New Chapter Discussion!

[tresa_cho]

Comments

[crabby_lioness]

What do you think the meaning of Touars nicking Damen's collar is!?

A well-worn (pun intended) cliche.

Will Laurent go into a fit of rage when he sees it?

Possessive rage leading to hurt-comfort thinly veiled as snark? It's a possibility

Is it an allegory of Damen's shifting status in Laurent's eyes?

Maybe that as well, but the first thing that struck me (sorry, that one slipped out) was that it was an allegory for how Damen's status as Laurent's slave has protected him in Rabat. It's allowed him to get away with a lot of things that would have gotten a free Aklion killed.

[tresa_cho]

Oh goodness. The puns. *dies on the inside*

That's a really interesting read of it. I like that. Mayhaps it could be both? A change in status and the protection of the crown...

[crabby_lioness]

Any change in status is going to equate with a change in protection.

Slaves generally aren't assumed to be competent outside their field of expertise,and not in complex matters involving independent thought. (Either Greek or Roman culture allowed that slaves be taught reading, writing, and trades, but put to death anyone taught teaching them higher level thinking skills.) Damen has just demonstrated a high degree of competence as a war Captain. That's both going to up his status and paint a bullseye on his back.

[tresa_cho]

Mmmm. But it's all good, because we know Laurent is great at watching Damen's backside. *cough* Ya'll got me distracted thinking about the (hopefully) inevitable sexy times between these two.

[crabby_lioness]

Is it all right to repeat myself from the story comments? If so:

Very few people, including professional writers, can handle a battle scene as well as you did. Congratulations.

I knew the collar was going to save Damen's life on the battlefield, saving it for once literally instead of metaphorically. He's gotten away with a lot by being the Prince's possession that would have gotten a free Aklion killed.

the triumphant chant broke out in men's voices, Hail the Prince, and closer to, his own name repeated, Damen, Damen.So the Rabatians do know him as something other than "the Prince's slave". With a triumph on the battlefield (and especially if Ravenel falls) plus "Damen" being the diminutive of "Damianos" the cleverer people will start suspecting anyway even if Jord says nothing

[feverfewmole]

Interesting question. I didn't even see this in my first read, was too busy bouncing and squeeing, I guess! :D

To me, it is a metaphor for the protection Laurent offers to Damen - ironically - by keeping him as a slave. Without the collar he would have been killed, quite literally, right now on the field.
The same goes for him being free, and Prince Damianos again - the Akielons would kill him, judging by Touars' and Jord's reaction. And Laurent would be forced into action as well, to avenge his beloved brother.
The collar protects Damen from all this.

And I bet Laurent is going to pale quite a bit, once he sees the nick!

[feverfewmole]

*headdesk* I mean the Rabatians would kill him, obviously! *is tired*

[aubade_saudade]

THIS

[luci0logy]

For a moment there, when Jord accused Damen of playing a sick game, I thought he meant that Damen had got himself sent to Rabat on purpose. Then I thought don't be a prat, who in their right mind would do that? But oh, why did it have to be Jord? The poor bloke's head must be reeling. Maybe they could've been friends in some distant time and place.

Now I'm thinking that it would be nice if Laurent would one day ride to Damen's aide if things got sticky for him upon his return to Akielos: repaying damen for saving his life on more than one occassion. Then they can shag. *nods*

[crabby_lioness]

For a moment there, when Jord accused Damen of playing a sick game, I thought he meant that Damen had got himself sent to Rabat on purpose. Then I thought don't be a prat, who in their right mind would do that?

We've seen this exact accusation before. Many at the Rabatian court were convinced the other Aklion slaves just had to be spies or plants. I started to say "it's not too far a stretch", but after I remembered that, it's no stretch at all.

[luci0logy]

Also, we're in Damen's mind set and it wouldn't quite work if he woke up ala Bobby Ewing and his angst was all in his head.

[feverfewmole]

Yep, Jord overreacted a bit, didn't he? I think he's mixing Aimeric's betrayal in with Damen's situation. The "You hated us so much, all this time?" wasn't solely addressed at Damen, methinks.

I totally hope they still can become friends in the future!

This taking of Ravenel totally overthrew my own personal masterplan of events to come. I always thought they'd have to flee into Akielos, get back Damen's throne, and then come back to finish off the Regent. Not likely as things are now, right? But I can't imagine Laurent not helping Damen regain his throne. Freece once again has me baffled! :D

[crabby_lioness]

The key to what happens next is Ravenel. Either one of three things is likely to happen