"Trumpets resounded and kettledrums rolled. The three battle banners of the Lord King of Aragon, the King of Sicily, and St. George were lifted. The wind caught them; the first sunbeams shouted in their colors." (pp. 99-100)
We find two echoes of this passage in Poul Anderson's Technic History (which could lie in the future of Rogue Sword). First, how often is sunlight so sudden and bright that it is said to "shout"?
"Snowpeaks flamed. The sun stood up in a shout of light.
"High is heaven and holy."
-Poul Anderson, The People Of The Wind IN Anderson, Rise Of The Terran Empire (Riverdale, NY, March 2011), pp. 437-662 AT XIX, p. 662.
Secondly, kettledrums have a different use on Merseia:
"Dawn broke over Ardaig, and from the tower on Eidh Hill kettledrums spoke their ancient prayer."
-Poul Anderson, Ensign Flandry IN Anderson, Young Flandry (Riverdale, NY, January 2010), pp. 1-192 AT CHAPTER FOURTEEN, p. 141.
I thought that there was a similar passage about kettledrums calling Merseians to worship on Talwin in A Circus Of Hells but have not found it.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
I am sure the Merseians also used kettledrums for battle signals as well as for religious purposes. Albeit, by the time of "Day of Burning" drums were inadequate for practical military use.
The extreme climate of Talwin, appallingly hot or bitterly frigid, would discourage use of kettledrums there.
Ad astra! Sean
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