First, my apologies - this is feedback rather than an update.
I am sorry that I have not offered feedback on the comments. I intended at first just to post updates and stay away from the rest of the forum, but that increasingly felt like the wrong decision. This has been a month of surprises for me, both at the warm reception at the return of this AAR and at the award it earned for the character of Solomon. I am unaccustomed to such praise and attention when it comes to this story. For me, the AAR has always felt like a very private secret I share with one or two people while the bulk of my attention has been focused on something else (especially, for the longest time, the quite different Knuds.) I want to say thank you. Thank you.
The_Guiscard, we've talked privately about writing in general and about our respective AARs in particular. I am glad to have you as a reader, and I am glad that you see Solomon the way he is intended to be seen. You may be unique in this regard. Your comments remain treasures. As always, the broad spectrum of your insight is always welcome, whether it is to praise the writing or to find flaws in it. You're someone I trust as a writer. I especially like the way you work the storyline into the writing of your own AAR - you write from the game, a rare trick among narratives here. I am doing the same with Solomon, making you a valued reader among valued readers.
As far as the words touching you, I try to write until I feel touched myself - until the distance of the emotion in the words is far enough removed from my fingers that it feels real. It is heartening to hear, for at least one reader, that it has worked.
I also strive for writing that is beautiful and heart-felt, but sometimes think I stumble too far into the hedgerow of poetry and stray too far from this being a journal. Except I like that hedgerow.
Aat Jago, thank you for waiting. Thank you as well for noticing the humanity of the character and for noticing the love story. That this is a love story is very important to the writing, and I am not sure it comes through well enough on my part. I am glad you said something about it.
Llywelyn, your turn.
RGB, "utterly poetic as an update" is praise that is highly appreciated. As I mentioned to Guiscard, I am aiming for a poetic sort of prose with this writing, especially of late as Solomon's melancholy and difficulty grows. I am also grateful that you pointed out the mix of self-loathing with ambition. This is characteristic not of depression but of Solomon's (I'm giving something away here) basic selfishness.
I think I sent you a private message thanking you for the "vanity of vanities" quote, which was as lovely and appropropriate as anything I've managed to turn up here. If not: thank you.
Kingslanding, thank you for dropping by the AAR section. I am sorry that the pace of updates in this story is so sporadic. I write when I have time, when I feel right, and when I can cope with Solomon being in my head. I am not by nature a melancholy person, and there's almost some catharsis in infusing my head with Solomon's persona. I hope, at least, the previous updates are worth reading while you wait for the next one.
The_Archduke, stnylan, Murmurandus, General_BT, Daemon, demokratickid, and anyone I have carelessly missed, thank you all for sticking around during my long absence.