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I’m posting from my current writing WiP, Song and Shadow, a prequel to Song and Sword. It’s a rough draft and I still don’t have an actual outline for it so it’s going to be a fun ride.
This month we’ll get to see Pashevel… well, let’s just say that the ways of a Bard are subtle and sharp.
“I don’t think you won any points with my father,” Hierik told him later, when the receiving line was finished.
“He didn’t win any points with me, either,” Pashevel replied with an indifferent shrug. He sobered and held Hierik’s gaze for a moment. “From what I understand we leave in the morning?”
“Yes. An early breakfast and on the road before sun up.”
“Can you be ready to leave before sundown?”
Hierik nodded. “Everything is packed and ready. The only thing left for me to do is to choose and name my traveling companion. A-are you still willing to travel with me, Your Highness?”
“Just Pashevel. And, yes. More than ever.”
Hierik tilted his head curiously but Pashevel shook his head. “Another time, Your Highness.”
Novel Notes 
I’ve been out for a bit. That Pashevel is royalty explains a lot. Fun snippet. I’m eager to see them on their way.
Pashevel prefers to be considered a Bard rather than the Elven Crown Prince, but he’ll pull the royalty card when needed.
Good idea to leave early. Enjoyed the snippet. The prince is going to learn a LOT on this journey.
Thanks. It’s… interesting… writing Hierik as a teenager, trying to piece together how he became the man in Song and Sword.
(By “interesting” I mean “headache-inducing.”)
The bard doesn’t seem keen on the king. I suspect he has discovered a reason to depart quickly.
Pashevel has some suspicions..
I’m curious why Pashevel is determined to leave so early. It might be hard traveling in the dark.
A few things he’s learned/information he’s pieced together, combined with the fact that very little escapes his notice.
And they’re just vacating the castle — they’ll leave the city in the morning.
The prince is going to learn a few things on the journey. I think leaving early is a good thing. Intrigued to know more.
I believe i mentioned it before, I really like Pashevel. He’s going to be one very interesting travel companion.
Outlines–ack! I don’t use those things. I have a visceral reaction to them thanks to the behavior of my evil sixth-grade teacher who insisted that we work from an outline. We had to follow the outline closely, but not too closely, or he’d know we wrote the story first and we’d get an F. I swear, some teachers have no business being anywhere near kids, or, really, anybody.
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