"Some land had been cleared during the summer..." (p. 148)
"One day [Gratillonius] happened to be the last homebound as the short period of winter light drew to an end." (ibid.)
He was King of Ys for seventeen years and several more years elapse in this concluding volume after the whelming of Ys, more years I think than would be reckoned simply by counting the seasonal references that I have quoted. Nevertheless, all the events of the Tetralogy fall well within the lifetime of a single person, provided that he survives the various conflicts and disasters that occur. All nine Queens perish with their city but the King survives because, as an angel tells Corentinus, he is needed in what happens after. Each survivor has his or her story and the narrative follows the stories to their conclusions. Volume IV completes the history of the Ysans as their city fades from memory and their language, still spoken, must sink without trace into the historically known European languages.
6 comments:
The overwhelming majority of human beings find accepting the rule of randomness emotionally intolerable.
It doesn't bother me, but I'm an outlier.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
But we humans need some order and stability if our lives are not going to be made intolerable by that randomness. Such as the "randomness" caused by anarchy and chaos. Even you, I am sure, would prefer not to think it necessary to be armed to the teeth every time you leave your house.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean: actually, now that you mention it, I do carry a weapon whenever I leave the house... 8-).
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
I did have that in mind! I was also thinking you would prefer not to think it necessary to wear a helmet, armor, and carry a combat knife, a Roman gladius, a spear, and pepper spray. (Smiles)
Ad astra! Sean
Sean: depends on the circumstances.
Eg., a character I'm working on comes from West Texas, and he reflects that for quite some time -- several generations -- men in that area put on their gunbelts on leaving the house as automatically as putting on their hat, and stuck a rifle in the saddle-scabbard of their saddle whenever they rode a horse.
Likewise, for a long time in the medieval period, nearly everyone wore a long knife outdoors, many wore swords (if they were of the appropriate social standing), and if they were going any distance from home they took a spear or cudgel or staff along.
A travelers' staff was a weapon, as well as an aide to walking in rough country -- note the role of quarterstaves in the Robin Hood stories, which is quite realistic.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
I agree, it depends on the circumstances and times whether or not a man thinks it necessary to go about armed.
And I recall how Brother Hugh de Tourneville, in ROGUE SWORD, used the staff he carried to assist his lameness very effectively in a fight!
Ad astra! Sean
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