).

For example, this scene was reworked a number of times to find the right balance of shock and denial.

“He was… banished?” Ealdur asked, blinking as he sought to beat down the wordless foreboding which had risen when he first recognized Alina’s expression for what it was. “Which city did you send him to?”

“Galdhon…” Alina began before ultimately losing composure, broken gaze glancing to Ataudin in wordless plea as she fought to keep from crying.

Ataudin swallowed, collecting himself before forcing the words she could not say into the already laden air. “Galdhon was accused of treason. It was done swiftly, and cleanly. At least we could afford him that last respect.”

For a moment, the room spun as Ealdur processed the words. Treason. Beheading. Galdhon. My brother… dead?