Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors (click the logo above for links to other participants) and Snippet Sunday (click the logo below.) I am still posting from the beginning of Rescue Operation, and this is a direct follow-on from last week. Roi is the first speaker.
Source: Hubblesite.org
“Oh, no,” he gasped aloud. “He can’t be that stupid. The Council can’t be. Is he trying to start a revolution?”
Lelani, the oldest of his three wives, hardly lifted her wrinkled face from the wire and beads that would become a new hair ornament, but Keishala turned toward him, lowering the musical score she had been studying. “Roi,” she said, “it can’t be that bad. You’ve only been gone for a month. And Zhaim’s competent enough, even if you don’t like him.”
But none of them except Roi know yet what Zhaim has done.
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Another great snippet, Sue!
Glad you like it.
Oh the villainy he could achieve in a month!
I wonder if you need the word aloud with gasped. It’s pretty hard not to gasp aloud : ) But there is more tension with the word there, so maybe leave it alone…
Since a lot of communication in this world (including with the computer) is mental, I used the word to emphasize that he is so startled he reacts physically.
She’s right: Zhaim is competent. And evil.
If Zhaim is stupid, he’s stupid like a fox—I’m trying to figure out his endgame. Is hurting Roi the point or just a plus?
Zhaim simply does not recognize any tie to human beings–he tends to look on Humans as many humans do on animals. They exist only for the convenience of R’il’noids, and must be controlled by them.
What a world-so unworldly! Wonderful snippet. Love his wives-so well described and clever.
I have a back history and age for each.
Zhaim is so evil! I do hope he gets it in the end. Enjoyed the snippet.
In the end–but it’ll take a couple of books.
That Roi! Three wives. I don’t think they understand what can happen in a few days.
This is a culture based on individuals with very different life spans. Roi knows his wives will die while he goes on, and it’s easier for him to overlap them.
Great characters and dialogue!
The third wife will chime in next week.
Well, he is plenty competent, that’s true. And since none of them know Zhaim has figured a work-around to allow him to be evil again, her skepticism makes sense.
Still makes me want to grab them and shake them. Never, ever trust the evil people! They will figure out a way to do bad things, no matter how you try to stop them!
From his POV he’s not evil,just putting the interests of R’il’noids first.
Another great snippet! I love getting another piece of the puzzle and seeing how the characters fit together.
Some new characters this time.
Well, yeah, I think he’s trying to start a revolution. Hard to believe it of a brother, on the other hand, believing might mean staying alive.
He’s confident the Confederation can hold trouble down.
Zhaim has so many people fooled, so well…which bodes ill for all of them. Wake up, Roi!!! Another excellent excerpt, you’ve got me trying to tell your characters to watch out!
Roi’s problem is that he’s the ONLY one who doesn’t trust Zhaim–everyone he trusts think he’s being paranoid.
Liking the little flairs of culture and world building that you’re putting in there (the beaded hair ornament, the eldest wife, etc).
Good eight.
All of Roi’s wives have outside interests and careers, but Lelani is over 70 and crafting is about all she has left.
Since 2 of his 3 wives seem to have such different reactions, I’m curious how wives are chosen. I think Roi knows to be rightfully suspicious of his brother. Good world building.
Would you believe love?
Roi’s smart enough to know that one month leaves Zhaim a lot of time to do unsavory stuff, I think. His wives mean well but I’m guessing they don’t know Zhaim the way Roi does. Am very interested to see where this goes.
Right.
Incredibly visual snippet, Sue Ann. That Zhaim is a bad one. And he’s got some people fooled.
Most people, unfortunately.
Intriguing. I’m going to have to spend some time backtracking through snippets I missed before getting involved with the group.
The “Index” tab on the home page will help you find them.
Sounds like it’s going to be tough for Roi to counter Zhaim’s move. Everyone seems to believe his benign.
Problem is really the core who believe as Zhaim does: that R’il’nians have a right to control Humans. But they won’t come out and say that’s why they’re blockng Roi.
Three wives definitely caught my attention. Great world building!
Part of building a society that combines the R’il’nian viewpoint and biology (indefinite life span, female fertility roughly once a century, never two children immature at once, immoral for a woman to have two children by the same man) with Human norms (children at intervals which requires more than one dependant child at once, prejudice against a man helping rear children who are not biologically his.) Complicated in Roi’s case in that he has a gene that bars him from siring biological children.
I’m not sure Zhaim is competent enough. I would say he is not. I would say he is trying to get Roy out of the way for his own purpose and everything is going to finish really badly if nobody stop him. Roy is so alone on this it’s scary.
He’s very competent at getting things done that he thinks are right. He’s not very good at looking at how his actions will play out in the distant future–Roi has him beat by a country mile there.
Looks like the penny is beginning to drop;). Love the description.
It has for Roi, anyway.
Great snippet. I love the responses. And “It can’t be that bad” usually means it’s even worse. Love it!
Lelani’s getting a little senile and Keishala’s more interested in fashion and music, but the third wife is yet to be heard from.