I assure you, the poetry was not easy to write. But it needed to be there, both for general flavor and because it's a part of Ilgamuth's character, so I gritted my teeth and slogged through it.
I created the unnamed Tolkheera initially just because temples aren't abandoned spaces and somebody logically had to greet Rabadash's group and tell them where to go, but I figured as long as she was there, I might as well use her for foreshadowing. And yeah, Rabadash's attitude toward the gods is a continuing problem -- as seen both in "Out of Season" and, obviously, HHB. (Just because a god is a foreign god and an enemy of your country doesn't mean you shouldn't treat him with respect and caution. Otherwise, donkey time. *wry*)
I am thinking of bringing back Zubidah Tarkheena and her family in the planned sequel to "Out of Season," partly because she's awesome, and partly because I think I made an offhand comment in "Out of Season" about Rachegra and Drinachlala still arguing with Tashbaan about tax rates over a decade later. It seems like a useful political problem to throw at Ilgamuth, Shezan, and Rabadash to solve without a war.
Shezan can get away with some behavior toward Rabadash that nobody else can, partly because they grew up together, and partly because they are NOT blood related and her family's position depends on his, so she is one of the few people he trusts absolutely not to stab him in the back, either literally or metaphorically. (And also because she doesn't presume too frequently or heavily on that privilege.)
Yeah, Ilgamuth is very conflicted about Rabadash and his life choices during this story, and continues being conflicted all the way through "Out of Season" as well. One of the plot threads in my eventual planned sequel is facing that conflict head-on and trying to resolve some of it after the changes caused by the Battle of Anvard and its fallout.
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I assure you, the poetry was not easy to write. But it needed to be there, both for general flavor and because it's a part of Ilgamuth's character, so I gritted my teeth and slogged through it.
I created the unnamed Tolkheera initially just because temples aren't abandoned spaces and somebody logically had to greet Rabadash's group and tell them where to go, but I figured as long as she was there, I might as well use her for foreshadowing. And yeah, Rabadash's attitude toward the gods is a continuing problem -- as seen both in "Out of Season" and, obviously, HHB. (Just because a god is a foreign god and an enemy of your country doesn't mean you shouldn't treat him with respect and caution. Otherwise, donkey time. *wry*)
I am thinking of bringing back Zubidah Tarkheena and her family in the planned sequel to "Out of Season," partly because she's awesome, and partly because I think I made an offhand comment in "Out of Season" about Rachegra and Drinachlala still arguing with Tashbaan about tax rates over a decade later. It seems like a useful political problem to throw at Ilgamuth, Shezan, and Rabadash to solve without a war.
Shezan can get away with some behavior toward Rabadash that nobody else can, partly because they grew up together, and partly because they are NOT blood related and her family's position depends on his, so she is one of the few people he trusts absolutely not to stab him in the back, either literally or metaphorically. (And also because she doesn't presume too frequently or heavily on that privilege.)
Yeah, Ilgamuth is very conflicted about Rabadash and his life choices during this story, and continues being conflicted all the way through "Out of Season" as well. One of the plot threads in my eventual planned sequel is facing that conflict head-on and trying to resolve some of it after the changes caused by the Battle of Anvard and its fallout.