Another episode of Man Raised by Spiders, the coming-of-age story of Valentine Shelawn. There’s a sudden ruckus. Four Drow guards enter, and in a swift, businesslike fashion, they cut the bonds holding Valykria and Valentine together and hogtie them both to poles. They hoist Valentine and take him away, leaving Valykria bound and alone in […]
Another episode of Man Raised by Spiders, the coming-of-age story of Valentine Shelawn. Valentine wakes up in darkness. He’s lying on his side. His head aches from the knockout blow, but he’s otherwise unhurt. Valykria is next to him, still unconscious. They’re face-to-face, navel to navel. As he tries to pull away, he realizes that […]
Sleet begins to fall as they approach Hill #81 two days later, and the storm brings dusk early. Their hands are cramped and frozen in their gloves, and they can see their horses’ breath as they pick their way over a trackless jumble of bare limestone and thorny brush. Cave air wells up from cracks […]
Another episode of Man Raised by Spiders, the coming-of-age story of Valentine Shelawn. Their plan is simple. Valentine and Aramil had already arranged to leave well before daybreak. Once they reach Amakir, they’ll park Valykria at a respectable inn on the outskirts of the city for a long luncheon. Valentine will plead urgent personal business […]
Another episode of Man Raised by Spiders, the coming-of-age story of Valentine Shelawn. Valentine wakes up early the following day, long before breakfast is served even in a country house. He springs up, washes his face and hands, dresses, and resolves to explore the grounds until the rest of the household is up and about. […]
Another episode of Man Raised by Spiders, the coming-of-age story of Valentine Shelawn. The next few days of travel are uneventful. Though Aramil tries to take an interest in his surroundings, he’s subdued and sad as he reflects on the consequences of his actions. Valentine, on the other hand, is profoundly relieved to be freed […]
Another episode of Man Raised by Spiders, the coming-of-age story of Valentine Shelawn. The sun does rise, as expected. Valentine wakes up just before dawn to a sense of quiet, animal satisfaction. The ground is unpleasantly hard and imperfectly cleared; it’s cold and a stiff breeze has kicked up; he’s in dire need of coffee. […]
Another episode of Man Raised by Spiders, the coming-of-age story of Valentine Shelawn. The ceremony of banishment is simple, and quickly done. Marcus, in his role as head of the Shelawn family, leads Aramil to a guard house attached to the city gate. The magistrate is waiting there in full robes and wig, along with […]
Another episode of Man Raised by Spiders, the coming-of-age story of Valentine Shelawn. After a few weeks of negotiation and wrangling, Aramil signs a plea agreement that will result in his being banished. By the time it happens, he’s accepted that it’s his only choice, short of imprisonment or hanging. Though the charges are dire, […]
In the middle of all of this, when the whole family is preoccupied with Aramil’s predicament, Xardic calls Valentine into the library. Valentine’s amused to note that even though he’s a decorated soldier, weapon master, spy, and resident of the townhouse, when he’s summoned to Xardic’s library, he feels like he’s in trouble. No matter […]
