Destiny's Conflict, second sneak preview

originally posted by Theresa

Ah, lovely. :wink: Thanks, Janny!

originally posted by Mark Stephen Kominski

*Wonders what an Ettinman with upright (or even dubious!) claims to both family and property wears for a shirt* :wink:

originally posted by Annette

I doubt we would find an Ettinman with any upright claims to find out. But the ones who ply the Ettin River might wear shirts of natural undyed fibers similar to what Arithon started out in way back on the Saeriat and since then Arithon's clothing habits when he had a choice and could be himself always seemed a bit on the plain well worn side.

Interesting about the copper button, I wonder if Arithon's had the same source and purpose as Elaira's three. Maybe someone had a reason for wanting Elaira to always wear those three talisman buttons fashioned of copper coins.


But who Arithon's infant ward is seems much more interesting, unless that was Janny's obscure way to say something else. Plain language does not seem something the WoLaS books is ever going to see, everything has some hidden aspect, dual identity or secret meaning.

Twenty leagues in any direction from Ettinmere Settlement is still Havish at least on my map, so it seems these three have been following Arithon for a while. So this infant could be from Rathain (Cosach's maybe and due to be Fellowship sanctioned), Melhalla (perhaps Selidie's next victim in line to be groomed for possession)or maybe from Havish and royal.

More likely Janny is going to come up with a surprise. But I would think if our mismatched three were following Arithon from Rathain, the infant would have to be from Rathain, Melhalla or Havish, and would be a talent in need of sanctuary.

originally posted by Julie

The infant maybe a suvivor from Sunwheel slaughter since Taren's words about escorting the women and children deep into Havish seemed to have a calming effect.

Janny- thank you for the snippet. Any idea when the book may be published?

originally posted by Annette

I think Tarens words only settled Arithon's fears, because he would have recovered his memories of what happened to Rathain's women and children, and although he helped the Torwent group escape the flames, he was forced to leave them before they could reach safety.

But still you could be right Julie and the infant could be a survivor of another Sunwheel slaughter. But the only battles we know of are currently in Rathain, and Cosach seems determined he needs Arithon's help. His next child was the only infant we knew to be expecting, and it seems Arithon did make it to Rathain.

Arithon is deliberately baiting Cosach, apparently angling to get disowned, so if you look at it that way, the babe could be Cosach's.

"Or why haven’t the Seven bestirred themselves to snatch my infant ward from the insular bosom of Ettinmere settlement?"

Because Esfand is not dead yet? Not that I think the Fellowship would be snatching the infant from that lot, even if they wanted to. Does not make any sense, but why is Cosach getting so upset? Hostages would make more sense than slaughtering all the clan women and children, especially if it is Arithon they want to get to come to them.

The only infant Arithon lost that I can remember, was the one he never knew at the time he had, Teylia. But how would he find out about Teylia, if this is the first time he has set eyes on Dakar? If he did know about her it would be a reason to snatch Selidie's next intended victim, and why Arithon seems a bit hostile towards Fellowship interests where his future is concerned. Those Ettinmere shamans might not have made any promises on that score, maybe they have a different agenda to the Biedar?

It was a great snippet, gave us lots of clues to speculate on, hardly any of which we can draw any conclusions from, perfect teaser material.

Welcome here, brenna billing, and any other newcomers.

Julie: you asked. The publication date is not set. I will not consider posting even a tentative one UNTIL the manuscript is handed in, and the publisher puts the book into production (which locks the projected date). Up until that point, ANY projected date is subject to change. Publishers swap publication slots all the time, and to put out a changeable date, I've found, only sets up a LOT of angst and confusion.

So my policy is to maintain the status thread so you can all see an up to date progress report.

I am writing a HUGELY pivotal scene at the moment. It brings together threads that have been in play, minor and major, for many many volumes, and also unveils a rather major reveal that EVEN flat stumped the Fellowship Sorcerers. It's going to show a whole tapestry of interconnections AND it is tipping this particular volume into the first major step of what will snowball the series' finale, another volume away. In fact, there is so much history, past, and future projection, present, I can't put a fact or a word wrong, or it'll create a tangle I will NOT want to mess with a fix. So I am parsing the action and character choices with EXTREME care to make everything dovetail and incite maximum tension. I want a series that fulfills its promise, not one that sags and falls flat. And I have to do considerable back-checking to be sure every thread that IS in play is carried to fruition with accuracy.

It's a tall order.

There are still layers to this series you have NOT seen yet; heh. You will.

Do please bear with me.

originally posted by Julie

Janny:

Thank you for your reply! It was wishful thinking on my part that we may have an inkling as to how long the wait will be. I so thoroughly enjoy your books for the consistently detailed character development and story lines.Its rare for me to find a series that does not devolve into predictable story lines and sloppy writing. I can only imagine how long it takes to research, write, rewrite etc.

I will just have to do another reread of the series so far.!

Julie, while you are waiting, did you find the two short stories (Athera related) in the Paravia Store? There is going to be another, shortly. The fanpage on Facebook has a shot of the artwork that will be assembled to become the cover.

originally posted by Gill

Help! Cannot find the fan page on Facebook. Each time I search it says "no results". Am a novice on Facebook so if anyone answers can you please give me very SIMPLE instructions.
Also where is the Paravia store? I should like to find the two short stories.

originally posted by Julie

Janny:

I did read those short stories! I am not a Facebooker so I will patiently wait until the new story appears in the Paravia Store.

originally posted by Trys

Janny's Facebook Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/JannyWurts

The Maitz and Wurts Studio Shop: https://www.paravia.com/StudioShop/

The Maitz and Wurts Studio Shop Facebook fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Maitz-Wurts-Studio-Shop/525160460828853

originally posted by Annette

Thanks for showing us the new artwork Janny, when did you do the sketch?

The different symbols for the kingdoms of Shand are interesting any chance we can get a bigger picture so we can read the notes?

originally posted by Walt

You read my mind Annette! I tried to blow up the picture, but alas, no dice…

originally posted by Annette

I am still trying to blow up the picture, I somehow doubt Janny is going to let us read those notes, but no harm asking.

The Notes:

Really, they are going to OPEN more questions than they answer, because they involve areas of back history the story has not touched.

HOWEVER, I do delight in teasing, so:

For the Heraldic Devices:

The Dragon on Gold was for West Shand, Drakish Protectorate, Second Age.

The Cresent Moon on purple: was for East Shand, Paravian - Second age.

The crescent moon and black falcon on violet: High King's Device, East Shand, circa Third Age 1.

The gold and purple chevrons, Amalgamate Territores, Shand, circa Third Age 670.

The notes on the drawing in the Paravia Sketchbook:

TAWBAS INN circa Third Age 5918, Sanpashir, Shand copyright 2013 (It was completed early this year). The watercolor was taken from that drawing and hand painted on stretched paper (Arches) and will, perhaps, have figure(s) added for the cover image.

Tawbas Inn subsequently burned down for a violation of terms, and was never rebuilt, the territory being subject to the tribes, and a site of their sacred rites. The well's foundation remains in ruin, and is marked on the Map in Initiate's Trial - the site is also where Elaira met the tribal eldest, and if you wish to know why that place it is historically relevant to the books, proper, you will have to read Child of Prophecy.

originally posted by Annette

Thanks for the extra info Janny. :smiley:


My theory is not completely shot down in flames, I was thinking West Shand might have been a Paravian held kingdom after mankind first settled. Crescent moon moved, dates do not match with any known cause for moving. I will wait, you will get to it eventually.

originally posted by Sleo

It's all terribly exciting, isn't it? Squeee! Fangirl, here.

originally posted by Mark Stephen Kominski

*Grins over TAWBAS INN comment*

As all who don't have Annette's steel trap of a mind might attest to, it's impossible to keep all that detail straight without constant re-reads *bows to Annette*, but I smiled broadly at the first mention of the TAWBAS INN in the comment above, having long since procured and devoured Child of Prophecy.

In the sheepish admission department (and before I pat myself on the back any further over something all of you probably also recognized), The Sundering Star and Reins of Destiny are finally on their way to me, long after they should have been!

originally posted by Annette

I have a lousy memory, and am an even worse note taker, which is why all that re-reading was necessary. But the over active imagination makes re-reading fun, even if I hardly ever shoot off in the right direction. Although I have all three books with the short stories in them, I will snap up the Child of Prophecy ebook soon as Janny puts it up. For the new cover alone it is worth it.

There were always some words in the short stories I would love, to have a glossary type interpretation for, Tawbas being one of them.

originally posted by Gill

Janny could you publish your short stories in a little anthology? Or do you not have enough to make it worthwhile? We folk not in the US have problems buying things in foreign currencies - at least I am a scaredy cat when it comes to using my card on monies I do not understand.