Hmm, I kind of guessed Racqkiel wouldn't be too happy with the whole Araway summoning thing. Poor guy. Well, at least he's got Hamora backing him up.
Oh, I like the Shade. and his parting words were just great. I can't wait to see more of him. I eagerly await your next chapter!

Oh, sorry it's been awhile I know. Combination of really busy and really lazy on my end. I apologize, and I'll get caught up, never you fear!
First off, I like the feathery references in the descriptions. Very neat imagery. I had a feeling Raqkiel was not quite human for a while, and now I can't wait for her full story. Something about sad sibling stories just gets me too, so now I really need to read more :)
I'm glad somebody told Araway he was smitten :) I've been waiting for that moment, as well as the moment he stops denying it.
Anyways, I'll be reading more!

Hmm, as this is a somewhat side chapter, I won't feel so bad about sending snide side comments in reply to that you have put on your main page XD.

If you absolutely *insist* I must keep you in check with your writing in addition to the usual load I already do, I will. But I am sure it will take double the effort. Hmph.
(That was just a frivolous cat gesture. Ignore.)

Oh, my sadistic glee is usually partaken by kidnapping little children, filling their brains up with explosive stuffing, and then releasing them into the world to see what brilliant havoc they will have on the adult stage, but lets ignore that, shall we? You are far too lovely a person for me to be gleeful about in the conventional cat way XD.

Rant, rant, rant. These things do take a lot of space, I hope.

Onto the actual chapter itself...

I like how the chapter ends with a very well-crafted finality, but you knwo that already as I've already fulfilled my rant-quota elsewheres XD.
I still ascertain that Racqkiel is precious, although her actions in this chapter made me a bit annoyed o_o. She does need to be hit sometimes...
Oh, and thanks for getting Elden back! The scene in which Racqkiel and Elden dance must be one of the most ironic, touching, and altogether lovely moments in EoB as yet.

You know I love your writing. Even though you fumble sometimes with the actual mechanics of the craft, your world is so tangible, vivid and *real* that I fall in love with it inevitably :3. Reality is scarce in writings nowadays, and when it is portrayed, people portray it in the way they think it is, rather than what it actually is- that is, unpredictable, surreal and altogether improbable o_o. Seeing a world that is real in a person is a rare thing. You're a treasure house indeed, falcon friend XD. Racqkiel is also biting at my heart. She is so adorable! (I don't think this is a shared opinion. I have a strange view of what is adorable o_o)

Err, I think you already gathered I'm not being constructive XD I think you will find that in my edits themselves. Erm.

I hope I have poured enough praise on your (somewhat bleak) pedesteral of a fiction press site. I did really mean every word XD.

Keep alive, shadow friend. I fear this is becoming a letter in of itself...

‘She faced him with dazed, empty eyes as the flame flared on the twisted wick with. Step by step, she approached him.’ – this was quite sinister, made her seem almost like a zombie, but then I suppose she has been sort of prevented when dying.

What’s the significance of the red feathers if they are in the candle and Racqkiel is covered with them when she goes to Hamora with her sister? Have I got that right? I didn’t have time to re read and check.

‘because we are no longer entwined with her fate. I believe it is time we returned to ours,” she said in a gentle tone. – like the idea of that. It was interesting to see Elden again, as I wasn’t expecting too. I was also surprised to see the Shade with Brothrein, I feel like the plot is thickening again.

Glad I’ve caught up though.

– like the description of eating a petal. Never thought it would be like that, but it made sense.

Breathing had become so difficult, it was as if her muscles had forgotten their duty and was doing nothing more than carrying unwanted weight upon her chest. -like this way of thinking of it.

The idea of the summon is an intriguing one – I get the feeling it’s going to have to be done at a certain time otherwise Racqkiel will just ignore it.

Love the idea of the scar by the way, and the fact that it means people can’t recognise them properly.

Feeling sorry for Araway at the moment.

The whole first paragraph was interesting and confusing – the sort of confusing that makes you think it will be explained later though. The bit at the end about wanting to see Vyre was a nice twist. I was expecting them to have something to do with Racqkiel, but not in that way. I like the way you described Promise as well. I got a real sense of what she looked like.
‘demon who had previously snapped his bow in two before – don’t need previously and before’….
It’s nice to get to see the softer side of Racqkiel. Feel like I had some questions answered this time as well.

The name Drows sounds very Tolkein – Actually so does the fact that the centaur calls Racqkiel precious one. The more we get into the magical aspects of the story the more interesting it gets. It seems like a lot of thought has gone into it, and at the moment it all seems really complex (what exactly Racqkiel is, the Drows are, what the binding is.)

Wow, Araway got interesting. I feel like there is so much going on here. Can’t wiat to see how it all pans out and whether it all connects up at the end. There must be a reason for Araway’s fae background?

Liked the butterflies and the way they interact with the characters – almost like the mist or the swamp has a consciousness.

Aargh! Another cliff hanger. Every time I read a chapter I think I am going to find out what is going on, but end up with more questions!

Quite glad Racqkiel sorted out Lyette: it was the verbal equivalent of a slap in the face. The reaction of Ararway and Soril was quite amusing as well, rather like amused school boys.

It’s interesting that Racqkiel makes her voice go all raspy when she is in disguise. Does she put it on, or is it just something to do with what she is? I’m presuming she is a ‘what’ as well as a ‘who’ because she seems a bit otherwordly.

"We are here to collect dried wood. If it can be done quietly, I'd appreciate it." – This made me laugh, I could imagine it just sounding so sarcastic in my head.

"Was it wrong when you men kill?" – Kind of understand, but it sounds a bit confusing. Is she saying men generally? Or referring to a particular instance.

Liked the lullaby, it was nostalgic somehow, and very haunting

"Anyone home? I need help, please!" – Interesting that these are the first things he says, it reinforces that he has been away so long he is not sure who to find there. You seem to be good at putting in bits like this!
I also liked the cryptic conversation between Araway and Racqkiel. She is almost indecently independent, but it made me interested to know more about her.
Good cliff hanger as well. Does Lyette have a crush on Araway – something tells me that may not end well. Sorry, I seem to be too absorbed in the story at the moment to be constructive.

Sorry, this will be a bit rushed cos I'm at work!

There were some really good bits in here. I' liked the bit where he said that he wasn't a knight in shining armour, and his fortune fled at the sight of damsels. That was clever and funny!
I also liked the bit where Araway approached 'the corpse' with caution. I don't know why but it made the whol ething more real and belivable - I think becasue you contrasted it to how he feels when he kills people. It just gave the situation/character move depth and I felt it showed that you'd thought about it!

The sentance at the beginning: 'mountain passes that spit their inhabitation in most inconvenient ways' I got what you meant, but I'm not sure you've phrased it right. spit should be split maybe, and in habitation should just be habitation. Not sure.
There were a couple of other typos I think I spotted, soif you want me to see if I can find them again I will.

I think the character of the girl shows promise. It feels like she has lots going on, and I'll be intrigued to find out more about her. Sounds like she could be fun to write - and read about.

Sorry, that was all much longer than I intended! Also apologiges if I've waffled.

Your description is very detailed, and you paint really vivid pictures. I finished reading this with black and red very strongly in my mind. I especially liked the bit at the beginning with the bard. I did find myself getting lost in the description towards the end though and it detracted a bit from the story.

Tharigan is a very chilling character. I liked the way he seemed so emotionally detached from everything. In contrast I felt sympathy for the assassin – despite the fact he has massacred a large part of the army!

I’m interested by the idea of the red sword and what it has done to Tharigan. I’ll try and make time to read more…

I'm a little confused. Serisel was the person in the beginning, wasn't she? And so she was executed, and there's this other Shade who's running free?

Other than that, this is quite a...graceful chapter. In the sense that everything appears so artistically worded, if you get what I mean.

Anyway, Racqkiel is looking to be hard to win over; wonder how you're going to handle that haha. She must have passed out at least three times in this whole chapter!

Interesting 'middle' chapter, as you've said yourself; it sets the stage nicely for the action to begin heh.

Nice work!

Hot.

The kiss I mean.

Yes, Araway

Even though it's been awhile since I've been on Fictionpress, I've definitely not forgotten this story. I'm loving it! It's this kind of story that keeps me coming back for more. So, I hope to see more from you soon :)

~Carm~