Prompt #34 - Trollop - Invocatus Rex, Part I: Xavier, Chapter One

[smwright.livejournal.com]

Title: Invocatus Rex, Part I: Xavier, Chapter One
Fandom: Original Fiction, The Witch War Histories, Vol. III
Prompt: Trollop
For: Taming the Muse
Warnings: some language perhaps, not much; more angst
Rating: PG
Summary: As Sylvie and Kincaid begin the quest for the history of her sword, Xavier loses the battle to keep his distance from her. And just when they think Wales is destined to be a dead end, a mysterious stranger appears almost literally on their doorstep.
Word Count: 5,205
A/N: Beta by meredevachon. Muchas gracias como siempre.

A/N2: Now that we’ve come to the first real chapter, a note of explanation is required. The original three books are each polyphonic in structure. That is, each is told in three distinct parts, and each part is told from a different primary character’s POV. In this book, the first POV we get is Xavier’s. So, the I you read is his. We’ll hear other voices but not until much later in the book.

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This chapter has been moved, along with all prior chapters, to my LJ, where they're located in chronological order in the IR section of my memories.

Comments

[sparrow2000.livejournal.com]

So Xavier loves Sylvie. There's something inevitable about it, but it really does make things complicated. I wonder if Kincaid knows?

One thing I really liked about this chapter was the air of domesticity amongst all the talk of myth and magic. Sylvie with her armful of bubbles in the sink, dolling out fish and potatoes and turnip after the phone call when you'd expect then to go haring off to find out what was happening. And the pot of tea and plate of biscuits waiting when the get to Riamon's house. It all gives such texture to the scenes.

I'm curious about Aisling full stop. But I'm very curious about what seemed to be an incredibly vehement denial that she was a witch. Not confused or bewildered because there's no such thing as witchcraft, but vehement like she'd been accused of being a witch before (Or maybe I'm reading too much into it!)

Very interesting developments. As ever, you've made me very curious about how this is going to go and as a reader, that's what I want - the carrot that's going to keep pulling me through to the next chapter.

One tiny little comment, I hope you don't mind me saying. Aisling says she's going to university in the fall. As she's Irish I'm not sure that she would say "Fall", but rather Autumn. Just a little thought.

[smwright.livejournal.com]

I wonder if Kincaid knows?

I considered this and then realized… if you’d read the original SA, you’d have read this from the morning she was taken by Jonah (after healing Declan’s arm). It’s Kincaid’s POV, as he gets to her flat upon learning she’d been taken/was going to be taken: I saw Xavier before he saw me. He was lying on top of the bed looking dishevelled, and his eyes were closed. His breathing was ragged, and his cheeks were flushed. If I hadn’t overheard the last of his conversation with Sylvie’s mother, I might have thought more of his presence in her bedroom and his appearance. I loved Sylvie. I trusted her. I also knew Xavier would take my place in her life without hesitation if she so much as nodded in his direction. So, yes, Kincaid knows.

One thing I really liked about this chapter was the air of domesticity amongst all the talk of myth and magic… It all gives such texture to the scenes.

Thank you! That’s probably the biggest contextual aspect I’ve striven for, the sense that this is an ordinary family in very many ways. I think it comes across much better in this book than in the other two.

I enjoyed your comments re: Aisling. *g* I’m always intensely curious what the initial reaction is to her. She can come across as insipid or whiny, and I don’t really think she is. As for the vehemence of her denial, oh I don’t know… nervousness maybe caused her to be a little overzealous in her response? Or perhaps she really is just that concerned over making certain she gets her position straight from the beginning. I’m not telling… you have to stay tuned for that! And if you come back for the next chapter, well, bonus for me, right?

Thank you for the delightful comments! I’m glad to see you’re not terribly put off by the notion of Xavier’s feelings for Sylvie and that Aisling has piqued your curiosity. This story is much darker than SA; so, if you’re here in Chapter One, I’m just thrilled. I tend to lose even myself from time to time in this one.

And thank you for catching my goof. Off to fix it now. Never worry about pointing those out to me. I always prefer to fix rather than leave in error!

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

*Points upwards* What Sparrow said about the domestic details. It is always the details that give richness to a story, gives it depth and reality. You do that so well.
Of course, I have met Aisling before - she was in France(?) looking into a pool of water and scrying. I am glad that I will have an opportunity to learn her back story.
For a moment I also feared that all was not well between Kincaid and Sylvie - that they hadn't managed to relearn how to talk. But if it was rather a manifestation of their common frustration...
So, you have got my curiosity well peaked - the dream of the boy and the sword?
Hmm. I am looking forward to seeing this story unfold. Thank you for sharing it.

[smwright.livejournal.com]

It is always the details that give richness to a story, gives it depth and reality. You do that so well.
Thank you so much. I really do try so hard to make them ordinary.

So, you have got my curiosity well peaked - the dream of the boy and the sword?
Yes, well, that I fear is a manifestation of my own inability to get IR under control from the beginning. Last week's bit - the prologue - was originally much longer and wasn't a prologue at all. There was no way to tell the story without much of what occurred in there and no way to keep that fifteen hundred year old bit in without a conduit. Thus was born Aisling (the second). So, you'll get her 'stuff' as well as some other odd occurrences here and there as literary sleights of hand just to have that part of the story appear at all.

And - as always - the timely appearance of Declan to which we can look forward.

I hope learning Aisling's backstory will be the least of it (and that you haven't been spoilt for the rest by that other bit I posted before)!