> On Sun, Aug 03, 2003 at 12:13:21PM -0400, Alexx S Kay <alexx at TheWorld.com> wrote: > > > Well. > > > > > > That was fun. > > > > > > [SPOILERS below] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > [snip] > > I was operating under the impression that the "rune" would be > Arra's way of making the levitation permanent. She suggests that > with enough witches, she can make it permanent. I don't remember such a suggestion, but will watch for it during the next read-through (already underway, but slower, 'cause I'm updating the Timeline). > > > * Interesting and unusual twist regarding Piro's choice of > > > romantic partners. I wonder where it's going? > > About a third of the way through, I suspected this would happen, and by > > halfway through, I was sure. As in the Dumas model, the Viscount's love > > life is not well-omened. It did make me appreciate, from an authorial > > point of view, how cleverly Brust and Paarfi established the necessary > > setup for this. > > Since I haven't yet read the Dumas works in this case, could you > elaborate a little on this element in Dumas? Raoul, the Vicomte de Bragelone loves Louise de la Valliere. This love is, at least at first, returned. But after she joins the royal court, she is successfully wooed by the king, and becomes his mistress, thus breaking Raoul's heart. The parallel is not close, but definitely seems present, at least to me. Speaking of literary parallels, When Tazendra announces that she has checked the cave the party is camped in front of, and it only goes back fifteen feet, I immediately flashed on a similar scene from _The Hobbit_. And sure enough, just as in the Hobbit, a little later, the party are surprised by someone emerging from the (apparently) dead-end cave. Might be just a coincidence, but it brought a smile to my face. Alexx Alexx Kay Opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily those of my employers alexx at world.std.com http://world.std.com/~alexx Negligent (adj.), describes a condition in which you absentmindedly answer the door in your nightie.