"Like rain attempting to soak an already sodden land, the unreality this presented would not easily permeate my mind." Such a striking image you paint. Getting to know Alistair through Renn's eyes is great, but there's still so much more to find out! What happened to him? Where has he been all these years? Will they get Brae back? They surely must. And have we been to Kareth, yet? I forget. I don't think we have. Ah, this feels like the beginning of a great journey, a fellowship!
Thanks so much, Alexander! This piece was all over the place in my mind but hopefully it has been distilled a little, though plenty of mystery remains. Fingers crossed it won't be quite so long until the next instalment!
This is deft and beautifully wrought. You paint such rich character sketch of Renn in all the things you withhold about him. He's almost defined by the negative space which makes it all the more engaging with Alistair fills in a few morsels.
Thanks, Ben. I can't say I'm 100% happy with it. It felt too rushed to get out this week, despite me ending up posting it so late. 🙃 Such is the way we all often feel, no doubt.
This is a wonderful new entry in this story, Nathan. The fire burning down to “sulking embers” was an amazing image
The relationship between Renn and Alistair is perfectly portrayed in it’s awkwardness with the older man still seeing Renn as the child he knew when he disappeared, but then the ice breaking when they discussed Brae, as their love for her binds both their paths together
Brilliantly done and can’t wait for the next entry 👍🏼
However, saying that, I can relate to being so busy that getting time to write becomes a struggle. Hope the conference goes well and you’re not working too hard
Thank you, Dan. I appreciate you reading and offering your thoughts, as always. It's been somewhat tough to let me mind settle back into Renn's, but it's always a pleasure when I can get there.
I am so impressed with the way you inject such an air of fascination around your characters Nathan. I’m really tempted to go back and read the first draft but I don’t want to unravel the intrigue just yet… I will? Undoubtedly!
“That’s where she kept her laughter, most times. But truly, that’s where she kept her love.” Alistair squeezed my shoulder, so very gently, as though from father to son. “Take my meaning?”
“Yes,” I said, all manner of things inside me breaking.”
Your prose is beautiful as always… I love those lines… I’ve no idea how you do what you do and find time to write anything let alone such profundities… gorgeous!
I hope your week is not too ‘heavy bananas’ as my son likes to say!
Thanks so much, Susie. Your words warm my heart. There's a fair amount of complexity going on with what happened and will happy with Brae/Renn/Alistair and often I worry I have bitten off more than I can chew!
I could feel the bittersweetness of missing out but living the memories through someone else. It's a strange, sad, but also glad feeling. Beautifully done, Nathan. I wish you safe travels and lots of rest after.
I loved this ending today, without much explanation: “That’s where she kept her laughter, most times. But truly, that’s where she kept her love.” It illustrates the ways we misread people or don’t understand their intentions as well as the way a parent may know their children differently.
The frame text always intrigued me as well. Personally as a reader, I like the way you move around in your writing. I do as well - I just don’t publish it that way. It’s like we have a greater connection to your process that way.
Hope there are some joys at the conference, Nathan. ☺️
Thanks for the lovely words, Kate. I'm glad that part spoke to you.
I do enjoy playing around what how I'm doing things on here. As much as I've been too infrequent posting this story, I do love the playing ground that is this platform.
Does this mean that Brae was indeed in love with Renn? I hope that this mystery will unfold by the end of this story. ;)
I enjoyed the return of Brae's meteorite and I hope that you'll be able to translate another chapter soon, Nathan! I'm as charmed as when I read the first chapter. Somehow, I also don't want it to end...
I'm always looking forward and no worries about the process, I remember what happened in the previous chapters, plus I'll read everything once again when you finish it! I'm hoping for at least an eBook. Just so you know ;).
I’m excited about this relationship, awkward and undefined, between the two unlikely companions. It’s clear they’re connected by their love for Brae and their seeking to unravel a mystery - and not much else - yet; I’m curious to see how the traveling and adventuring will deepen that.
Thanks, Stephanie. Always love your thoughts. I miss Brae, but at the same time it’s really great to explore this shared but different love for her by Renn and Alistair and how their friendship is going to evolve.
"Like rain attempting to soak an already sodden land, the unreality this presented would not easily permeate my mind." You need to stop being so brilliant, you're going to tire yourself out.
"the oracle’s crippled hill" ... "the sulking embers" " the unseen chitter of insects". Lovely! And now I am all caught up and waiting for more. I hope your journey down under is full of happy surprises, Nathan
You made it! Thank you, you've gone above and beyond.
Well, it's actually been a bit of a disaster (though I'm only travelling from Melbourne to Cairns and back again) as I ended up in hospital. Bit of a long story, but all is, I think, ok now. Might post about it, if I can find a way to frame it with any kind of interest for the reader.
Ah, this one makes my heart feel bruised Nathan. You so deftly bring two strangers together, sharing a love for the same person, though in different ways, and somehow make their connection feel raw, intimate and oh so real. That’s the power of your dialog and the silence your characters share between words. It’s quite astounding, and aching.
And this!
“The storm of two nights past seemed to have cleansed the land. It was the total opposite of what it had done to my mind. “ Says it all.:)
Thank you so much. That's honestly more than I could ever ask for in terms of how it made you feel. It's exactly what I was trying to craft in terms of two people sharing a love in a different manner.
What a beautiful exchange…I’m taking a vacation with my family next week, and intend to revisit each piece of this story during that week of extra time!
“For a long while after, we said nothing more. The fire burned, then died, leaving just sulking embers, scattered flakes of ash.” So many powerful images in this piece but for me, this one brought the emotional loss not Renn and Alistair are feeling. Like many, staring into a late night dying fire can reveal much more than just the shadows dancing across the hidden canvas of darkness. I had never read backwards to this story but I am sooo glad I took the time today to read through the other posts from the beginning to feel the pain and experience Renn’s and Alistair’s attempts to remember. Thanks for this Nathan!
Thank you sooo much for taking the time to read everything before this Brian. That means a lot. I love your thoughts here. You're really getting st what I wanted to capture.
Sorry it's taken me a few days to get to your comment. It's been a wild few days.
I've missed these characters! You've managed to keep a through line that allows readers to dive right back in, and I'm *so glad* you're continuing to tell their story.
"Like rain attempting to soak an already sodden land, the unreality this presented would not easily permeate my mind." Such a striking image you paint. Getting to know Alistair through Renn's eyes is great, but there's still so much more to find out! What happened to him? Where has he been all these years? Will they get Brae back? They surely must. And have we been to Kareth, yet? I forget. I don't think we have. Ah, this feels like the beginning of a great journey, a fellowship!
Thanks so much, Alexander! This piece was all over the place in my mind but hopefully it has been distilled a little, though plenty of mystery remains. Fingers crossed it won't be quite so long until the next instalment!
This is deft and beautifully wrought. You paint such rich character sketch of Renn in all the things you withhold about him. He's almost defined by the negative space which makes it all the more engaging with Alistair fills in a few morsels.
Thanks, Ben. I can't say I'm 100% happy with it. It felt too rushed to get out this week, despite me ending up posting it so late. 🙃 Such is the way we all often feel, no doubt.
I very much appreciated your words and thoughts 😊
This is a wonderful new entry in this story, Nathan. The fire burning down to “sulking embers” was an amazing image
The relationship between Renn and Alistair is perfectly portrayed in it’s awkwardness with the older man still seeing Renn as the child he knew when he disappeared, but then the ice breaking when they discussed Brae, as their love for her binds both their paths together
Brilliantly done and can’t wait for the next entry 👍🏼
However, saying that, I can relate to being so busy that getting time to write becomes a struggle. Hope the conference goes well and you’re not working too hard
Thank you, Dan. I appreciate you reading and offering your thoughts, as always. It's been somewhat tough to let me mind settle back into Renn's, but it's always a pleasure when I can get there.
I am so impressed with the way you inject such an air of fascination around your characters Nathan. I’m really tempted to go back and read the first draft but I don’t want to unravel the intrigue just yet… I will? Undoubtedly!
“That’s where she kept her laughter, most times. But truly, that’s where she kept her love.” Alistair squeezed my shoulder, so very gently, as though from father to son. “Take my meaning?”
“Yes,” I said, all manner of things inside me breaking.”
Your prose is beautiful as always… I love those lines… I’ve no idea how you do what you do and find time to write anything let alone such profundities… gorgeous!
I hope your week is not too ‘heavy bananas’ as my son likes to say!
Haha, heavy bananas. I love that.
Thanks so much, Susie. Your words warm my heart. There's a fair amount of complexity going on with what happened and will happy with Brae/Renn/Alistair and often I worry I have bitten off more than I can chew!
I could feel the bittersweetness of missing out but living the memories through someone else. It's a strange, sad, but also glad feeling. Beautifully done, Nathan. I wish you safe travels and lots of rest after.
Thank you, Nadia. I'm glad some of that seeps through in the text.
I loved this ending today, without much explanation: “That’s where she kept her laughter, most times. But truly, that’s where she kept her love.” It illustrates the ways we misread people or don’t understand their intentions as well as the way a parent may know their children differently.
The frame text always intrigued me as well. Personally as a reader, I like the way you move around in your writing. I do as well - I just don’t publish it that way. It’s like we have a greater connection to your process that way.
Hope there are some joys at the conference, Nathan. ☺️
Thanks for the lovely words, Kate. I'm glad that part spoke to you.
I do enjoy playing around what how I'm doing things on here. As much as I've been too infrequent posting this story, I do love the playing ground that is this platform.
Does this mean that Brae was indeed in love with Renn? I hope that this mystery will unfold by the end of this story. ;)
I enjoyed the return of Brae's meteorite and I hope that you'll be able to translate another chapter soon, Nathan! I'm as charmed as when I read the first chapter. Somehow, I also don't want it to end...
Maybe it does… ;)
Thanks for keeping up with the story. It’s been a glacial process of me putting these out and I hope to get another done soon.
I'm always looking forward and no worries about the process, I remember what happened in the previous chapters, plus I'll read everything once again when you finish it! I'm hoping for at least an eBook. Just so you know ;).
A physical copy in the post for you whenever it is finished and printed 🤩
I’m excited about this relationship, awkward and undefined, between the two unlikely companions. It’s clear they’re connected by their love for Brae and their seeking to unravel a mystery - and not much else - yet; I’m curious to see how the traveling and adventuring will deepen that.
Thanks, Stephanie. Always love your thoughts. I miss Brae, but at the same time it’s really great to explore this shared but different love for her by Renn and Alistair and how their friendship is going to evolve.
"Like rain attempting to soak an already sodden land, the unreality this presented would not easily permeate my mind." You need to stop being so brilliant, you're going to tire yourself out.
😊 hehe, aw, thanks Chloe.
"the oracle’s crippled hill" ... "the sulking embers" " the unseen chitter of insects". Lovely! And now I am all caught up and waiting for more. I hope your journey down under is full of happy surprises, Nathan
You made it! Thank you, you've gone above and beyond.
Well, it's actually been a bit of a disaster (though I'm only travelling from Melbourne to Cairns and back again) as I ended up in hospital. Bit of a long story, but all is, I think, ok now. Might post about it, if I can find a way to frame it with any kind of interest for the reader.
Ah, this one makes my heart feel bruised Nathan. You so deftly bring two strangers together, sharing a love for the same person, though in different ways, and somehow make their connection feel raw, intimate and oh so real. That’s the power of your dialog and the silence your characters share between words. It’s quite astounding, and aching.
And this!
“The storm of two nights past seemed to have cleansed the land. It was the total opposite of what it had done to my mind. “ Says it all.:)
Thank you so much. That's honestly more than I could ever ask for in terms of how it made you feel. It's exactly what I was trying to craft in terms of two people sharing a love in a different manner.
🤗
What a beautiful exchange…I’m taking a vacation with my family next week, and intend to revisit each piece of this story during that week of extra time!
Aw, thanks my friend.
You can then let me know all the plot holes that have emerged from me writing it so sporadically ;)
“For a long while after, we said nothing more. The fire burned, then died, leaving just sulking embers, scattered flakes of ash.” So many powerful images in this piece but for me, this one brought the emotional loss not Renn and Alistair are feeling. Like many, staring into a late night dying fire can reveal much more than just the shadows dancing across the hidden canvas of darkness. I had never read backwards to this story but I am sooo glad I took the time today to read through the other posts from the beginning to feel the pain and experience Renn’s and Alistair’s attempts to remember. Thanks for this Nathan!
Thank you sooo much for taking the time to read everything before this Brian. That means a lot. I love your thoughts here. You're really getting st what I wanted to capture.
Sorry it's taken me a few days to get to your comment. It's been a wild few days.
What an interesting and strange turn of events that Renn might find more intimacy with Alistair than Brae.
An unexpected father son-like relationship will build, I hope. At least, that's what Renn has told me.
I've missed these characters! You've managed to keep a through line that allows readers to dive right back in, and I'm *so glad* you're continuing to tell their story.
That's amazing to hear, Ann. Thank you. My worry has been that the infrequent posting loses a lot of the through line.
Just discovered this, I'm so excited! I'll read it tomorrow morning with a tea. 😁
Yay. But take your time. It's not going anywhere (unless I decide I hate it and I delete it … 😆)