This is awesome! I love how you brought together pretty much everything mentioned so far in the previous entries and tied it up beautifully. I’d left it open whether Joshua would live or die, and I honestly thought whoever carried this on would save him. Well done in taking the darker path. I’m going to sequel this later if someone doesn’t beat me to it. This is quickly becoming my favorite series on the site.

Woah…thanks for going back to Therys, I couldn’t really do that in my part.

Backatcha for great garden description: it’s bringing out the best in everyone.

I’m also happy that Juno is developing magic =D and hope that that can go further.

Well done.
x

I’m a bit disappointed that Joshua is so definately dead…unless someone is planning on bringing him back.

Once again, the speech is perfect and is very effective even in only small amounts.

Thankyou for your kind words – if other people are going to move with this story then I’ll definitely contribute again – I must say it is INCREDIBLE to have a series of, what, 5 stories now, all written by different authors? That’s rare. And has worked really well, if I do say so myself ;)

Good luck to whoever takes a crack at the next installment!

This did add quite a bit and resolve the boy question, and the beautiful send off with magic was ingenious!

I’ll add my voice to the chorus of praise – a courageous choice to kill the child, deftly handled and sweetly dispatched.

The butterflies serve multiple functions of providing catharsis after the child’s death, development on Juno (fledgling magical powers? Hmm…!) and refocusing the narrative on Juno. Big fan of the last one for, though Therys kicks ass and seems like he’d be a fun challenge to write (‘languid’ contrasts well with Man of Action), I thought Juno had been intro’d as the main character and was being just a little sidelined by him.

I’ll say it again, deft.

Two issues:
1) Garden sickness dealt with abruptly, but 1024 chars, so ‘meh’.
2) “diplomatic crisis undoubtedly threatening her own leadership” Eh? What? Eh? How? Seems a little, literally, presumptuous (not to mention precognitive).

Otherwise, can’t wait to read kaellinn18’s sequel and would love to see TheLostGirl contribute again.

Characters so far: Juno, Therys, Lady Salindra, Nyci, Santi, Old Man, Denar Party, Gardners.

Ah, I was hoping someone would bring the action back to Juno. And would let Joshua die.

I have to say you’ve done a wonderful job developing the relationship between Therys and Juno and bringing out their personalities. I love his half finished sentence. Tension is rife! The butterflies crumbling to dust was a nice touch too. Bravo!

Very sad and tragic moment, but told very nicely without overdoing the melodrama. I liked the little nod to Hamlet there with the flies laying their eggs in the royal bed.

I really like this series, and hopefully that shows in my attempt to contribute a little to the story. The cohesion between these pieces is incredible, and the focus shift back to our heroes gives us an interesting problem to face and the tools necessary to solve it. Kudos on killing Joshua, perhaps we can embrace this dark path a little further?

I also like Therys soft deferment to Juno with the “Your Highness” and “with respect.” Despite his well demonstrated capability, he’s still the bullet. Juno’s the one aiming the gun and pulling the trigger, and that gives their relationship an interesting dynamic.

Again, thanks all, this series is really picking up pace now…!