[Discussion] Chapter 1

My first chapter. Wrote it almost a week ago, last Thursday. Halfway through the chapter, I got the idea for the ending and something that would happen several chapters laters. I didn't know how many pages and chapters it'll take, but rest assured, it will be there. I think of this chapter like the first time I played a videogame; it was hard at first, but quickly I became better at it just by playing. The following chapters are much more descriptive and, in my opinion, better.

Since this was such a short chapter, I don't have much to talk about it. Two of my friends have read this chapter and the other didn't get the ending. Both of them had trouble understanding the sitting order at the table, which makes it harder to imagine the scene. That is entirely my fault though, since I never described the setting. I did it on purpose though; I assumed everyone knows that the king usually sits on the head of the table, which is just one of those things the reader has to know or guess to get a better image of scene. I know, I know, I can't assume everybody knows that, but that's one of the reasons I wanted to create these discussion posts. 

I intend to use these discussion posts as a tool of clearing things up without revealing too much.

The following chapters will have more and more details and some are very easy to forget. I'm not forcing the details in there, I just happen to write something and then sort of pick it up and go along. For example, this was the sentence that decided the ending for this chapter:

"Even though he found the new king stupid and arrogant, a risk to the safety of their people, he knew that the king could have his head on display the next morning for the joy of crows, just by pointing his finger."

Shortly after I wrote it, many events in the following chapters took form. This is how the story has progressed so far and I intend to keep it that way.

That's about all of the relevant things I wanted to discuss for chapter one, so I'll go ahead and publish the next chapter.

Chapter 1: Headhunter

“Among others, this would be a man of mystery. Even the raven spies know next to nothing about him. However, he is commonly referred to as -” -“Cut the bullshit!”, the king disrupted the old counselor. He took hold of his cane and put his weight on it to get up. Slowly, he limped along the side of the large table they were sitting at and stopped on the opposite side of the counselor's seat. Hate and disgust reeked in the air, mixed with the smell of decaying wounds on the king's right side and leg. The setting was very uncomfortable, silent and threatening. The king grabbed the chair in front of him and pulled it aside. Leaning across the table with both hands, the other still holding the cane in a closed fist and the left decorated with glistening gold and silver rings. -“I want to know if he’s any good.”

The old counselor swallowed and took his time to answer. Even though he found the new king stupid and arrogant, a risk to the safety of their people, he knew that the king could have his head on display the next morning for the joy of crows, just by pointing his finger. The king himself had made this a sign that every village guard knew and the people also. Since then, pointing someone became an insult like spitting on ones face. -”Well...”, the counselor began. “The songs say he never came back without a head.” The wooden table squeaked as the king leaned further. - ”And how do you get a hold of him?”, he queried. The counselor looked at the king straight in his eyes. The tension between them was unexplainable. Neither of them liked each other, still the counselor stayed true to his devotion to the king, even one so unjust. -”I’ve only heard tales...” Again, someone broke the moments silence, “And the tales are true.” A young woman came forth from the shadows behind the hall pillars. “He needs to be summoned. But it costs.”, She continued as she walked closer to the table, down the four-step stairs and stopped where the guards wouldn’t let her pass. The leather garments of the king creaked as he turned to the woman. -”How much?” The king was now off the table and leaning on his cane with both hands. The woman grabbed the crossed spears of the guards and pulled them wider so she could fit her head through them. Her voice was almost like a whisper, but still loud as any other. She answered, “One head” and pulled the spears tight against her neck. The king looked at her for a moment, then looked back at the counselor with questioning eyes. The old counselor shook his head and lifted his shoulders, like he wouldn’t know. The king lifted off his cane and straightened his back, “Bring him to me woman...”. He began limping away from the table. Before he took the first step on the stairs, he stated that the meeting was over. Finally when he climbed the four steps and before vanishing to the shadows, he turned slightly, and without looking, pointed his finger back.