Despite the fact that this chapter was kind of serious, there were parts that made me lol, like Cameron's "manliness". It was interesting to see Avion almost completely lose it and pretty much shove everybody around. That just HAD to be stress-relieving. Who needs an acid trip when you can go through a portal of doom? ^^ I do like this version of Excalibur, 'tis super awesome.

Good job, Plea. ^^

--
Your opponents are in front of you-
your enemies are behind you."
- Gothic(the nomads, not the teenagers) political motto.

I find it interesting that as our society becomes more sexually vocal, we become religiously silent.

Yes, the redesign of Excalibur is quite good...

And I really love how you portrayed Avion in this chapter. His emotions just seem so...real...so...Avion-ish XD

THANK YOU for uploading this tonight, was really looking forward to it!

--
"Sacred Mother of Acceleration be with us..."
~Keighvin Silverhair

"The law of gravity: it doesn't matter whether you're a good person or a bad person, you're going to hit the ground."
~Rev. Dr. Michael Beckwith in "The Secret"

One of the things I love about your writing is that although the main plot is quite serious, you still have bits of humour in the story, like Cameron's "shriek". I can just imagine him running off in the opposite direction XD

image of Cameron screaming like a girl will keep me up nights in fits of tiny amused giggles and titters~.

Quite enjoyable as usual, Plea. :3 It's oddly refreshing to see Avion thrown into intense emotion like he was, and also endearing and kind of heart-clenching to see him so concerned and upset about the safety of his sister (T~T Nimmm~~!). You claimed it's not your best-- eh, I can see why you might think that and certainly understand where you're coming from since I've finished many a short and thought the same thing of myself, but despite your presumed short-comings, you're really plowing forward with this thing and that's all it takes. :3

Also, the hyena-laughter of the chilly critters scratching at the door toward the end creeped me out. |D So consider that an accomplishment if you wish~!
Looking forward to moar whenever you get awn it!

Now that I am finally caught up (man, what an emotional roller-coaster this is)...

Only a few authors have ever kept me on the edge of my seat like you have. I have to tell that's quite an accomplishment, I'm not actually much of a fan of fantasy, but you sure do keep my attention. I'm happy, I'm sad, I'm angry, I'm laughing, I'm...crying (well, almost). And your writing has improved so much, you've really got the hang of the story and of the characters (and what amazingly unique characters they are, too).

Okay, now on to the actual chapter itself:

Stressed Avion really helped bring out his deeper side and gave in intense character. He is quite the conflicted person.
Um...hard to critique, so good. Oswald, though, is quite the enigma. The way he speaks is so different from the way he acts. When I first met him in Oxford, he seemed like a pretty timid guy, but he last few chapters has shown him as a person willing to act, even in stressful situations.
And, of course, another wonderful and well placed twist at the end.

Don't worry, Cameron, I probably would have shrieked too.

I loved the comical moments you put into this. They really eased away some of the trauma I was feeling from seeing all of your awesome characters going crazy. In particular, I liked the part where they denied Oswald a chance to see what Excalibur would change into for himself, the part where Cameron commented about an acid trip, and the part where Cameron shrieked like a little girl. It was all brilliant fun. x3

Your rendition of Excalibur was genius, as is everything you do, it seems. You made it into such an awesome weapon. I love you even more now. ~<3

I couldn't believe how much of a fool Avion was, however. Wanting to test what trust and keeping her word meant to Mab? That's just ridiculous. How naive can you be? >>; I'm actually quite frustrated with him right now. He was acting really weird towards the end of the chapter, too. The whole thing with ripping a whole in the fabric of reality and announcing Excalibur's name like that all seemed a bit unnerving. He's not in his right mind, not at all. I guess it figures that he wouldn't be, seeing as he lost his sister, but still. He should have seen it all coming. He's only getting what he deserves right now.

Yay for Maria finally coming back into the story! x3

XD I definitely needed more comic relief. I realized I was falling into this kind of...light-less pit of despair with a few of these prior chapters. : X <3 Poor Oswald! He's just such a nerd. |D he'd probably break it. And I'm pleased I got you to smile.

> <; -blush- bwah, you flatter me so much. I love you, too, you leave me some of the BEST comments, and I look forward to reading them every time. |D But genius...? psh~. <3 flatterer.

And I know. > <; Avion sometimes overlooks things for the "greater good", or whatever he "views" to be said "greater good". And Avion is losing it a little bit. ; his pupil had his eyesight destroyed, and his sister was taken--not to mention the world as he knows it might, in fact, end--even if it isn't HIS world, per se. <3 : x aww. Does he really deserve it, though?!

I know! XD I missed her, too. <333

-A.C.

--
No matter how subtle the wizard, a knife between his shoulderblades will seriously cramp his style.
-- Vlad Taltos (Writer: Steven Brust)

Yeah, comic relief is one of the things my dad always reminds me is important. You can't be too serious all of the time, or else it'll drive people away. It's good that you've figured that out already.

Heh, thanks. I'm glad you enjoy them. I guess I do get a bit carried away sometimes though. I just really admire what you do and I think I should show it.

Well, I guess I shouldn't be too hard on him. All of them are having a pretty rough time right now.

Yes I love your rendition of Excalibur, Emerune wasn't flattering you when s/he said it was genius.
I admit I seem to be feeling the same amount of frustration toward Avvy as many of the others; for a man that comes off as being, supposedly, 'all-knowing', collected and wise and having a grace in both his speech and movement, he made a pretty stupid and shortsighted mistake...buuut I guess it just holds true that 'the higher up you, the farther down you have to fall' >_>;
I rather liked this piece Plea ^__^ the disorientation of the situation totally came through to the reader nicely, and I thought the end was brilliant XD <3

_{ok this is just me rambling to myself but: Is Cam like descended from Arthur? because I remember something about Avvy and Nim being like Merlin's kids (or something), and something else about them (Avvy and Nim) owing somekind of allegiance to the Bloods, and you've brought in LOTL and Mab and now Excalibur, so my mind is sort of connecting dots (whether or not there are even dots TO connect}

--
"Haven't you ever heard that modesty is an attractive trait?"
"Only from ugly people." Jace confided "The meek may inherit the earth, but at the moment it belongs to the conceited. Like me." -- Clare "City of Bones"