Luck in the Shadows - Chapter Eighteen
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i_read_whatSo last time, Alec got officially recruited as a Watcher, which means he now gets to hear all the exposition that they'd been keeping from him.
Unfortunately, most of it is stuff we could guess from context, but I think that's true for most secrets. They're more interesting when we don't know them.
We rejoin Alec and Seregil the next morning. Seregil is pretty emphatic about getting out of bed, against drysian orders. Alec is concerned but assists, and Seregil gets his first comfortable bath in a long time.
For his part, Alec is in something of a brittle mood, which Seregil picks up on. He has an "edge of anxiety" that hadn't been there before, even during their difficult journey.
You could ask him what's wrong?
Anyway, Seregil urges him to relax and then suggests they walk outside. He points out that Alec's now living in the center of "the greatest collection of wizardry in the world" and he's barely seen a thing.
I mean, dude, he's been pretty stressed out trying to help keep you alive? He's also in a new place among a lot more strangers than he's ever seen in one place? He's tired?
Seregil's a good guy, but he's definitely a bit self-absorbed, I think.
Anyway, Alec just says he's concerned with what Valerius would say if he knew Seregil was up and about. Alec's supposed to be responsible for him.
“No one is responsible for me except me.” Seregil jabbed a soapy finger in the air for emphasis. “Nysander knows that, Micum knows that. Even Valerius knows it. Now you know.”
It's a good line, but also kind of a bullshit thing to say to the guy who kept you alive for god knows how long.
And Alec basically points that out, albeit in a slightly more angsty teenager way.
To his considerable surprise, Alec stared at him for a moment, then turned on his heel and stalked abruptly away to stare out over the central pool, his back rigid as a blade.
“What is it?” Seregil called after him, genuinely mystified.
Alec muttered something, punctuating the remark with a sharp wave of his hand.
“What? I can’t hear you over the fountains.”
Alec half turned, arms locked across his chest. “I said I was responsible enough for you while you were sick!”
Fortunately, at this point, Seregil does get a clue. At least enough to thank Alec for helping him and ASK the kid what's wrong.
Basically, Alec feels like Seregil doesn't want/need him around, and is also overwhelmed by the whole experience. He feels like he doesn't belong. Seregil response aggravates me a little:
“Of course you do!” Seregil sputtered. “Who’s been saying you don’t? Thero! That whey-faced son of a bitch—”
“Thero didn’t say anything.” A gravid pause strung out between them, growing increasingly more uncomfortable.
“I never could carry on an argument naked,” Seregil said at last, pulling a wry face. This elicited a grudging hint of a smile, at least. “If you figure out what you’re so mad about, let me know. In the meantime, let’s go across to the museum. I promised to show you wonders, and that’s as good a place as any to find them.”
a) If Alec had a problem with Thero, I think he'd say so. It also seems like Thero's seeming unreasonable animosity is not one-sided. That might be something Nysander should have handled a long time ago.
b) "If you figure out what you're so mad about"? Um. You could LISTEN to him? He's stressed, exhausted, feeling under appreciated and thinks you don't want him around?
I know this sounds like complaining, but it's not really. Seregil has a very defined personality. He's also annoying right now. Compliment to Ms. Flewelling, but I think Alec would be entitled to throw something at him.
Instead, they do take a trip to the museum. And to be fair, it sounds very swanky:
milar in dimensions to the baths. Here, however, every wall was hung with rich tapestries and paintings, shields, and pieces of armor. Suspended overhead was the skeleton of some horrific creature fifty feet long; the bare teeth jutting from the jawbones were as long as his forearm. Wooden cases of all sizes, many covered with sheets of thick crystal, lined the walls and stood in neatly spaced rows across the room. In the one closest to them lay a collection of jeweled ornaments and vessels. The one next to it contained a golden coronet studded with rubies. Another was devoted to wizardly paraphernalia.
Alec is suitably impressed. There are other people around, but not many. Alec goes from case to case "looking like a thirsty man who just found an unexpected spring". Aw.
Seregil notes that he used to spend a lot of time here, and even helped add to the collection. He points out a flower, carved from translucent pink stone. He'd gotten it from an enchantress, who'd used its magical fragrance to ensnare Micum. (Fortunately, Seregil had been coming from a different direction and konked her on the head.)
The hit of the collection is a pair of shriveled hands that had belonged to a necromancer.
Just then, one of the leathery forefingers slowly raised and lowered, as if scolding his idle scrutiny.
Seregil had been watching closely all the while. As soon as he saw the hand move, he ran a finger lightly down the boy’s back, sending him into the air with a startled yelp.
“Damn it, Seregil!” Alec cried, whirling around.
The scholars turned with inquiring stares. The apprentice dropped her stylus, then began to giggle. The servants merely exchanged disgusted looks.
Heh.
Anyway, the necromancer who used to own them had been a "dyrmagnos" which seems like a fancy way of saying lich. So the hands are, in a way, still alive. Nysander had cut the guy's hands off. Apparently, they've tried to escape in the past. (If a dyrmagnos's parts all rejoin, it can live again. So this guy is apparently being kept in a number of secret places, while his head was sealed in a lead casket and dropped into the sea.)
Eventually, Seregil's strength starts flagging so they go outside. Where they meet Princess Klia! Hi!
She and her companion, Captain Myrhini, greet Alec cheerfully. They also seem to know Seregil very well, noting that he's just doing all this to spite Valerius. Klia gets Alec's real name this time and notes that if she'd realized he was with Seregil (she had noted the Silverleaf name at the time), they could have ridden back together.
There's some banter and Klia shows off the horse Alec helped her pick out. (Myrhini suggests that Klia has a crush on Seregil, but I don't remember if anything actually comes of that. So we'll note it and move on.)
Alec gets to see a new wonder though, as the guy looking after Klea's new horse is a centaur!
he creature was even more imposing at close quarters; his chestnut-colored horse body was a good twenty hands tall at the shoulder, while his man parts were those of a giant. Klia’s unusual black and white and another Aurënfaie horse stood by him, and he patted them with his large, blunt hands as if they were hounds. Seregil and Klia looked like a pair of children standing next to him.
Seregil introduces them, teasing Alec for once referring to centaurs as mere legends. That seems rude to say right in front of the guy, but Hwerlu doesn't mind. He notes the light of Illior shines in Alec and that he must be pleased to see that legends are real.
He also introduces them to his wife, Feeya. Interestingly, while she is topless, she does not have human style breasts - apparently centaurs nurse their young like horses do. Apparently they came to Rhiminee because Hwerlu was curious about magic. Hwerlu is not a wizard himself, but is able to sing healings, charms and dreams. He offers to sing one for Seregil, who accepts...and suggests that Alec go for a ride.
Yeah, that seems like the right idea here. It's not like the kid's already expressed that he's overwhelmed or anything. Alec is hesitant, but Seregil gives him the assignment to "go around the Ring once" and then come back and tell him what he saw.
Captain Myrhini offers to show Alec what he's talking about. Seregil has some last minute instructions:
“There now.” Seregil blithely ignored Alec’s silent appeal. “Already you’re consorting with centaurs and wizards and riding about the streets with a captain of the Queen’s Horse Guard. Keep your hood well up, though. I’m not ready for either of us to be seen just yet. And be careful! You’re not larking about in the woods anymore. Even in daylight, Rhíminee can be a dangerous place. And for Illior’s sake, find some gloves! Your hands are in poor enough condition as it is.”
Alec, go buy a beverage so you can throw it at your mentor here?
But it does mean that Alec gets a bit of a tour with a willing guide, who is able to explain some of the city battlements and give a bit of a history lesson about Rhiminee. Apparently it was last attacked forty years ago. I'm going to take a wild guess and say it'll get attacked again, reasonably soon.
As they reach the barracks, they encounter a company of riders who are practicing under General Phoria. She's with two dudes: a Lord Barien and Lord Teukros. Myrhini greets her with a salute. Alec is introduced as "a guest of the wizard Nysander", which is interesting. Myrhini doesn't provide his name.
Alec plays along with Myrhini's explanation, claiming he's come to the city to study. After Phoria and company move on, Alec asks about Lord Barien. (Klia had mentioned him earlier.) Apparently Barien is the Viceregent of Skala, most powerful person in the country after the Queen. The other dude is his nephew. General Phoria is the Queen's eldest daughter, and next in line for the throne.
Interesting! Alec is meeting important people!
Anyway, Myrhini sees Alec to the Ring and gives him some directions on how to get back afterward.
The Ring starts off with a market place, then leads into pasturage for livestock, Alec catches sight of a shanty settlement as he travels, which is a nice (and sad) visual contrast to the wealth and glamour of the city at large. (At one point, Alec is basically swarmed by beggar children. He throws some coins to them, away from the horse so they don't get trampled. At one point, he encounters some potential footpads, but fortunately they don't stop him.
Eventually Alec gets to the very big, overwhelming Sea Market. He finds a food stand, buys some meet and cider and decides to watch the crowd. He seems to be relaxing a little more, thinking this isn't so bad.
The nice feeling wears off a bit though:
A dozen blue-uniformed guards were escorting a tumbrel cart down the avenue in his direction. A tall pike had been set upright in the back of the cart; a man’s head was fixed on its point, the slack jaw quivering at every bump and jolt. The glassy eyes had rolled upward, as if avoiding even in death the expressions of scorn and revulsion that greeted this final progress. A placard had been nailed just below it, but the writing on it was obscured by streaks of drying blood.
Alec spat out his last mouthful of meat and lowered his eyes as the cart drew abreast of him. It seemed that no matter where he turned today he was confronted with bits of dead bodies.
Damn. Poor kid.
A young ruffian grabs him by the arm ostensibly to steady him. From him, Alec gets some useful information: the dude was Vardarus and he was executed for plotting to kill the Viceregent. The ruffian calls Vardarus a "filthy Leran traitor" and spits.
Alec detaches from the dude, and moves onward. (I'd check your coin purse if I were you, dude.) There's more sights to see. Military horse herds, some idle folk who proposition a shocked Alec, and then "the Street of Lights". Alec asks someone what the lights mean a nd is told that if he has to ask, then he has no business knowing.
(Translation: brothel district)
Anyway, Alec returns to Oreska only to collide sharply with a storming Thero. Alec helps him pick up the scrolls he dropped, but Thero is less than grateful and leaves in a huff.
We soon see why:
Seregil opened the door this time, and he looked remarkably pleased with himself.
“Gone, is he?” he smirked, letting Alec into the anteroom.
“What was that all about? He practically knocked me over the railing!”
Seregil shrugged innocently. “I came upstairs to borrow a book from Nysander but he wasn’t here. In his absence, Thero took it upon himself to tell me I couldn’t have it. After reasoning with him at considerable length over the matter, I suggested that it was probably his vow of celibacy that keeps him so irritable all the time. I was in the middle of a detailed discourse—based largely on my own personal experience—on the methods he could employ to alleviate his difficulties when he hurried out. Perhaps he means to put my wisdom into action.”
...I can't imagine why these two don't get along. But I'll give Flewelling credit for establishing very early on that Seregil is just as bad as his erstwhile rival. Alec, rather understandably, takes Seregil's side over Thero, but as a reader, I think Nysander probably should have knocked both of them over the head to make them cut it out.
Seregil asks Alec what happened to his purse. And indeed, the strings are cut:
“That bastard at the Sea Market!” He groaned.
Seregil regarded him with a crooked grin. “Let me guess: thin, whey-faced, big nose, bad teeth? Got close to you for some reason and wouldn’t be shaken off? Relieved you of this, I believe.”
Seregil tossed Alec a purse. It was his own, and quite empty.
“His name’s Tym.” Seregil’s grin broadened. “I figured he’d hit you at the market. He can’t resist working a crowd, especially if there are bluecoats around.”
...god damnit, Seregil. I can't imagine why Thero doesn't like you.
Alec is pretty irked by the whole thing but gives his report. Seregil is thoughtful at the mention of Vardarus. He'd worked for him in the past and would have thought he was completely loyal.
Alec asks about the Lerans. And it's an interesting story. Apparently Idrilain the First had an Aurenfaie consort. She also had a daughter from a prior (human) marriage. There were political difficulties after she had another daughter with the Aurenfaie (the poor girl has the ghastly name of Corruthesthera).
Anyway, the Lerans are a faction who didn't want the daughter of an Aurenfaie on the throne. No one could prove Lera herself was involved, but relationships were strained. Eventually Idrilain is poisoned. Her consort, Corruth, disappeared without a trace. Corruthesthera was exiled. And relations with the Aurenfaie have never completely recovered.
Lera, of course, ends up being a harsh queen who executed more people than any other in history. She ended up dying in childbirth though, and her younger half-sister, who survived more than a few assassination attempts, ended up taking the throne.
Interestingly, that means that the current queens are part Aurenfaie. Also we get another tidbit: Aurenfaie live three or four times as long as humans, while maturing much more slowly. An eighty year old man is near death, while an eighty year old Aurenfaie is still considered a youth.
Corrusthesthera died at age 147 in battle, by the way.
They talk about the rest: Barien and Phoria, and the nephew who Seregil finds unimpressive.
The chapter ends here.
Unfortunately, most of it is stuff we could guess from context, but I think that's true for most secrets. They're more interesting when we don't know them.
We rejoin Alec and Seregil the next morning. Seregil is pretty emphatic about getting out of bed, against drysian orders. Alec is concerned but assists, and Seregil gets his first comfortable bath in a long time.
For his part, Alec is in something of a brittle mood, which Seregil picks up on. He has an "edge of anxiety" that hadn't been there before, even during their difficult journey.
You could ask him what's wrong?
Anyway, Seregil urges him to relax and then suggests they walk outside. He points out that Alec's now living in the center of "the greatest collection of wizardry in the world" and he's barely seen a thing.
I mean, dude, he's been pretty stressed out trying to help keep you alive? He's also in a new place among a lot more strangers than he's ever seen in one place? He's tired?
Seregil's a good guy, but he's definitely a bit self-absorbed, I think.
Anyway, Alec just says he's concerned with what Valerius would say if he knew Seregil was up and about. Alec's supposed to be responsible for him.
“No one is responsible for me except me.” Seregil jabbed a soapy finger in the air for emphasis. “Nysander knows that, Micum knows that. Even Valerius knows it. Now you know.”
It's a good line, but also kind of a bullshit thing to say to the guy who kept you alive for god knows how long.
And Alec basically points that out, albeit in a slightly more angsty teenager way.
To his considerable surprise, Alec stared at him for a moment, then turned on his heel and stalked abruptly away to stare out over the central pool, his back rigid as a blade.
“What is it?” Seregil called after him, genuinely mystified.
Alec muttered something, punctuating the remark with a sharp wave of his hand.
“What? I can’t hear you over the fountains.”
Alec half turned, arms locked across his chest. “I said I was responsible enough for you while you were sick!”
Fortunately, at this point, Seregil does get a clue. At least enough to thank Alec for helping him and ASK the kid what's wrong.
Basically, Alec feels like Seregil doesn't want/need him around, and is also overwhelmed by the whole experience. He feels like he doesn't belong. Seregil response aggravates me a little:
“Of course you do!” Seregil sputtered. “Who’s been saying you don’t? Thero! That whey-faced son of a bitch—”
“Thero didn’t say anything.” A gravid pause strung out between them, growing increasingly more uncomfortable.
“I never could carry on an argument naked,” Seregil said at last, pulling a wry face. This elicited a grudging hint of a smile, at least. “If you figure out what you’re so mad about, let me know. In the meantime, let’s go across to the museum. I promised to show you wonders, and that’s as good a place as any to find them.”
a) If Alec had a problem with Thero, I think he'd say so. It also seems like Thero's seeming unreasonable animosity is not one-sided. That might be something Nysander should have handled a long time ago.
b) "If you figure out what you're so mad about"? Um. You could LISTEN to him? He's stressed, exhausted, feeling under appreciated and thinks you don't want him around?
I know this sounds like complaining, but it's not really. Seregil has a very defined personality. He's also annoying right now. Compliment to Ms. Flewelling, but I think Alec would be entitled to throw something at him.
Instead, they do take a trip to the museum. And to be fair, it sounds very swanky:
milar in dimensions to the baths. Here, however, every wall was hung with rich tapestries and paintings, shields, and pieces of armor. Suspended overhead was the skeleton of some horrific creature fifty feet long; the bare teeth jutting from the jawbones were as long as his forearm. Wooden cases of all sizes, many covered with sheets of thick crystal, lined the walls and stood in neatly spaced rows across the room. In the one closest to them lay a collection of jeweled ornaments and vessels. The one next to it contained a golden coronet studded with rubies. Another was devoted to wizardly paraphernalia.
Alec is suitably impressed. There are other people around, but not many. Alec goes from case to case "looking like a thirsty man who just found an unexpected spring". Aw.
Seregil notes that he used to spend a lot of time here, and even helped add to the collection. He points out a flower, carved from translucent pink stone. He'd gotten it from an enchantress, who'd used its magical fragrance to ensnare Micum. (Fortunately, Seregil had been coming from a different direction and konked her on the head.)
The hit of the collection is a pair of shriveled hands that had belonged to a necromancer.
Just then, one of the leathery forefingers slowly raised and lowered, as if scolding his idle scrutiny.
Seregil had been watching closely all the while. As soon as he saw the hand move, he ran a finger lightly down the boy’s back, sending him into the air with a startled yelp.
“Damn it, Seregil!” Alec cried, whirling around.
The scholars turned with inquiring stares. The apprentice dropped her stylus, then began to giggle. The servants merely exchanged disgusted looks.
Heh.
Anyway, the necromancer who used to own them had been a "dyrmagnos" which seems like a fancy way of saying lich. So the hands are, in a way, still alive. Nysander had cut the guy's hands off. Apparently, they've tried to escape in the past. (If a dyrmagnos's parts all rejoin, it can live again. So this guy is apparently being kept in a number of secret places, while his head was sealed in a lead casket and dropped into the sea.)
Eventually, Seregil's strength starts flagging so they go outside. Where they meet Princess Klia! Hi!
She and her companion, Captain Myrhini, greet Alec cheerfully. They also seem to know Seregil very well, noting that he's just doing all this to spite Valerius. Klia gets Alec's real name this time and notes that if she'd realized he was with Seregil (she had noted the Silverleaf name at the time), they could have ridden back together.
There's some banter and Klia shows off the horse Alec helped her pick out. (Myrhini suggests that Klia has a crush on Seregil, but I don't remember if anything actually comes of that. So we'll note it and move on.)
Alec gets to see a new wonder though, as the guy looking after Klea's new horse is a centaur!
he creature was even more imposing at close quarters; his chestnut-colored horse body was a good twenty hands tall at the shoulder, while his man parts were those of a giant. Klia’s unusual black and white and another Aurënfaie horse stood by him, and he patted them with his large, blunt hands as if they were hounds. Seregil and Klia looked like a pair of children standing next to him.
Seregil introduces them, teasing Alec for once referring to centaurs as mere legends. That seems rude to say right in front of the guy, but Hwerlu doesn't mind. He notes the light of Illior shines in Alec and that he must be pleased to see that legends are real.
He also introduces them to his wife, Feeya. Interestingly, while she is topless, she does not have human style breasts - apparently centaurs nurse their young like horses do. Apparently they came to Rhiminee because Hwerlu was curious about magic. Hwerlu is not a wizard himself, but is able to sing healings, charms and dreams. He offers to sing one for Seregil, who accepts...and suggests that Alec go for a ride.
Yeah, that seems like the right idea here. It's not like the kid's already expressed that he's overwhelmed or anything. Alec is hesitant, but Seregil gives him the assignment to "go around the Ring once" and then come back and tell him what he saw.
Captain Myrhini offers to show Alec what he's talking about. Seregil has some last minute instructions:
“There now.” Seregil blithely ignored Alec’s silent appeal. “Already you’re consorting with centaurs and wizards and riding about the streets with a captain of the Queen’s Horse Guard. Keep your hood well up, though. I’m not ready for either of us to be seen just yet. And be careful! You’re not larking about in the woods anymore. Even in daylight, Rhíminee can be a dangerous place. And for Illior’s sake, find some gloves! Your hands are in poor enough condition as it is.”
Alec, go buy a beverage so you can throw it at your mentor here?
But it does mean that Alec gets a bit of a tour with a willing guide, who is able to explain some of the city battlements and give a bit of a history lesson about Rhiminee. Apparently it was last attacked forty years ago. I'm going to take a wild guess and say it'll get attacked again, reasonably soon.
As they reach the barracks, they encounter a company of riders who are practicing under General Phoria. She's with two dudes: a Lord Barien and Lord Teukros. Myrhini greets her with a salute. Alec is introduced as "a guest of the wizard Nysander", which is interesting. Myrhini doesn't provide his name.
Alec plays along with Myrhini's explanation, claiming he's come to the city to study. After Phoria and company move on, Alec asks about Lord Barien. (Klia had mentioned him earlier.) Apparently Barien is the Viceregent of Skala, most powerful person in the country after the Queen. The other dude is his nephew. General Phoria is the Queen's eldest daughter, and next in line for the throne.
Interesting! Alec is meeting important people!
Anyway, Myrhini sees Alec to the Ring and gives him some directions on how to get back afterward.
The Ring starts off with a market place, then leads into pasturage for livestock, Alec catches sight of a shanty settlement as he travels, which is a nice (and sad) visual contrast to the wealth and glamour of the city at large. (At one point, Alec is basically swarmed by beggar children. He throws some coins to them, away from the horse so they don't get trampled. At one point, he encounters some potential footpads, but fortunately they don't stop him.
Eventually Alec gets to the very big, overwhelming Sea Market. He finds a food stand, buys some meet and cider and decides to watch the crowd. He seems to be relaxing a little more, thinking this isn't so bad.
The nice feeling wears off a bit though:
A dozen blue-uniformed guards were escorting a tumbrel cart down the avenue in his direction. A tall pike had been set upright in the back of the cart; a man’s head was fixed on its point, the slack jaw quivering at every bump and jolt. The glassy eyes had rolled upward, as if avoiding even in death the expressions of scorn and revulsion that greeted this final progress. A placard had been nailed just below it, but the writing on it was obscured by streaks of drying blood.
Alec spat out his last mouthful of meat and lowered his eyes as the cart drew abreast of him. It seemed that no matter where he turned today he was confronted with bits of dead bodies.
Damn. Poor kid.
A young ruffian grabs him by the arm ostensibly to steady him. From him, Alec gets some useful information: the dude was Vardarus and he was executed for plotting to kill the Viceregent. The ruffian calls Vardarus a "filthy Leran traitor" and spits.
Alec detaches from the dude, and moves onward. (I'd check your coin purse if I were you, dude.) There's more sights to see. Military horse herds, some idle folk who proposition a shocked Alec, and then "the Street of Lights". Alec asks someone what the lights mean a nd is told that if he has to ask, then he has no business knowing.
(Translation: brothel district)
Anyway, Alec returns to Oreska only to collide sharply with a storming Thero. Alec helps him pick up the scrolls he dropped, but Thero is less than grateful and leaves in a huff.
We soon see why:
Seregil opened the door this time, and he looked remarkably pleased with himself.
“Gone, is he?” he smirked, letting Alec into the anteroom.
“What was that all about? He practically knocked me over the railing!”
Seregil shrugged innocently. “I came upstairs to borrow a book from Nysander but he wasn’t here. In his absence, Thero took it upon himself to tell me I couldn’t have it. After reasoning with him at considerable length over the matter, I suggested that it was probably his vow of celibacy that keeps him so irritable all the time. I was in the middle of a detailed discourse—based largely on my own personal experience—on the methods he could employ to alleviate his difficulties when he hurried out. Perhaps he means to put my wisdom into action.”
...I can't imagine why these two don't get along. But I'll give Flewelling credit for establishing very early on that Seregil is just as bad as his erstwhile rival. Alec, rather understandably, takes Seregil's side over Thero, but as a reader, I think Nysander probably should have knocked both of them over the head to make them cut it out.
Seregil asks Alec what happened to his purse. And indeed, the strings are cut:
“That bastard at the Sea Market!” He groaned.
Seregil regarded him with a crooked grin. “Let me guess: thin, whey-faced, big nose, bad teeth? Got close to you for some reason and wouldn’t be shaken off? Relieved you of this, I believe.”
Seregil tossed Alec a purse. It was his own, and quite empty.
“His name’s Tym.” Seregil’s grin broadened. “I figured he’d hit you at the market. He can’t resist working a crowd, especially if there are bluecoats around.”
...god damnit, Seregil. I can't imagine why Thero doesn't like you.
Alec is pretty irked by the whole thing but gives his report. Seregil is thoughtful at the mention of Vardarus. He'd worked for him in the past and would have thought he was completely loyal.
Alec asks about the Lerans. And it's an interesting story. Apparently Idrilain the First had an Aurenfaie consort. She also had a daughter from a prior (human) marriage. There were political difficulties after she had another daughter with the Aurenfaie (the poor girl has the ghastly name of Corruthesthera).
Anyway, the Lerans are a faction who didn't want the daughter of an Aurenfaie on the throne. No one could prove Lera herself was involved, but relationships were strained. Eventually Idrilain is poisoned. Her consort, Corruth, disappeared without a trace. Corruthesthera was exiled. And relations with the Aurenfaie have never completely recovered.
Lera, of course, ends up being a harsh queen who executed more people than any other in history. She ended up dying in childbirth though, and her younger half-sister, who survived more than a few assassination attempts, ended up taking the throne.
Interestingly, that means that the current queens are part Aurenfaie. Also we get another tidbit: Aurenfaie live three or four times as long as humans, while maturing much more slowly. An eighty year old man is near death, while an eighty year old Aurenfaie is still considered a youth.
Corrusthesthera died at age 147 in battle, by the way.
They talk about the rest: Barien and Phoria, and the nephew who Seregil finds unimpressive.
The chapter ends here.