Old Habits Die Hard Part Five, New habits? Or just old ones recycled? Options

[haute ecole rider]

It's now time to start a new thread for Julian of Anvil. Now that she returns to her hometown, it's rather appropriate to start a new thread to celebrate!

Thanks to all who have read and posted input on Julian's story.

For those coming in late, if you've got the time, here are links to the previous threads:

Chapters One through Seven
Chapters Eight through Thirteen
Chapters Fourteen through Eighteen
Chapters Nineteen through Twenty-two

I hope you continue to enjoy this story as Julian works toward the inevitable conclusion!

[Acadian]

What a wonderful conversational segment - one of my favorite types of episodes. Especially when done with your level of skill. Here, we have three individuals and you deliver their personalities with crystal clarity on a pasta-filled platter. Oh, that reminds me, thanks for the chow. I never met a pasta I didn't like.

I quite respect your style of dialogue. You blend the actual dialogue with speech tags that render clarity and supportive natural actions that bring your characters fully to life. A real pleasure to read.

Based on the hint you dropped, it does indeed seem we may get to see that rogue mage who haunts the Gold Road. I look forward to that!

“The old Gweden homestead?” Morvayn repeated. “Not that I know of. Folks don’t want to live where people died so horribly.”
You continue to tease and tantalize with hints of Julian's past and future.

*

Let's talk about nits -

“Was a time you could barely manage to heal your own scrapes!”
While begging the Captain's forgiveness, I offer that in the eyes of this humble reader, the above passage seems perfectly fine for conversation - natural even.

'I paused and allowed the memories return for the first time in years'
I suspect you want a 'to' in betwixt memories and return?

“Go where someone with my skills are most needed.'
I ask you to consider whether 'is' suits this better than 'are'. I think the verb applies here to the singular someone, not the plural skills.