True Stories

Annnd ... now it's time for chapter 13. Which means we're now half-way through the book. *Throws confetti*

Just a reminder answering the questions at the bottom of the post will enter you for a chance to win a paperback copy of My Kingdom for a Quest!



Now, onto the chapter. While 13 isn't my favorite, and certainly has its fair share of awkward lines, it's one that I looked forward to writing from the moment I realized that Robin and Robert were the protagonists of the story - the chapter which I describe as Sew's Mid-goal, the chapter where I finally answer questions.

Still at Doranna's
I'd like to note again that it isn't Robert who gets them moving again - it's Robin. So long as she's content with where she is, far be it from him to suggest she resume travel.

And I like the off-handed way Robin makes this remark, like she was completely unaware of the passing of time until this moment ... which is probably true. I'm not sure what she found to do these two weeks to absorb her time so, but she clearly found something. Maybe she was counting fish on the wall of her bedroom.

Eric's Wedding
Dun, dun, dun!

I find it amusing that Robert chose this as the key point that they didn't need to be late for, but oh, well, it advances the plot because Doranna doesn't know who Eric is! And since Doranna doesn't know who Eric is, it'll mean that she'll ask questions, and if she asks questions, secrets will spill!

Ah, I was such a genius writer back in the day.

And the Secret's Out
I'm sure you guys are all wondering why it took R&R so long to figure things out, but now they finally know: Doranna's the Mountain Princess! Poor girl, trapped on a mountain for a hundred years. It's a wonder that she didn't go insane.

Of course, there are more details on this matter in the short story, Woodcutter Quince.

And, would you believe it, but it was this spell that was responsible for the Change. How exciting!

Ah, I love this chapter.

Also, a note on Robin right here. I had initially written her to be more believing in this scenes, and this conversation to flow seamlessly into Rosamond's own confession (see the next page). But then, for plot reasons later on, I decided that I didn't want her to know Rosamond's secret, so I swapped around some dialogue tags and viola! We had a disbelieving Robin on our hands. It was so awesome!

(Looking back five years later, I really have to hand it to myself.)

Robert ain't Convinced Either
Or, rather, he's not convinced that Rosamond and Doranna are telling the whole truth.

He doesn't bring it up immediately, however, and chooses instead to confront Rosamond privately. She's reluctant to admit the truth, and Robert ends up spelling it out for her.

She's the Sleeping Beauty.

She's Eric's runaway bride.

Who saw that plot twist coming?

A Note on Auroren
Also, she's the princess for whom Auroren was named. Some people who have read Do You Take This Quest? will rememeber that Maxie had been engaged to Shira. So why did he name the sword to another girl? Ah, well, I provided a in-book answer in My Kingdom for a Quest, but here's the real truth:

I didn't know about Maxie and Shira until after I published Sew, it's a Quest. While writing Sew, the backstory had been that he was in love with Rosamond, but because Rosamond had a curse, her parents refused to allow her to become engaged until after the time limit was up. You know, just in case. While writing, I had had every intention of making this clear ... but I wasn't a bold enough writer at the time, so all my planned revelations (Including, but not limited to, a Madeleine painting of Maxie and Rosamond) never happened.

Then Shira barged in and claimed Maxie, which left me scrambling to rearrange backstory, even though Arthur saved the plot of Do You Take This Quest?. Sigh. To be honest, I think there was a part of Maxie that liked Rosamond, and they probably would have ended up together if it weren't for Shira and Rosamond's curse.

Ah, but it all turned out all right in the end.

What to Do?

Locksley and Winthrop don't have the best of relations, after all, and now Robert and Robin have been adventuring with the Eric's would-be bride. If that doesn't look suspicious, I don't know what does.

Favorite Lines: 

 “Well,” said Robert, “we need to be leaving now, or we’ll miss Eric’s wedding.” He gave his twin a meaningful look. Robin shot him a glare.

“Eric?” Doranna said, “Who doth that be?”

“The most pompous, insufferable prince in Bookania,” said Robin with a roll of her eyes.

“He also happens to be Peter and Dylana’s great-grandson,” added Rosamond helpfully.

 “You’re the Mountain Princess!” Robin interrupted, her face clear with disbelief.

“I am not sure what though dost lean,” said Doranna with a slightly confused look on her face.

“That doth be the name you acquired whilst thou wast at the top of thy mountain,” said Rosamond.

“Oh,” said Doranna, “in that chase, yes I am.”

“And Casperl got past all that?” said Robin, giving an unconvinced look.

“He did, only a few days before I met you, too,” Doranna answered.

“How?” Robin asked, stupefied.

 “And Casperl didn’t rescue Doranna until after we met you,” continued Robert. Rosamond just stared at him, caught. He continued, “Which means you weren’t here.” She sighed, and looked away. “How then were the years so kind to you? How did they leave you so beautiful?” She sighed again. There was a story, but she didn’t seem to want to tell it to him. “Don’t you trust me?”

 “Now this is really going to improve our affairs with the Winthrops,” said Robert with a shake of his head.

“Is it?” asked Rosamond, brightening, “or art thou being sarcastic? Thy sister is right, I understand it not.”

“It’s sarcasm,” confirmed Robert.

Discussion Questions:

1. Did you see these plot twists coming?

2. For those of you who have read Woodcutter Quince, what do you think of that story?

3. Any favorite lines?