Here we are—Aerwiar!—at the end of On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness. I have loved reading with you all these last two months, and knowing that we've still got three books to go makes me gladder than glad. Thank you all for chiming in with your favorite quotes, and for your wonderful input in the forums. We've had some great discussion, and I'm looking forward to more questions, more speculation, more fun, more heart-responses, and more friendship-building as we continue.Picking a favorite excerpt each week can be tricky. This week, selecting from chapters 45-51, I had to pick between the scene that made me cry (but is pretty spoiler-heavy) and the scene that made me bounce in my seat and cheer. I'm going with the latter. (But for the record, the scene that made me cry is in the last chapter.)Thanks for reading, everyone.
“We’ll tell you all about it tonight,” Podo said, turning toward the road, “once we find a safe place to rest.” The old man tossed the bundle over his shoulder and took a deep, glad breath of salty air. “Follow old Podo!” he then roared with gusto, and marched off in a southwesterly direction, away from the forest.“Papa,” Nia said.“Eh?” Podo said, stopping several paces away.“I think we should go to Peet’s tree house. He has food and—”“Food?” Tink said.Peet the Sock Man perked up and looked at Nia with a twinkle of hope in his eyes.“We ain’t goin’ there,” Podo said, his bushy eyebrows bunched together. “We’re heading to Torrboro then up the North Road until we find safe passage to the Ice Prairies.” He whipped his head around and set out again, but Nia didn’t move. Podo turned again, his face red. “Come on, I say!”“No.” Nia’s back straightened.“What?” Podo took a step back toward his daughter.“I said no.” Nia took a step forward. “You’ve held on to your anger long enough, Papa, and now that anger is becoming a burden you no longer bear alone. It’s causing us to suffer with you—you stubborn old fool.”Podo was dumbfounded.“Peet saved all of our lives,” Nia said, “yours most recently. You may feel fine now, but not half an hour ago death was lapping at your toes. And do you know who you should be thanking for the breath in your lungs?”Peet was backing away sheepishly, but Nia grabbed his arm and pulled him forward. “This man,” she said. “He’s got provisions and shelter in the forest, where no Fang will want to venture for a long time after what happened here. Now I love you, Papa, but I’m the mother of these children, and I’ve a mind to put food in their bellies and pillows under their heads. We’re going to Peet’s tree house and that’s final.”Combined looks of bewilderment, embarrassment, and anger flashed over Podo’s face. Janner wanted to laugh. Podo sputtered and formed the beginnings of words with his mouth but came up with nothing to say.“Peet, lead the way,” Nia said.—From chapter 47, "Old Wounds."
What passage did you love best from your reading this week? Or, what was your favorite moment in the whole book? Post it in the comments!This coming week is Holy Week—the traditional time to reflect on the days leading up to Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. We'll take a break from reading and start North! Or Be Eaten on April 6. No fear, though; we'll still be here during the break. Be sure to come by throughout the week for forum discussion and a few Holy Week posts.