"'Westward, maybe to Vinland or beyond. Whole vast realms of nature, Faerie, and man must be there, untouched by Christendom, open for our adventuring...we might become gods.'"
-Poul Anderson, The Merman's Children (London, 1981), p. 256.
Prince William asks Sir Nigel Loring, self-exiled from England, where he will go:
"Nigel shrugged, and looked westward, blinking a little as he saw the sun was already setting. It made a path of blood and fire across the water, stretching clouds like hot gold and molten copper along the horizon.
"'There, Your Highness. This part of the Lorings' story is over, and we've pulled up our roots. Somewhere there's new earth waiting for them.'"
-SM Stirling, The Protector's War (New York, 2006), Chapter Eight, p. 237.
Go west.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
I think some stress should have been put on how Prince William, who had great respect for him, suggested that Sir Nigel should return with him to England. Sir Nigel pointed out that would have meant the prince rising in open rebellion against his own father and taking the throne by force. Something William rejected once it was pointed out by Sir Nigel. The baronet preferred to go into exile with his son rather than help cause a civil war in England (pages 236-37 of the paperback edition of THE PROTECTOR'S WAR).
Sir Nigel also said that if Prince William kept his wits about him he should survive the malicious intrigues of Queen Hallgerda. And recommended to the prince several friends who were both loyal and able.
Sean
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