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21 comments
This poor girl Katrun, along with the rest of her family would probably be better off if Rathe were to simply disappear " Daddy-not-so-dearest"....at least that gambling addiction would be cured, and the family wouldn't suffer it anymore! ^^
For now, though, Rathe has to "disappear" a few thugs, including one named "Erikur".^^
Endorsed.
Thanks and cheers, dear!
One thing did not change..Rathe is still as meticulous in his planning, very detailed planning...the only thing that really change being that he's not sent to kill the girl but actually rescue her...but same planning went into the whole thing. I think it was quite heart warming the scene where he picks Katrun up and she actually feels safe in his arms. I thought it was really cute and a nice little touch.
Hardly surprise to see his reaction when facing Katrun parents who willingly sold her out...now I worry this may get in the way of his atonement..
Amazing work dear !
It's interesting what skills in life can be transferred over to another area. Me, it's going to be aged care into family violence soon (as I change jobs)... Rathe, it's meticulous planning to kill someone, to meticulous planning to SAVE someone. I guess what they say is true; there's no BAD learning in life!!
Thanks again dear!
Really curious how it'll go down the road as I a focusing on Solitude myself in the next few episodes!
This chapter especially was amazing because not only was the writing very good but the flow was natural - like a river - with great ups and downs and slow and fast times. Loaded with tons of mystery and unanswered questions while at the same time saying so much. Was Rathe supposed to rescue that other girl? He had excellent reasons not to ... or could he have hidden Katrun and gone back for her? Most likely not but the way he looked at her ... it was a question that came to mind. The way Rathe snuck around, the planning, the way Katrun reacted to him was well executed and detailed.
Even with only a short amount of space to write (some may think this long but its nothing compared to a book format) you managed to add in twist after twist with the girls' father being behind it all. All kinds of layers here. I despise the man yet regardless of the why of the debt ... if it came to killing the ENTIRE family or selling one girl to save everyone else ... what should he do? Should he have them all killed? Well perhaps he should have sold himself to slavery instead. Course who would buy him? Could he have gone and sought justice from the rulers? Most likely but he knew it would ruin him ... so in the end, as I work through this, I have decided he is a pure scum bag as in the end he cared more about his reputation then his daughter. Going to Elsif and the guards was an option that he didn't take.
Then he has to leave to hunt down the slaver and money lender. Will he return to more horror as Nataly thought? Just what is Kynerath trying to prove? Things are not always what they seem ... that could mean so many things. What if this is all one big dream he is having? A test. The dream is from Vaermina and Quin. Perhaps trying to break his resolve. Probably not but something I considered.
Not sure what is likely at the moment with that title. Was the title meant merely to say that she was sold by her father (i.e. things were not what they seemed)? Or does it mean the father was lying and there is something else going on here?
Guess we wait eagerly for the next chapter to fine out. Again why this writing is among the best on Nexus. The images are also nice ... I know that seems to come as an afterthought and I know how much time goes into it. Funny though as you told me the writing for you is the quick part and the images are the long part ... while I am usually the opposite. Unless I am doing something really elaborate (like the Wild Hunt story line) the images come easy and the writing takes me hours and hours to do. Anyhow the images are great but in your case they are eclipsed by the writing.
Even though he wasn't heading into Sutvaka to 'kill' Katrun, he still approached the whole thing as he would've if she'd been his 'mark'. The careful planning, the focus on her (over say rescuing the blonde girl); it's the same diligence he brought to his assassinations.
You and Nataly have really taken up speculating about the title of this series haven't you?! I must admit, I loved your idea about it all being a nightmare by Quin and Vaermina (it's not, but how cool would that have been?! ). But things are often not what they seem, very rarely black and white, as our Rathe has learned the hard way in the past. Question is, has he learned from past mistakes? And what will he do when he encounters grey again?
Thanks for the comments about the images; they truly do take longer than the writing for me, and (because I'm a perfectionist) can be tedious and time consuming so it's nice to hear that they're enjoyed also! Again, deep thanks for your words. Means an awful lot
I am glad that Rathe taught the real buyer a painful lesson for the twisted deal he had made, he better not do so again as he might get more than a broken wrist. I liked that part when Rathe had that momentary smile at the name Katrun had given him, a name like that of a hero in a legend, thinking of what Darius would have thought of that. Rathe is one to easily see beyond the apparent happiness of Katrun's parents at her return. The girl's father is quite the fool, sending her off to a harsh life so her all because he like to gamble, he might have faced more that strong words and a threat from Rathe in the past. Looks like Erikur is going to have a very bad day very soon and one well deserved for his cruel suggestion, unless things are not as they seem as the title of this story suggests. A fantastic chapter, Jess
It was very much pragmatic Rathe that made the decision to leave the blonde behind; one I doubt he'd have made had he been able to be freer with his blades. The Rathe of the past would have painted Sutvaka's walls red with the blood of the Bastards. Same with the actual noble, Pavo. I imagine had he faced the Rathe of the past he might have come away with a bit more than a broken wrist!
It was nice to see Rathe's 'gentle' side with katrun; something not seen in Rathe since Fleur was alive, and I think he may secretly have been delighted with his new moniker; the Red Wraith. It will be interesting to see how much he embraces being a 'hero' when he comes face to fa e with Errikur!!
I really liked the carriage ride back. Little Katrun has her first crush with the Red Wraith. Hopefully Erikur gets whats coming to him but I have a feeling it will be more complicated than that. Too bad the other girl couldn't be saved also be sometimes these choices have to be made. Excellent writing and perfect images. Really can't wait for the next one
Yes, poor little Katrun is smitten with her saviour and 'hero'. If she knew what became of Fleur who fell for Broody she might run screaming in the other direction. As for Rathe himself, I think he's just mystified why these girls all fall for him (he hasn't looked in a mirror in a long time *swoon* )
Thanks again and the next part should be out this weekend!
I could never understand why a father would want to sell any of their family off like that, but then again I'm not one to get in to debt let alone borrowing from a person with a dark nature like Erikur.
I hope the father learns his lesson, but i doubt that. Unless Rather tackles Erikur I don't see a solution to this, Erikurs thugs are still in tact and it will be obvious what happened when Erikur sees the girl back with her family and all hell will break loose unless... well will wait and see
Great work Jess a wonderful read
He would have loved to have gotten the other girl out, but not at the cost of Katrun (and failing the mission which is his ultimate reason for now doing what he does.)
Yes I think Dagan has a lot to answer for, and Erokur, well, he's probably lucky that Rathe's not supposed to kill with impunity anymore... supposed to anyway
Thanks for commenting hon, made my day
I ma so glad that Rathe rescued Katrun from that dreadful fort... this poor, innocent girl did not deserve such fate as being sold as sex slave for some sick pervert whose place Rathe has taken to rescue her. The whole scene of Rathe and that Pavo had me chuckling... that pervert should consider himself lucky that Rathe did not kill him, only broken his wrist. Katrun is adorable... she obviously was smitten by handsome Rathe (he is sure is liked by ladies), even giving her new nickname and great thing that she believed him straight away.
I also knew that there was something strange with Katrun, since she was dressed too stylish to be some village girl who was kidnapped at night. Back in the last chapter i wondered if her kidnappers just change her attire to make her more presentable but it sure looks like her own dress since she is from noble family. Only nest of vipers seems to be a better and safer place then such 'family'! Rathe sure figured out that betrayal of Katrun father and I was truly horrified to hear that a parent can sell their child for money... Erikur is sure a bastard here, but he was always a bastard, also acting no better then lustful goat around pretty lady maid during Thalmor Embassy mission of Dovahkiin, so if Erikur is truly behind all this, I won't be surprised...
However the title of whole story made me think maybe a bit too hard that even this situation with Katrun might have an additional and unseen layer. The only thing I was telling 'don't leave her there, Rathe!' but he did... maybe making the same mistake he did with leaving Fleur with ZuZu... I have a guess that if this situation ends up like the situation with Fleur, Rathe will loose his modjo to do good things forever, since what the point of doing something if everything crumbles anyway? Hopefully fate (and you) will have mercy on him and maybe this time he will succeed and rescue innocent girl from harm...
I would look forward for continuation and thank you for sharing your awesome work!
Yes, poor little Katrun is nothing more than a pawn in the games noblemen play it seems. A piece of property, or commodity to be traded like cattle. Errikur most certainly is swine; he was never my favourite in the vanilla game, so (much like Nazeem) I've just upped the ante and made him a little bit worse.
Ah but you're the shrewd one aren't you! Yes, the title of this piece is very important... but I can't say much more
And as for fate (and me) being kind to Rathe...
Loved to see Darius again; if only as a ghost. Even though I guess Kynareth is playing a bit of a game with Rathe choosing Darius as her Messenger as I assume she is Aware of the past little rivalery between those two.
Great detail to learn that Rathe purchased new blades instead of his usual Katanas; which seems to be the right choice to me. After all those Blades have basically as much blood on them as his Hands do and therefore it would be odd if he would redeem himself with those in my opinion.
Once again he is facing slave-traders; but this time under quite different circumstances - and for a Change he is in time - has to feel good; I assume.. but knowing you I already fear that his luck won't last very Long. Maybe something with Erikur goes wrong? maybe he oversteps his "boundaries" with going after Erikur since Darius told him it is not in his limitations to decide upon whom he will deal justice...
Looking Forward to the next part; and hoping there will be some more of those shortstories .. or maybe a new book? "Rathe Decanius - Book IV - Path to Redemption - Chapter XX" (yes, two X .. because at least 10 parts
Very well done two chapters; and some great shots.
You're too right about his blades. Those twin kata as are very much a part of Rathe, but they were used to spill so much innocent blood I couldn't have him keep on using them on his path of redemption. So new blades it is, though not sure if those ones are the ones he'll stick with.
Yep, Rathe and slave traders. They seem to go hand in hand. Like superman and lex Luthor. But yes, things probably won't go too smoothly in part iii, it is titled 'things are not always what they seem'
As for a big book... sigh. I'd love to but I don't know if I have the energy. For now, I'm just happy spending some time with broody and other time with my other broody fella (Geralt of Rivia)!