Second Son Read-Along: Chapter 1
Just going to start out this morning a quick note to remind you that my story Deja Vu is available for you to read at GoHavok today! If you're not subscribed to their magazine, today is the ONLY day you can read it for free. After today, you'd have to pay to see their back-log of stories, which is where my story will go. Also, if you enjoy my story, please give it a "vote." (You can do this by rating it 1, 2, or 3 lightning bolts at the bottom of the story). It only needs ONE vote to be considered for publication in their anthology later this year, but I'm sure more don't hurt!Now, on to today's regularly scheduled programming.
Chapter 1 - where it all begins.We move forward in time 15 years from where we left off in the Prologue and we meet our protagonists: two young princes from Llycaelon.Ky and RhoyanI did not originally set out to start the story when they were so young. This chapter just sort of happened. I also didn't know when I started writing the story how strong the friendship between these two was as children. But as I began writing, this relationship fell into place naturally. The younger brother looking up to the older, the older looking out for the younger.Study and PlayI enjoyed being able to show this glimpse of a normal day for these two. The classroom with an understanding tutor, the imaginative play in the tunnels, the unsanctioned swim (for those of you who have the paperback, you can flip the book over and catch a glimpse of Rhoyan and Ky leaping from the cliffs into the water.......Okay, for those of you who don't have the lovely paperback, here's the original painting.
I also used this chapter to begin building up some of the mystery surrounding Rhoyan as well as some foreshadowing in the moment when he recites his independent findings for Master Hobard, and then is disappointed that his tutor asks him no follow-up questions:
He had learned something about himself in the study of his family’s history, and he had wanted to share his discovery: he was the first second son to be born in his entire family’s history. It didn’t mean anything much, of course, but it was interesting and he had been curious as to whether or not his teacher was aware of the fact.
The sparring match was another place where I wove in a little foreshadowing, but I won't reveal what it's foreshadowing for those of you reading for the first time (and who haven't read King's Warrior).
Discussion Questions:
1. An important visitor has arrived for dinner. Who could it be? 2. How do you feel about the characters that have been introduced so far?