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| Family Matters by Lindelea | 2 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| PSW | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 4/25/2025 |
| Oh - I meant to add. In chapter one it says Ferdi is the Thain’s special assistant, and in chapter two it says he’s still the head of the Thain’s escort. Or is he both…? Thx as always for writing, it’s good to get some follow up on this unfortunate adventure! Author Reply: Excellent catch! I didn't notice the discrepancy because of the time frame I'm writing in. If you're interested, the following background information explains how he's both. (However, it's too cumbersome to insert into the story, I think, so I'm going to change the mention in chapter 2.) In Greening Ferdi is still technically the head of escort. However, he was injured while riding Pippin's Socks in the annual Tookland pony races a month before the Lithedays' Fair in Michel Delving. The injury to his bow arm means he can shoot accurately for a limited period of time but doesn't have the stamina to shoot over a sustained period. The head of escort position is, by tradition, offered to the Took or Tooklander who comes closest to winning the archery tournament in the autumn. Ironically, it's a highly prestigious position. Maybe the powers that be (i.e. the Steward is in charge of the escort) trick people into serving on the escort by that means? Because, despite having the admiration of almost all the Shire-folk, the escorts are too likely to find that the job itself is certainly thankless. Thus, the winner of this autumn's Tournament will officially assume the position of Head. Better yet, now that the Treasury has been recovered, the job pays well – two or three times what a hunter might earn, probably. While the Treasury was still lost, everyone's wages were low, and the big reward for serving as an elite guard of sorts was in the form of prestige. Anyhow, in a nutshell... After Ferdi's injury, Pippin (knowing he could no longer work as an archer) created the position of "special assistant" for him. It's not just a sinecure; Ferdi's eidetic memory (remembering everything he hears) is an invaluable tool for an easily-distracted Thain. So during Greening and the immediate aftermath, he's still nominally the head of escort, but he's serving as the Thain's special assistant. But I had probably better change the mention in chapter 2 to avoid confusion, as I started out saying. Thanks for noticing that! Author Reply: Oops. I should have looked before I leaped. I see the matter is explained in chapter 2, so I will go back and adjust chapter 1 as needed: ...said Ferdi, head of the Thain’s escort – at least until the annual archery tournament should take place later in the summer. This year, Tolly was favoured to win, due to Ferdi’s recent fall while racing, resulting in injuries that threatened to permanently affect his shooting. Author Reply: And you were right! There was an error in chapter 1, where I mistakenly called Tolly the head of escort – which he won't be until after the autumn Tournament, which happens after this aftermath to the Greening story but before he goes missing in the North Farthing, which is the crux of this story. (I think I mean "crux"; it's been a long day and my brain is getting tired.) It's all fixed now, and thank you again for providing a second set of eyes! | |
| PSW | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 4/25/2025 |
| Can’t say too loud he’s exhausted, have to fend off gossip … this escort business is a rough gig! Glad they’re both home though and able to offer some reassurance (vicariously, on Tolly’s part) to their loved ones. Author Reply: The gossip of the Tooks is probably their worst character flaw in the way I write the Shire. Having seen the destructiveness of gossip IRL, I wouldn't be inclined to say the portrayal of the Tooks' gossip in my stories is exaggerated. Thanks for reading and pausing to share your thoughts! | |