Have you ever had skittery, somersaulting thoughts like this? I have.
Janner’s heart somersaulted with shame, embarrassment, envy, frustration at himself, contrition, gratitude, and then more frustration. As soon as he settled on one feeling, the next one crowded it out. He sighed, wishing he could rest and let things be as they were. He felt as if he were two people: one boy who saw the situation objectively, who knew the right answers—which were to be content with his lot, grateful to the Maker, humble to his calling—and another boy whom he hated, who felt things hotly and demanded attention like a child throwing a fit.
Even the good feelings betrayed him, because once he felt them he was proud of having them, which opened the door for the next multitude of conflicting emotions.
No, he would think. … Be glad… He would settle for a moment, even breathe a sigh of relief. Then like a rat in the kitchen, a dark thought would skitter across the floor of his thoughts.
—From chapter 89, “The Maker.”
This is our second-to-last Friday for the Ban Rona Book Club! What snippet did you love best this week? Post it in the comments! And if you’d like some conversation (about the above passage, or anything else), come on over to the forum.
Have you had a chance to catch Andrew on his tour? He’d love to meet you!
Ok, one more.
Janner could see those memories playing out on Nia’s face and sending tears streaming down her cheeks. She took a step forward and collapsed to the sand. Janner and Kalmar helped her to her feet.
“It’s over, Mama,” Leeli said.
“Is it?” Nia wiped her nose with her sleeve and shook her head.
“Yes,” Kalmar said. “And it’s beginning, too. We’re home.”
I’m so late, but the passage I chose from this section is a memory. The reason I like it is because it is a story that needs to be told. The joy of that story gives them hope, and a reminder of what once was and what can be again.
When the meal was finished, Nia told them about her first night in the castle many years ago, when, unable to sleep, she had crept out of her new bedchambers and wandered the grounds under the moonlight. She had fallen asleep on the soft grass in the garden and woke under a pile of dirt. The gardenkeeper and his crew had covered her in it from the waist down and planted an assortment of firebud and totato seedlings. When Nia had sat up, sputtering her disgust, she saw Esben and Artham doubled over, laughing like little boys.
“Your father promised to take the gardener and his family sailing on the Silverstar as payment for his mischief.” Nia smiled at her children and asked Biggin to douse the torches. “In the morning, maybe we’ll plant some new memories.”
Smart thinking Esben.
Going to the Ryman tonight!