We arose before dawn to find that it had snowed again in the night. Gwen cooked breakfast while Alexander began putting on his armour. This morning he was not wearing his riding armour from before, but a full set of elaborate design. In their preparations for war, the Outlanders had toyed with the idea of a fully armoured cavalry like that of the Middle Ages. They had not the time or resources to fulfill this vision, but a few suits of armour had been made. Now Alex was strapping on a set so that he could ride out to face his archenemy.
“You don’t have to do this.” Genevieve said, standing by a window with her arms around herself, seeking the comfort Alex was not giving. When he did not answer, she continued. “There are other warriors. There’s Ethan, with his sword… Why does it have to be you?”
With every point she made, Eve raised her voice a little and received only silence in return. Alexander was staring into the distance as he sat in a sturdy chair, attaching greaves to his legs and tightening their straps.
“We need your leadership, win or lose. We can’t do this without you. I can’t do this without you.” Eve continued, getting frustrated with his continued obstinate refusal to acknowledge her. Alex just picked up the plate for his chest. He looked at me expectantly.
“Don’t look at me. I will not help you kill.” I said firmly. “I agree with my sister.”
Alexander glared at me and walked out to the porch, and through the window Evie and I could see him gesturing for one of the men to come help him. As the soldier rushed forward to assist, Genevieve ran out to the porch and grabbed Alex’s arm. I followed slowly, shaking my head.
“Please don’t do this!” She said, tears forming in her eyes. “You’ve got nothing to prove. Neal isn’t worth this. I picked you, I love you! Why do you have to care about childhood rivalries? Let it go!”
Alexander glared at her. “This has nothing to do with you.” He held out his arms so his assistant could attach the front plate and tighten it.
“Then why?” Eve cried.
“I have to know. I have to know if I can beat him for once in our lives. I’ve always been too afraid to try, and so I have lived in his shadow. If I let someone else fight him and we won, and there was peace, I would always wonder whether I could have bested him. I can’t live like that. I have to be free of his shadow or die trying.” Alex spoke slowly, still staring into the distance. The weight of decades was in his words, the years where he had been forced to follow Neal’s lead at the cost of his own self-respect.
“Damn your pride!” Genevieve shouted at him. “Damn yours and damn his! You’re both alike!” She stormed back into the house, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Alexander did not even look in her direction. He kept his eyes forward as he walked through the muddy street towards the stables for his horse, so that he could ride out to meet his fate.
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February 27, 2008 at 11:48 am
Fiona
Hi Gavin, I’ve just finished reading your story.
I might not have started if I’d known it was going to be an Armageddon story – there’s a reason “The Last Battle” was my least favourite Narnia book. The ultimate deus ex machina ending. And Revelations is not my favourite part of the Bible.
But you’ve made it good. This is a monumental work. Lots of clever allusions. I especially liked the narration of Rafael and the glimpse into life in Heaven.
I echo what some other reviewers have said about the beginning being a bit hard to get into because it was hard to keep track of all the boys – who was who.
The other part I had a problem with was Daniel, Evan, and Owen turning, in the space of 7 years which we don’t see, from decent kids to callous brutes and even a sadistic murderer. It’s the same way I felt about Anakin Skywalker so quickly going from a troubled but well-meaning boy to a monstrous child-killer. This is not just a little corruption or self-delusion (as it may be in Neal’s case) – they became really evil. Is this due to Lamb and evil Ethan’s influence – how so? How do only Genevieve, Alex, and Zoe stay good?
Minor gripes aside, the story is compelling and the illustrations are a charming touch.
February 27, 2008 at 1:18 pm
nomananisland
I’m glad that my book was better for you than apocalyptic stories in your past. However, as much as Revelations and the Last Battle have certainly influenced a lot of what’s here, you might be surprised by the end to learn that the deus ex machina the story requires, might not necessarily be the whole story. I don’t want to say more than that, because I don’t want to give too much away. 😉
My hope was that the new beginning would clean up reader confusion, I’m not entirely sure I can do more than what I already have in that regard. I shall have to continue to think about that.
I felt like the new Star Wars trilogy was a total rip-off — I’d spent years picturing how Vader must have turned, and then it was a cheese-fest. To me it was lazy storytelling. I hoped that I haven’t done that!
My case for not being lazy: first of all, there are the chapters of Ethan’s visions when he finds the sword, specifically 122. The Beast
In this chapter, we find out the boys are all possessed by a seven-headed beast, which enhances their worst qualities, and that the beast that is Simon Lamb has some measure of influence over their behaviour. Dan was Lust, Evan Greed, and Owen Gluttony. I leave the rest as an exercise for the readers. 😉
That only establishes why they’re so evil, however, and doesn’t really show readers their descent into sin. I have long been considering writing a new story arc called The Lost Years, covering the time period from the formation of the band in the past to the apocalyptic future. It would be perhaps the longest story arc of the entire book, if I write it, but it seems to be something readers would appreciate.
(wow, this is a long comment) Anyway, there’s also a reason why years are skipped. Twice now Ethan has been away from his friends for a span of seven years. It could be lazy storytelling to rush to the part the author wants to tell, or it could be for a more important reason. But again, I don’t want to give too much away. 😉
Thanks for reading, Fiona, and for your thought-provoking comments. I am going to have to take a (fifty-)second look at the beginning, and also strongly consider the Lost Years.
February 27, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Katie
Fiona–thank you for posting that. It’d been bothering me too, but I couldn’t put my finger on exactly what it was.
Sooo, here’s who I think associate with the seven deadly sins…
Dan-Lust
Evan-Greed
Owen-Gluttony
Neal-Pride
Ethan/Reza-Wrath
Alex-Envy
Jason-Sloth
Jason’s kind of a hard one to place…his sort of sloth is not generally what one would think of. I didn’t place him so much ‘lazy’ as ‘coward’, but either way, he’s doing nothing.
REALLY wishing Alex would put aside his envy in this chapter. This is more than just him; it’s the entire camp, everything they’ve worked for is being wagered on this one battle. If anyone, they should send Ethan with his awesome sword of light.
February 27, 2008 at 11:17 pm
Fiona
Katie: I agree with your associations of sins.
Re: Alex single combat with Neal. On one level, what Alex is doing makes sense. If he thinks Neal will take up the single combat challenge from him, it’s a better chance for the resisitance than sacrificing everyone else since they know can’t withstand a siege. It obviously would be better for Ethan with the sword to be the champion, because it would be more desirable to convert Neal to their side than kill him. However, Ethan’s not offering. Why not? Nor is he offering to lend Alex the sword – maybe b/c is not possible for anyone else to use it? If no one else steps forward, it isAlex’s responsibility as captain to take the lead.
Gavin: Re: the 7 headed monster. I reread that chapter. Does that mean that from that point on the boys were doomed to succumb to the 7 deadly sins? They were in some sense bewitched? Are they fulfilling a preordained role perhaps analagous to Judas? They don’t seem to have had a choice as Ethan did who could see what was happening. (resereve your right to not answer if it gives too much away 😉 )
February 27, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Fiona
Sorry for the typo’s above – hope it still makes sense.
Just looked at the descriptions of the 7 deadly sins on Wikipedia. The original meaning of sloth was more like sadness, depression, apathy -a sin of omission in failing to do what is right. “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing”. That does sound like Jason.
I also noticed that Wrath is the sin associated with Satan. That fits with evil Ethan/Reza taking on the role of the AntiChrist (I assume that’s what he’s supposed to be?)
February 28, 2008 at 11:05 am
Katie
Fiona: Some thoughts on the 7 headed monster and such.
A while back, our wonderful author stated that the other six boys were tempted ‘just as much as Ethan’. Soo, either the other six have gone ‘elsewhere’ as well (which I doubt), or Ethan gave into temptation just as much as they did and became Reza, but because it had been previously stated that he felt there’d ALWAYS been two sides of him, or two persons in him, the monster side went out with everyone else, and the good side went to a spiritual realm (I think.)
That was one very long run-on sentence. I apologize, and I hope it made sense.
I guess what I mean is Ethan has always had more evil in him, he was just hiding it very well, so when the seven headed monster came, it ‘split’ him instead of just burying the good bits.
February 28, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Fiona
Kate: BUT other elements of the story imply Ethan has the most GOOD in him of all the charactors. He is the chosen one who was given three special angel guardians. As a young boy he is observed by Mara to be holding off demon temptors even without her protection. He has an aversion to hurting other people (with one rare exception pre Reza which he immediately regretted). He was the instigator of the Arthurian knights game which must have some significance that we are yet to learn. So perhaps its the other way around…
Interesting point: In one German version of the Holy Grail myth, it is Gawain who is the knight who is pure in heart enough to gain the Grail. Gawain = Ethan. However, in most versions it is either either Galahad (Jason) or Percival (not one of the identities assumed by the boys). Lancelot (Alex) comes close but fails due to his adulterous love for Guinevere. (Citation, once again the trusty Wikipedia). Significant to this story???
February 28, 2008 at 8:01 pm
nomananisland
The “wonderful author” (thanks for that) would like to point out that if you read those chapters carefully, Ethan is more responsible for the split than the beast. Since I mentioned that the others are tempted just as much as Ethan, it’s safe to assume that they had just as much choice as he did. Some very, very good analysis here, and everything is “significant.”
Have I ever included a detail that didn’t pay off, sooner or later?
February 28, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Katie
Ohhh, I hadn’t made that connection, with Alex/Lancelot!! And Alex is committing adultery with Eve (which I had caught, and which bothered me.) Didn’t Evie play Guinivere way back when? I think I’ll have to go check. Have to check who Neal played, too.
Now I have to wonder what ELSE I’ve missed. Dang. lol
February 28, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Katie
Gavin–yes, you have. I’m still miffed that the cat doesn’t have a part to play. (teasing!)