It wasn’t proper, but it was a warrior’s blessing. A sign the Old Folk should bear her to the afterworld without payment and a promise to pay them the difference on his own death, for he could not pay them right now and remain alive.
I really like this because it gives some much-needed texture to human religious beliefs. Paolini tried to throw in some generic superstitions and references to unnamed gods, but there really wasn't much to suggest actual religious traditions. Galbatorix doing his best to honor Jarnunvösk here adds some detail, as well as being appropriately heartrending for the scene.
He forced his numb limbs to move to his companions and without hesitation took their debts upon himself.
And he does the same for his friends. I already feel far more sympathy for your Galbatorix than I ever did for Eragon.
“Don’t the dragons choose?” The voices whispered
The voices have a good point here.
Shruikan always cared more about chess than ruling. It was the only thing he ever showed real patience for. The king set apart an entire garden for pieces large enough for Shruikan to move.
I love this bit of characterization for Shruikan. Again, it gives much-needed texture to a character Paolini never bothered to explore.
He sat upon his throne, looking at the people - and the elf - before him.
I like the deliberate separation of "elf" from "people" here. In Galbatorix's mind, Saphira is a person, but Arya is not. I suspect an Urgal would be similarly separated from "people," and wonder where Galbatorix would place other sapients such as dwarves, Shades, and Ra'zac.
“Wyrdskyldr”, suggested one of his voices. Nonsense, the boy didn’t have the humility.
Noooooo Galby you were so close!
He was burning. No, he wasn’t. But it felt like it. Like he was burning and had been stabbed and crushed and was being torn apart. Pain lanced down through his teeth, into his skull from his eyes, every aspect of himself afire with pain.
This is a short, but effective description of how it might feel to be hit with the Empathy Spell. I'm actually very interested to see how other writers portray this, because there's going to be a significant look at what the Empathy Spell feels like in Consequence too.
Afire…the Old Folk. He owed them. This must be Jarnunvösk reaching across the divide, letting him know what it felt like to be unable to rest. He’d allowed himself to be diverted for a century. He’d bonded with a different dragon, made friends, lived it up, all while Jarnunvösk was denied rest because her debt had yet to be paid.
And in his moment of ultimate pain, he goes back to events and beliefs that shaped him. This reaction is entirely understandable. In that much pain, there's no way he's thinking straight.
The Old Folk took payment in the smell of burning flesh. He’d give it to them, and be lost.
no subject
I really like this because it gives some much-needed texture to human religious beliefs. Paolini tried to throw in some generic superstitions and references to unnamed gods, but there really wasn't much to suggest actual religious traditions. Galbatorix doing his best to honor Jarnunvösk here adds some detail, as well as being appropriately heartrending for the scene.
He forced his numb limbs to move to his companions and without hesitation took their debts upon himself.
And he does the same for his friends. I already feel far more sympathy for your Galbatorix than I ever did for Eragon.
“Don’t the dragons choose?” The voices whispered
The voices have a good point here.
Shruikan always cared more about chess than ruling. It was the only thing he ever showed real patience for. The king set apart an entire garden for pieces large enough for Shruikan to move.
I love this bit of characterization for Shruikan. Again, it gives much-needed texture to a character Paolini never bothered to explore.
He sat upon his throne, looking at the people - and the elf - before him.
I like the deliberate separation of "elf" from "people" here. In Galbatorix's mind, Saphira is a person, but Arya is not. I suspect an Urgal would be similarly separated from "people," and wonder where Galbatorix would place other sapients such as dwarves, Shades, and Ra'zac.
“Wyrdskyldr”, suggested one of his voices. Nonsense, the boy didn’t have the humility.
Noooooo Galby you were so close!
He was burning. No, he wasn’t. But it felt like it. Like he was burning and had been stabbed and crushed and was being torn apart. Pain lanced down through his teeth, into his skull from his eyes, every aspect of himself afire with pain.
This is a short, but effective description of how it might feel to be hit with the Empathy Spell. I'm actually very interested to see how other writers portray this, because there's going to be a significant look at what the Empathy Spell feels like in Consequence too.
Afire…the Old Folk. He owed them. This must be Jarnunvösk reaching across the divide, letting him know what it felt like to be unable to rest. He’d allowed himself to be diverted for a century. He’d bonded with a different dragon, made friends, lived it up, all while Jarnunvösk was denied rest because her debt had yet to be paid.
And in his moment of ultimate pain, he goes back to events and beliefs that shaped him. This reaction is entirely understandable. In that much pain, there's no way he's thinking straight.
The Old Folk took payment in the smell of burning flesh. He’d give it to them, and be lost.
"Waise neiat"