Always interesting to learn something new about yourself, hey?
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/moelane/frozen-dreams-a-novel
Tabetha discovered something that night; she didn’t much care for killing men. Even when they were no-account slaver trash with bad teeth and hard eyes like the one she was killing now. When her sword was in his gut and her other hand was squeezing his throat shut, those eyes got real wide and pleading, fast. Like if she’d only stop right there and pull out the sword, maybe everything could get fixed because it was all just a big misunderstanding, right? The fellow got that, now. She didn’t have to keep going.
But Tabetha kept going until the eyes got glassy and fixed; and when she pulled out the sword she made sure to slit the dead man’s throat anyway. She didn’t like killing, sure. But she’d already had to do a lot of unhappy things in her life, and they didn’t get any easier to do if you flinched.
Dallin had an easier time of it, maybe because in some ways this was more personal for him. He knew these men. Hell, if Rex hadn’t come by Dallin would have ended up one of these men. That made him a little more enthusiastic about the job of sentry removal. At least, the outer line of sentries. The ones on the wall were still there. Hopefully, they were just as dumb as these were.
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Okay, I don’t want to jostle your shoulder or anything, Moe. I’m looking forward to reading more about Rex.
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I do want to know one thing, though.
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Who hung the name “fang-blade” on the guy?
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I *get* it .. being one of your Patreons has it’s privileges (and if you’re not, *sign up!*) but .. it hits the ear a little .. off.
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I think it’s because fangs are always stabby, but more blades are slashy than stabby.. so it sounds like a mixed metaphor. Fang-rapier would be more appropriate but is not better .. fang-tuck requires a knowledge of French sword-making history, fang-koncerz implies a similar Germanic background.
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While early basket-guard swords were often stabby weapons, Fang-Saber would be … even worse, since most folks will go to the cavalry usage – i.e. riding down and slashing unmounted foes.
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I’ll take Fang-blade – especially if you let Rex keep telling you stories .. I’d just like a bit more .. stabby in the second appellation .. or an exposition that explains Rex is no mere spear.
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Mew
I dunno, man: I was just looking for something that sounded both snaky and swordy. 🙂 You got a better two-syllable name, lay it on me.
Moe,
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I first must offer an apology as I’ve likely made a bad day worse. Not my intent, but still, a result that requires I apologize.
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Rex stays, obviously .. the dual meaning as name and as job title is well chosen.
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Snakes .. most of the attributes are polysyllabic .. could maybe make asp work although the connotations may not fit. Wyrm could also work, with the benefit of linking to dragons .. or greater-serpents .. without naming any names.
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Swords .. again, most types are polysyllabic .. exceptions include the word sword itself .. and specific regional sword types, like saif (arabic) or dao and jian (chinese) .. which need way too much exposition.
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Even going with shorter bladed stability weapons, they’re either too long (stiletto, tanto) or sound stupid in combination with asp or fang (dirk, punch) .. (Rex the Asp-Punch? )
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I find that I must end as I began, Moe, with another apology .. for wasting your time. I can do no better.
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Mew
No, you did not make the day worse. Feedback is good! I don’t have to pay for feedback! 🙂