Pawns and Queens--Dramatis Personae

[Evie]

Lord, those Morgans are gorgeous! Josc makes even my old heart race.

I think the queue starts behind Jerusha, unless you want to duel her for him. 

[DerynifanK]

He's definitely worth dueling for

[Shiral]

Oh good, glad to see the House of Morgan in it's 15th century iteration.

[Evie]

Oh good, glad to see the House of Morgan in it's 15th century iteration.

I couldn't let you rabid Morgan fanbabes down. 

I also have a couple of McLain descendants in this story, but they won't appear until much later. (I don't really count Noella, Countess of Kierney, since she married into the family.)

[DerynifanK]

You definitely needed to have McLain descendents although they come through Dhugal so would be McArdry-Mclains. Alaric's genes definitely are going strong so hope Duncan's are too. After all, how many women hoped they could inspire him to leave the priesthood and marry them?

[Evie]

You definitely needed to have McLain descendents although they come through Dhugal so would be McArdry-Mclains. Alaric's genes definitely are going strong so hope Duncan's are too. After all, how many women hoped they could inspire him to leave the priesthood and marry them?

Yes and no, re: them being MacArdry-McLains. Yes, they are of that bloodline due to their descent from Dhugal, and so is the current Earl of Transha. However, remember that Transha practices tanistry rather than primogeniture, so the firstborn son of the Earl is not necessarily the heir unless the clan also confirms him as heir. In my story AU, Dhugal's duchy and the earldom of Kierney will pass down through Duncan Michael and his firstborn son, but Transha will end up selecting Jared, Dhugal's second son, as their tanist, so future MacArdry clan chiefs are descended from Dhugal through Jared rather than through Duncan Michael. (In theory, if some future generation ends up not having a descendant of Jared who the clan thinks is suitable to be heir, they could select a different clan chief. In practice, though, I imagine they wouldn't pick someone else unless the direct descendant heir is a complete disaster or mentally incapable of leading the clan, to avoid the potential conflict with the Crown that might arise if the first-born son of some future MacArdry became Earl and the clan went "Nope, we're not following that walking disaster!" and selected someone else as clan chief instead.)

So in Dhugal's generation and maybe one or two afterwards, I can see them being styled as "MacArdry-McLains," but I suspect once the lines of descent branch off from each other far enough, they might quietly drop the hyphenated form and go back to being separate McLain and MacArdry houses, though with a stronger bond remaining between the two clans due to their shared history.

[revanne]

I think it's very likely that the two lines would become distinct as you suggest Evie. Transha is proud of its border independence and I can readily see how there would be realistic fears that the Earldom of Transha would simply become a subsidiary title of the Dukes of Cassan if the same person held the title for succeeding generations. And it is hard to see how Dukes of Cassan could give particular time and attention to Transha without breeding resentment elsewhere in the Duchy. 

[DerynifanK]

I was looking at the pictures again and I thought Catalina's duenna would be somewhat older and not quite so attractive. I guess I was seeing her as a fussy middle aged lady. Don't know why. She is quite the worrier. Hope she adjusts.

[Evie]

I was looking at the pictures again and I thought Catalina's duenna would be somewhat older and not quite so attractive. I guess I was seeing her as a fussy middle aged lady. Don't know why. She is quite the worrier. Hope she adjusts.

Yes, she is much younger than she acts. Lady Amina would only be in her middle to late 20s but acts like she could be twice that age. There are some backstory reasons for at least some of her overly serious and fussy personality that don't really come out in this story, but might end up being revealed in some other story if/when I ever decide to write one that has a role for Amina in it and would allow for those sorts of revelations. But a lot of it is also rooted in some deep insecurity and a need to be needed, and as her "preciosa" becomes more independent and needs her less over time, that could have an interesting effect down the road. A modern day therapist might say she has a lot of codependent tendencies.

[Evie]

Chapter Eight addition: Jouvian Healer.

[DerynifanK]

I feel so sorry for the healer. I know there are both good and bad Deryni as there are of other races. But I think Remy is an example of the worst kind. Dare I hope something really bad happens to him in the course of the story?

[Evie]

I feel so sorry for the healer. I know there are both good and bad Deryni as there are of other races. But I think Remy is an example of the worst kind. Dare I hope something really bad happens to him in the course of the story?

One can always hope. 

[DerynifanK]

I read the scene with the healer again. I know I said I wanted something really bad to happen to Remy, I cannot seem to think of anything horrible enough for him. I hope your imagination has come up with something. I couldn't stand it if he gets away with his horrible behavior.

[Evie]

So, you know how sometimes there's a guy you know is a villain, but he has at least one or two traits that are kind of admirable, or at least one or two motivations that you can find at least a tiny bit relatable, so even though you know that guy isn't someone you'd want to emulate, you can't help but feel a little bit of sympathy for him nonetheless?

Yeah, Rémy is not that guy. 

[DerynifanK]

Poor Cecile. Wish there was some way to rescue her from her fate.