Tag Archives: Solcintra

Our Lady of Benevolence

In which the bakery goes forward.

I had forgotten that we already knew of a character called “Our Lady of Benevolence” until I was re-reading the earlier bakery stories in preparation for this new one. (Well, actually, the authors’ foreword gave it away, but if not for that it would have been re-reading “Fortune’s Favors” that did it.)
Continue reading

Ambient Conditions

In which Kishara jit’Luso takes advantage of ambient conditions.

This is an oddity: a story retelling another existing story from another viewpoint. We’ve had stories that crossed paths before (“Quiet Knives” comes to mind), but usually that’s a case of two people on different paths that happen to intersect for a sentence or two. This is a special case, for reasons that are explained in the author’s note.
Continue reading

The Gate That Locks the Tree – Act 8, Scene 2

In the Hall of the Mountain King
Enter Joey

In which the guests are settled for the night.

Joey, despite being in the stage directions, is not listed in the dramatis personae. But then again, neither are any of the other cats, except Chelada.

Vertu started out the story thinking of the unregulated cab drivers as something that might need to be addressed at some point. Now, having seen how much trouble an untrained driver can get himself and his passengers into, it’s become pressing business for Boss Gotta. Or, no, not quite for Boss Gotta, if we take Boss Gotta as being the person who’s gotta do it because they happen to be present when there’s nobody around whose job it is; as Vertu says to Jemie, in this situation they are the people whose job it is.

The Gate That Locks the Tree – Act 4, Scene 3

A Rescue

In which the number of Vertu’s passengers increases.

Toragin’s remonstration at, presumably, the Tree gives us the outline of her cause: Chelada was promised that she could have her kittens under the Tree, which must have seemed an easy thing to promise when Jelaza Kazone was just down the road from Lazmeln’s clanhouse, and then when the distance suddenly became much greater, the promise still existed but was much harder to claim, and the Tree apparently didn’t find it necessary to ease the way at all.
Continue reading

The Gate That Locks the Tree – Act 4, Scene 2

On a snow-filled road, under a snowy sky

In which Boss Gotta takes stock of the situation.

From the fact that he (or she) got a mention in the dramatis personae, I was expecting Boss Gotta to have a more prominent appearance than just a single name-drop and then never mentioned again. Although I suppose metaphorically Boss Gotta continues to be present and active.
Continue reading

The Gate That Locks the Tree – Act 1, Scene 2

In Vertu’s taxicab
Enter Yulie, Mary, Anna, Rascal

In which everyone is going to the same place.

Apparently the hill at the end of the Port Road is now named Undertree Hill — or perhaps that’s just what the Bedel call it and Yulie has picked it up from them.
Continue reading

A Visit to the Galaxy Ballroom

In which Lina yo’Bingim does not wish to be part of the problem.

I’m fairly sure the merc who says “Efning” to Lina is attempting to wish her a good evening, but in the first moment I always think he’s offering his name.
Continue reading

Accepting the Lance – Chapter 61

Runcible System
Daglyte Seam

In which the Commander of Agents makes a move.

Perfection, huh? That sounds familiar.
Continue reading

Accepting the Lance – Chapter 49

Bechimo

In which the Pathfinders join the conversation.

Chernak and Stost are welcomed back with some of Clarence’s baking — more maize buttons?
Continue reading

Accepting the Lance – Chapter 44

Port Road
Surebleak

In which Val Con and Miri go house-hunting.

So, Val Con went to tell Pat Rin what was up while Miri Robertson went to tell the portmaster. Makes sense.
Continue reading