Used the entire side of a page to decide on my favored spelling for the name of the dragon Hamurlae, who does not even appear in scene. I thought of over twenty differently viable options for a pronunciation, which made me think more seriously about humanity’s history-long attempt to capture phonemes in writing. I’m not proud, but I am satisfied.
Dragonslayers were not well accredited, in this day and age. The presence of this one was a provisionary fluke; Alisandre was the only location with one on hand. Perhaps even the old orders had lost the heart. But not this one, this time. Extraneous noises faded from hearing. Ready to end the dance of gazes, the swordsman hoisted his weapon and issued a challenge.
“Do you know this sword? This was the sword that killed your kin, Hamurlae. When the songs of forging turned against us and began destroying our families, taking our lives, strife arising from partnership: we gave up our treasured accomplishments to save our sanity, the songs of forging lost with Hamurlae. This blade was made with those songs that can never again be sung. The jewel, however, has been replaced – not the first, which burst in the heart of Hamurlae.”
Ignivus let loose a deeply offended roar. “Who dares wave this ill token before my sight?” ‘E lashed er coils to strike a set of claws at this bravo. The swordsman stepped aside from the spray of street chunks.
Here’s a bold move: for the month of January, I’m going to increase the posting rate on bonesofstarlight.com to 3x/week, M-W-F. Like a beginning of year workout, making it in on that day as I’ve been.
Beginning tomorrow, Wednesday January 1st. More action, more story, more going on.
Readers who have a paper copy of Bones of Starlight may have noticed the P/S mark upon the spine; and folks who’ve been to a live event I’ve hosted might have seen the name of Primal Spiral. That’s the creative company that hosts the imprint producing CC-BY-NC 4.0 licensed Bones of Starlight, as well as other collaborative and creative endeavors.
It’s getting a portal redesign from LUN Graphics, really looking forward to the magic they bring. For just a brief moment more, you can enjoy the small bundle of outdated postings that cover only a tiny portion of what’s been accomplished, and explore the unadorned face of what’s going to be transformed.
I recall such vile figures as this from a long ago time,
when those that formed their side incited our rage.
They who built our cage demonized, yet feasted by our fire.
As Ignivus said this last, ‘e focused er attention on the barely-armed man, flight-weaving and coming to land like a lizard with vestigial feet, bright in color. A jewel in the sword pommel caught the light of flames that Ignivus sparked in the air around er.
The swordsman said nothing while striding forward, carrying the large blade at a balanced lift. There was no scabbard. They thought things had changed. They thought they wouldn’t need dragonslayers anymore. Now people may remember why they existed in the first place: it wasn’t weapons that killed a Dragon. They can’t be overpowered, only matched. In valor, certainty, and conviction, a person can match a Dragon. In some way or another, a dragon is as a person. In some way or another, a person can be as a dragon. Dragons don’t need to be killed in order to die, but when they need to die, they can be killed. They know a lot of things, but they aren’t always right.
The two circled as the swordsman continued to advance, while Ignivus assessed and kept a distance. People had learned that killing a Dragon is not a great idea in every way. It was with a pained expression that Claymore had given him the go signal. Beyond any pure sympathy of respect, things no longer work as accustomed when a Dragon dies. The fundamental makeup of the universe is changed, which does also happen on its own, including when a dragon emerges from its elemagnetic generative gyre (as academics had newly dubbed the rarely-observed birth phenomenon).
Choosing to create such an occurrence causes a shock, something people in history hadn’t been able to explain until they understood more regarding intrinsic connections. It was a mystery as to all the things that would change, maybe unnoticeable right away. Here, they decided to run the risks.
Bones of Starlight 3 : Greater Beyond 