At what age would you make The Drop? Danika and Bryce chose 27 which is of course that mystical death age for some musicians.
What age would you make the drop? Cast your vote and let us know why that age in the comments!
There are those who can shift and those we wish could.
Who do you wish could shift into a beastly *ahem* animal form? Vote and then in the comments, tell us what this form would be!
I'm reading Janny Wurtz's Curse of the Mistwraith (1994) which has a prince who is skilled in music (the lute) and sorcery. He is raised by his high mage grandfather who warns him against accepting the position of heir to the throne, but the prince decides that he has a responsibility to the people, to bring peace to the territory and end the feuding between their rival nation. The high mage says:
>My boy, that is a worthy ambition. But you must not be hasty. Your talents are music and sorcery. Consider these, for you have great potential. A king has not time for such arts. As a man who holds judgment over others, his life belongs wholly to his subjects.
The prince decides to forgo his talents and lead his people: "How can I stay? How can I remain at Rauven studying music and books when my father's people, and mine, must send husbands and sons to kill for bare sustenance? How dare I ignore such need? I might bring Karthan hope of lasting peace."
Five years later, he's reflecting on his decision, realizing that he made an error. In his need for his father's acceptance, he chose his father (the throne) instead of his grandfather (his talents) and now he's paying the price. At his coronation, the high mage issues his final warning:
>
My grandson, you chose responsibility above your inner talents. That is a difficult turning. Win or lose, you give yourself in service to others. Although men might be inspired by a bard or enchanter, they cannot be led by one. The master's mysteries you have learned at Rauven must never be used for political expedience, however pressing the temptation. You must guide your kingdom to the same harmonic balance you once would have striven to find in those gifts you now renounce. The ballad you write, the craft you cast, must henceforth be sought in the land and the hearts of Karthan. Ath bless your efforts.
Reading this has me thinking about Tamlin and how he could have used such a mentor, such kinship. Although he was left without a choice once his brothers and father were slain, he was still an artist and still harnessed enormous powers. He continued to work towards peace, to use his powers for good, to be in harmonic balance with the land and the crown. However, with no guidance, he hadn't learned how to turn his facility for music into a facility for elegant discourse. He saw himself as warrior and artist first and foremost, neither of which requires a silver tongue. And because Tamlin lived under his father's rule and his father's house, he never had the distance required to become his own person.
This, for me, is where the immortality comes to matter in the books. With time, with support, Tamlin would develop into the ruler Prythian needs: a warrior, artist, leader who leads with compassion, with a goal towards peace between the territories, including the Mortal Lands, equity and joy. (We see this beginning of a move towards equity with the wraith who can not pay the Tithe. He gives her ample time, relaxing the stringent punishment that he inherited from his father.)
SJM's rulers are all DIY and Prythian suffers because of it.