Twenty-One: Revelations in the Bear Empire

[aldersprig]

First: Running in the Bear Empire
Previous: Surprises in the Bear Empire

🐻

Deline wished for some sort of storm, some intrusion - even a beast or another bounty hunter.  If she closed her eyes and tried, if she prayed her hardest, would a Bear show up from The Bear?

It was unlikely.  She took a few breaths and smiled at Carrone, although she thought the smile was as shaky as she felt.  

Damnit, why did this matter?  He’d already tried to kill her.  He’d already saved her life. He already hated her for using magery.  And she already wasn’t all that fond of him for trying to kill her, along with everything else.

“I haven’t lied yet,” she told him slowly.  “My name is Deline.”

read on…

Comments

[kelkyag]

The thing that intrigues me in this story so far is the ongoing (increasing) parallel with the Rin and Girey stories. Carrone is not so whiny as Girey (but also not starting off so spoiled), but the world hasn't caught me as much. Possibly I am too easily amused by the goats. :)

[aldersprig]

Don’t currently have the icon of Rin up sadly.

Hrrm! I had not actually thought of that! But there are definitely parallels.

I’ll have to tell Husband Person that you like the goats. They were his idea :-)

[kelkyag]

Where *aren't* there parallels? Well, we don't know anything about either of their families yet, excepting Deline's (non-exclusive, political?) marriage ...

Goats make almost everything more entertaining. :)

[aldersprig]

I think the parallels aren’t quite as common as you’re thinking, unless “man taken captive” is where we’re starting, which is like, *cough*, 2/3 of my work.

[kelkyag]

Woman with hidden relationship to the emperor doing fieldwork. Binding magic / bracelets of significance. Assassins. Hardships of the road. Hints at marriage. Figuring out how or whether to work together, or whether betrayal or fleeing is in order, or possible.

Compare with, say, Daxton&Esha, or Arisse&Chress. Or Rodegard. Fewer of those elements, and the instantiations are less similar.

If we remember we can do a C&C when they're both done. :)

[clare_dragonfly]

Oooo. I've been enjoying this but you just took a story that was an 8 and brought it all the way to 11.

I have a feeling she's not terribly fond of being married to the Emperor.

[aldersprig]

*absolutely pleased and flattered* Thank yoU!