While this novella (a quick read) takes place in the world of [b:Royaume de vent et de colères|25090639|Royaume de vent et de colères|Jean-Laurent Del Socorro|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1425723523s/25090639.jpg|44779717] (see my review here), it's best - but you don't have to, of course - to read the book first, then this novella. If not, you might miss context, background info.

The story is about the events after Henri IV is king of all, even though there are still a few problems with Spain. In comes a female Moor, Fatima, said to be the chronicler of Henri IV. She has an official letter, with his seal. Every other regiment refuses to accept her, until N'a-qu'un-œuil, captain of one of the various regiments, decides to take her under his wings. And as you can imagine, one thing leads to another: from your typical, hard military treatment to a very close relationship. Something that can not be hidden from his mates.

The trouble with the Spaniards (or, the Moors, more specifically) is that they manage to break through the defences, slaughter many soldiers, but also kidnap Fatima and Tremble-voix (a stutterer, who had a real talent for drawing, but also used that talent to mock fellow catholic soldiers, which was not by everyone in the army seen as humorous; N'a-qu'un-œuil had to reprimand him a few times, for the safety of everyone in his regiment), who was to protect her. They had hidden themselves in what was believed to be a safe place. Tremble-voix was chosen, because his camp mates believed Fatima to be a spy for the Moors. N'a-qu'un-œuil can't prevent these two people meeting an untimely and horrible death, but tries to honour Fatima - who didn't have a perfect youth under Christian rule (name change to Ana and what not) - by signing hs documents with a green seal instead of the classic yellow. Green was Fatima's colour, and as the title indicates, it refers to her saying that green is for eternity, for definitive decisions and other. Tremble-voix's sketch book is kept safe, among his (the captain's) other possessions.

[a:Jean-Laurent Del Socorro|13596817|Jean-Laurent Del Socorro|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] knows how to write a great story, regardless of the length. As with his other works: heavily recommended!

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I don't usually read e-books (or rather, e-short stories/novellas/...), unless they're short enough and I can print them out. Reading on screen is bad for the eyes, hence the printing. This story was free for the entire duration of April 2017, so why not go for it?

This story was previously published in the 2015 anthology (see [b:Utopiales 2015|28430765|Utopiales 2015|Alain Damasio|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1451743506s/28430765.jpg|48542527]) of the annual festival Utopiales, which takes place in Nantes, France. ( )