When it comes to making decisions, are you more like Janner, or like Tink?
The leader drew an arrow with one hand and discreetly uncapped the bottle of poison with the other.
“That’s a bad idea, Grouzab,” Janner said. “I won’t let you kill this troll.”
“Have you any fruit?” Grouzab asked.
“Not for you, I don’t.”
“Then Gnag’s offer is better than yours. Go, boy. Leave us to our mischief.”
Grouzab dipped the arrowhead into the bottle. Janner felt panic rising in his chest. He should be running for Ban Rona. He should be busy making a shelter in the falling light, or tending to Baxter. Instead he was surrounded by ridgerunners, in defense of a troll. A troll! This was what he got for acting without thinking first—like Kal always did.
Then again, Kal, who always managed to get himself into trouble, also managed to get himself out of it. So what would Kalmar do next? One thing was sure. Kalmar wouldn’t stop and consider all his options. He would simply do. Kalmar followed his instincts, and somehow it worked out.
But Janner didn’t trust his instincts. As soon as he felt one, he questioned it. So what was his heart telling him to do? Not his fear, not his brain, but his heart.
No, that wasn’t right either. It wasn’t his heart he needed to listen to—it was the love in which his heart rested. That was what he needed—the love of Nia, Kal, Leeli, Podo, and the love of the Maker who had kept him safe thus far. He rested in that—and he acted.
—From chapter 15, “Janner Gets Carried Away.”
What was your favorite excerpt this week? Post it in the comments! Then, come hang out with us in the forum. I’ll get the tea started, and we can talk all about trolls, ridgerunners, fruit, and other exciting topics.
I’m definitely more like Janner. I really prefer to have time to think things through before acting, and I REQUIRE time to think things through after all the activity is over, preferably with a journal.
Ok, my excerpt for the week was hard to choose, so I will have to go put the others in the B-sides thread in the forum. But this is the one that I finally settled on, because Oskar and I have a lot in common, including our sneakery skills.
“… And the original character for gleef was yimple withthe exception of sumpo in the tertiary tense…” he trailed off when he realized no one was listening. “I’ll get the book. And I’ll be very quiet.” Oskar stood and let out a little gasp. His eyes twinkled and he raised a finger. “It’ll give me a chance to practice my Durgan sneakery! I’ve been reading all about it. Observe.”
Grunting like a pen full of hogpiglets, Oskar dropped to all fours, then rolled to the foot of the stair and tiptoed up the steps, making enough noise to rattle the windows. Several irritated groans came from the cots.
….
Oskar peeked over the banister, and Podo and Leeli pretended not to notice as he made his way stealthily down the stairs, rattling the windows with every thump. He scooted on his back across the floor to the hearth, hid behind the nearest chair, and held out the First Book, waiting to surprise Leeli. “Thank you, Mister Reteep,” Leeli said without turning.
Oskar emerged from behind the chair, dabbing his forehead with a handkerchief. He sad down with the book in his lap, looking dejected.
“What was all the racket?” said Nia from the top of the steps.
This was a wonderful moment in the books. And I’m definitely more like the doubtful Janner. I don’t act from instinct. I don’t trust them…Just like Janner. I only pray that in the moment of confrontation, when it’s on the line, I’m selfless…Just like Janner.