crack_van | If Man Were the Sky and Could See the Earth Clearly by Corbeaun (PG

Fandom: SWORDSPOINT
Pairing: Alec/Richard
Length: circa 4K
Author on LJ:

corbeaun
Author Website: Master Story Index here.
Why this must be read:

If Man Were the Sky and Could See the Earth Clearly (written for

wordsofastory in Yuletide 2007) precedes the original Swordspoint novel, but takes as a starting point one of the (many, intriguing) moments left unwritten by author Ellen Kushner. It is clear from Kushner’s novel that Alec has been thrown out of the university for his dangerous ideas, a decision not unconnected with the entangled family politics of Riverside which inform all the novels, and Corbeaun’s embroidery on the prompt is an utterly satisfying addition to canon.

‘She sighed, looked convincingly put-upon. "Please stop. David, you're family, and you have such promise. Is it so bad," she smiled gently at him, "for me to want what's best for you?"

But he didn't answer her smile. Instead, he slid the ducal ring off his finger and cradled it, for a moment, in his hand. The orange light from the fireplace glinted off the ruby, briefly turning the red stone to liquid flame. Then, almost negligently, he tilted his palm and let the ring fall to the ground.’’

If Man Were the Sky and Could See the Earth Clearly