WIP Wednesday - PK 35 and more Prequel!

This week for WIP Wednesday: another sneak peek of the PK Prequel, and a preview of this week's upcoming chapter of Book 3.

First, a bit of the Prequel in which Char shows us the Judge's little-known larval stage.

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Arik
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She looks back at me as we walk through the doors of the High Court, almost as if she's seeking permission from me to enter. I don't want her in here. She doesn't belong here, with her smiles and laughter and constant flinging of the Law into the winds. I want Rhia back, not this strange new creature--

My stomach lurches again, and my vision wavers.

"Arik... theoni?" At least she's remembered to properly address me this time. I wave a hand at her, warding off any possible attempts to touch me.

I stumble forward, easing myself into my chair. She's brought me to the rooms behind the High Court. The wood and leather surrounding me are their own comfort. She sits in front of me, and I resist the urge to swat at her for being there.

"I belong here as much as you do." I look up in shock at the hard tone of her voice. Her arms are crossed, and the girl is actually glaring down at me from her perch on the table. How is she -- "I can hear you," she finishes for me, her frown turning into a scowl. "I've been able to hear you from the moment of my creation." She blinks, then snorts. "At least you have the decency to feel bad about the way you've been thinking about me, then. Pity it's the guilt of one who has been caught, not the one who acknowledges wrongdoing."

My throat tightens with something between sorrow and shame. It's not a very nice feeling. It's rather like turning inside out. It's almost as if...

... How is it that the Law can feel guilt?

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More of that next week. :3

This week in Peacock King Book 3, we'll be introducing someone new... read on to find out who!

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Gerald
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I will admit, my brother isn't the most suitable person to ask when I'm in need of assistance hauling an eight foot tall half-dragon nearly-possessed man out of a cell. But still, he could put a bit more effort into it. All Lyric does is gingerly start to pick up an ankle and then drop it with an 'eep' at the faintest sign of a twitch from Jhe o'Audiva Rocale. This is almost embarassing. I think at this point a shenanigan might be more help. I sigh. "Lyric, I can't drag him out on my own."

The pout he replies with is almost enough to make me cave. I do kind of understand. Lyric's life is pretty much forfeit if Ebrellin-i wakes up and discovers the state of his hair. Still...

"He keeps starting to open his eyes." Lyric looks away, dropping his hands to his sides. "I'm just no help with this, okay? I can barely stand up on my own inside this cell."

Okay, I do concede that's an issue. "Well who else is going to help? Faun can't touch him until we're in the woods."

There's a far-off sound of a throat clearing, and then a familiar yet not familiar at all voice says, "Perhaps I could be of some assistance?" It has the strangest lilt to it, sort of like Camden's accent but somehow not.

I raise an eyebrow. I wave Lyric out of the cell before I step out, then motion for him to stay back by Faun. I walk slowly down the hall, my gait at ease but my reflexes honed. I can draw in a split-second if I need to.

"Oh, good, you're coming." The voice shows definite relief. Where do I know it from? I know it's familiar, and Bruce and Wagner are perking up at the sound of it, as if they're looking forward to having a specific someone to aim at. Within the next few steps, I am illuminated.

It's Cade. Or the man that was left behind after Cade was tried. I was told that he's not being held here as a prisoner, but for his own safety. And, well, it's obvious that no one knows what to do with him right now, and everyone's too busy to figure it out.

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Just where will this new (yet sort of not) character bring Peacock King's story? You'll find out Friday!