thoughts on Chapter 3

I am finishing a rewrite of Chapter 3. Chapter 3 is called “Fire.” I had to ask myself, “What does the fire mean in this scene?” If the fire represents rage, then whose rage does it represent? It represents Caradoc's rage. His rage against the Druids, his rage against his family, his rage against Rome. The rage Caradoc feels is a result of pain, shame, loss or harm. What was it that he experienced that set him off? Why does he nurse his rage with mead? Why does he want to see his family humiliated? Fire is an interesting thing. It can cauterized a wound, as well as create one. By shaming his family, will Caradoc cauterize some ancient wound? Something that shamed him? Caradoc himself is a flame. And like a flame others watch him to see his passion. They see his defiance. They want to grow close to him, to touch the flame, to follow the flame, to be consumed by it themselves Rage is exhausting. Easy to forget that tiredness. You can ignore it, replace it. Sleep it off. Hatred is always there, always seeking out to destroy. It desires to get rid of what it hates. Someone mentioned that Kenjar would not touch Caradoc. I believe he would try this. Is touch an insult? No. Not to Caradoc, not knowing who Caradoc is, would be an insult to Caradoc. Rage requires a sacrifice and need for reconciliation. Someone must pay. Caradoc needs the sacrifice. He needs this fire. He walks away from it because he doesn't want it to be put out. He seeks more fuel to fan the flames. Caradoc's rage is spreading to his homeland and in particular to Adminius. How Adminius responds is important. Whereas others would rage back. He is calm. He is thinking, he is intent. He has step by step planned actions to fix the problem. To not do this would make it worse. Rage is like 100 arrows blown into the air at your opponent. Hatred is only one arrow, and it is a long aimed blow. The object of the hatred permeates the one who hates. It is more important than anything. It is his focus. He is enslaved by it, consumed with it. There is one in the story who hates. It is not Adminius.