This week, your librarian read chapters 29-34 of North! Or Be Eaten. This excerpt is another great one to read aloud. The Florid Sword, that mysterious swashbuckler, has some pompously magnificent monologue. Grab a friend and subject them to a rousing performance. And if you’re feeling inspired, make Andrew a Florid Sword comic book drawing (or oil painting) and send it to him; I bet it’d make his day.
The Florid Sword leapt from the roof of the cobbler’s building, bounced off the canopy, flipped through the air, and landed graceful as a cat behind Sneem. He wore a black cape, black boots, and black gloves, and had black hair that hung to his shoulders. Everything about him was black as coal, including his mask. The whites of his eyes shone. He thrust his narrow sword and put a grisly end to the Fang. Janner caught the white flash of his teeth when the man smiled.
“To be sure, Sneem, thou fiend, the Florid Sword hath run you through like unto a bolt of iron lightning piercing the watery depths of the Mighty Blapp, may she run wide and muddy all the days of mine own life! Flayed by my blade! Aha!”
Glag sputtered in outrage from the tower platform. The Florid Sword spun, and his cape whooshed in a graceful circle. He unslung a bow from his shoulder, notched an arrow, and let it fly. First there was a thonk, then a moan, then the sound of Glag’s body crashing through the roof of the boathouse.
“And thou!” cried the Florid Sword as he slung his bow over his shoulder again and glared at the hole in the roof. “Glag, the fallen foul fool! Fah!” He straightened and flourished his cape, then yanked his blade from Sneem’s limp body and wiped it on a patch of the creature’s leather armor.
Podo, Tink, and Janner never moved. All three of their mouths hung open. Janner made out a bright red symbol on the front of the man’s black shirt. An F and an S curled and swooped like thorny vines across his chest.
…
“What was that all about?” Tink asked.
“The Florid Sword,” Podo said with admiration. “Never heard of him.”
—From chapter 31, “In the Alley of the Roundish Widow.”
Did you have a favorite excerpt from this week’s reading—or from anywhere else in the series? Share it in the comments!
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Love, love, love the Florid Sword! So great. And (SPOILER FROM LAST BOOK, WWK) I love the way Gammon/FS adops Maraly. Their love for each other is clear throughout the whole series, right down to the last time they are mentioned.
Same! Ive read all books, and the Florid Sword is maybe my fave character! I wrote down EVERYTHING he says on a page! 😉
The Florid Sword was one of my favorite characters, right off the bat. I loved him. His hilarious speech was so much fun to vocalize as I read aloud to my family. And [SPOILERS] I love Gammon just as much. This character is just brilliant. I wish I could make my characters such an instant pleasure to anyone who chanced to read my book.
My quote for this week comes from chapter 30, Sneem’s Last Words.
“I’m sorry, Grandpa,” Leeli said with tears in her eyes.
“Hush, lass.” He stroked her hair with his gnarled hand. “It’s me who’s sorry. If a Song Maiden of Anniera tells ye somethin’, you listen.” Then he added in a quieter voice, “No matter if she’s a Song Maiden- if your sweet granddaughter tells ye somethin’, you listen then too. Come here.” Podo handed his backpack to Oskar, then boosted Leeli onto his back.