Luck in the Shadows - Chapter Nineteen

[kalinara]

So last time, Seregil was awake and annoying, while Alec got to take a reluctant tour of the city. We also got a history lesson!



We rejoin Seregil as he and Alec are heading up to the workroom in the morning. Nysander's there, conversing with Thero. And we get to see a little of Seregil's issues there:

A bittersweet pang shot through Seregil. In the days of his apprenticeship, he’d sat in Thero’s place each morning, enjoying the early quiet while Nysander outlined the day’s tasks. It had been at such moments that he’d felt, for the first time in his life, like he belonged, that he was welcome and useful.

I mean, I do sympathize with Seregil to an extent. It really does suck when you learn that you're not capable of doing something you really want to do. But...you're about to be sitting at that table, dude. You're LISTENING to Nysander outline those same tasks. You've basically still got all the perks of apprenticeship without the school work.

However, there's an interesting note about a scrap of parchment at the bottom of Seregil's pack. He feels guilty for keeping it from Nysander. I don't actually remember what this is about. Did I miss a detail? But past reviews don't help here. Hm.

Anyway, Nysander welcomes them, while Thero acknowledges their presence with a "cool nod". (This is funnier to me after watching the Ted Lasso season 2 finale.) At least the breakfast spread sounds pretty good: fried ham, honey and cheese, hot oat cakes with butter and strong tea. Apparently Nysander's breakfasts are legendary and he opens them up for everyone to attend.

Nysander compliments Alec on Seregil's condition, and we can see that Alec MAYBE still is holding a bit of a grudge as he notes that Seregil's been doing as he pleased, so his health is none of Alec's doing.

Gosh, Seregil, MAYBE you might want to have a talk with this kid?

So Nysander asks Seregil about his plans. Seregil is still kind of fixated on his scar, and I don't really blame him. That said, he tells Nysander that he thinks it's time that "we" headed home.

Nysander notes that he may have work for Seregil and they discuss the most recent events: Vardarus's execution. I like how all four characters are involved in the discussion, even Thero:

“But if he was innocent, then why wouldn’t he have said so?” asked Alec.

“As Nysander said, the evidence against him was irrefutable,” Thero answered. “Letters in Vardarus’ own hand were produced. He could have pleaded forgery, or that magic had been used to alter them, yet he refused to do so. The Queen had no choice but to pass sentence. With all respect, Nysander, it is possible that he was guilty.”

Seregil tugged absently at a strand of dark hair. “And if he was innocent, what could have enforced such damning silence? He was attached to the Queen’s Treasury, wasn’t he? I’ll need a list of the nobles he associated with in that position, and some idea of his personal habits.”

“I shall see you have all you need,” said Nysander.

I appreciate that Thero gets to articulate an alternate viewpoint from the others, but rationally so. He doesn't say Vardarus is definitely guilty. He just points out the possibility. And no one has an issue with it.

I know this seems like an odd thing to praise, but well, you've seen some of the books I review.

-

The viewpoint shifts to Alec. He's studying faces: Seregil is pensive but brightening up. Thero is stiff. Nysander is easygoing but speculative. Alec's starting to feel more comfortable at Oreska too. Which is nice. A lot of his comfort has to do with Seregil, who is now picking on Thero and seems back to his old spirits.

I actually do like Seregil and Thero's dynamic:

Alec nodded toward Seregil. “This is more what he was like when we first met.”

“Annoying Thero has always been a favorite pastime of his,” the wizard sighed. “For goodness’ sake, Seregil, let him eat in peace. Not everyone shares your taste for banter first thing in the morning.”

“I doubt there are many tastes Thero and I do share,” Seregil conceded.

“A fact for which I am continually thankful,” Thero parried dryly.

I do think Nysander should be doing more to address the underlying issues that he himself has mentioned, but I like Seregil and Thero's sort-of-fraternal bickering. And that Thero gives back as good as he gets.

So Alec asks about shapechanging spells. Can people really be changed into anything? (Thero gets a nice jab at Seregil by suggesting a brick. Seregil salutes the jibe.) But then we move into some magic theory.

Nysander likes transformation spells, though they can be high risk and almost never permanent. Seregil notes that Nysander has turned them into all sorts of things over the years.

We learn the difference between transmogrification vs. metastatic spells. (One is a complete transformation, the other is an illusion.)

Nysander's got one really interesting spell though, which leads to Seregil getting a point on Thero:

“And what about that intrinsic nature spell of yours?” Seregil inquired blandly, staring down into his mug.

“I might have known you’d bring it around to that,” Thero sniffed. “A trick to entertain children and country peasants!”

“There are those who believe it has some value,” Nysander said with a meaningful look in Thero’s direction. “Myself among them.”

This is a spell that transforms someone into an animal that represents them, or something like that. It doesn't work on Thero for some reason, so he's not a fan. Seregil suggests they demonstrate. So everyone goes to the garden (in case Alec proves to be something large. Ahem.)

They demonstrate on Seregil first. (Thero notes "with grudging admiration" that Seregil attains a meditative trait easily. But also notes that it's a risk working magic on him.) Nysander recites Seregil's long ass name, Seregil turns into an otter.

Alec thinks Seregil is beautiful. Seregil jokes that he isn't sure if that's a compliment or an estimation of the worth of his pelt. He also dives into the water and comes back to drop a fish at Thero's feet. "A cold fish for a cold fish!" Thero is annoyed. (He also nudges the fish back into the water.)

So it's Alec's turn. His name is much shorter. Though he does know his father's name, so he becomes Alec i Amasa of Kerry. Still short, but better. Thero, impatient, notes that Alec isn't likely to use his real name when running with Seregil anyway.

I rather like that, while a bit of an asshole, Thero is as curious about this as the others.

So Alec is transformed into a young stag. Seregil pronounces him magnificent. Thero takes a step closer, which startles Alec. Fortunately, they change him back before he bolts and/or tramples Thero. It's noted that Alec will get a chance to try again, but first he'll have to learn to "govern his mind." Fair enough.

In the afternoon, Alec wanders about in the gardens. He meets Hwerlu and Feeya again, and learns a bit of her language. Then they hear the sound of a horse being driven too hard. It's Micum! And Micum looks pretty haggard. He's happy to see Alec though. But he has news!

We switch to Micum's point of view as he goes in to report. Nysander urges "all of you" into the sitting room. This doesn't include Thero for some reason, which Micum notes. It occurs to me that I don't remember seeing Micum and Thero interact significantly, and I don't remember their dynamic at all. It'll be interesting to find out.

So anyway, Micum's got news. He followed the trail of Mardus and the Plenimarians into a place called the Blackwater Fens (Alec recognizes this as a very hazardous place), and then he found a swamp village where everyone was massacred and carried into some kind of hidden chamber in the hillside. It's a pretty gruesome tale:

Meeting Seregil’s level grey gaze, he shook his head. “We’ve seen some hard things, you and I, but by Sakor, nothing like this. Some they’d just killed, others they’d hacked open, pulling their ribs back until the poor bastards looked as if they’d grown wings. Cut up their insides, too.

“There was a big flat stone in the center of the chamber, like a table. They must have done their butchery on that—it was all black with blood. A little girl and an old man were still laid out there, their faces gone green. I counted twenty-three in all, plus the three above. Must’ve been the whole damn village.”

Eek. He found older bones beneath the bodies too. Micum examined the stone and found some leather, which Nysander takes, examines and throws into the fire. This surprising behavior causes Seregil to angrily bring up the disk. He rightly thinks there's a connection. So we get one of those messy confrontations that no one really wants to witness, and Seregil storms off.

Micum is confused and a little annoyed himself, but Nysander placates him, noting that should the need arise, he'll utilize his, Seregil and Alec's services.

Anyway, Micum would like to get home to his wife first. They have a holding to the west of the city, that Micum got after some bit of heroism. He also has three daughters, the oldest of whom, Beka, is a year older than Alec.

Micum does have a question for Nysander though: how dangerous is this situation and is he going to risk bringing that danger to his family.

Nysander can't give him a straight answer, and it's to his credit (and Flewelling's) that it genuine does seem like more of a matter of can't rather than won't. Nysander does promise not to endanger them with false assurances. He urges caution.

So Micum and Alec go off to find Seregil (Micum getting the update from Alec.) Fortunately, Micum knows Seregil well and finds him tending Micum's horse. He notes that Seregil acted foolish and should set a better example for Alec. They exchange some words and Micum heads out.

Seregil does actually go back to talk to Nysander, but first we get his own eye-view of his conflict with Thero:

Thero answered Seregil’s knock. Exchanging their usual terse nods, they strode back through the stacks of manuscripts to the workroom. Walking behind the assistant wizard, Seregil read tension in the set of Thero’s shoulders and smiled to himself. There had never been any specific basis for their strong mutual dislike, yet it had sprung up full-blown the first time they’d laid eyes on each other. Out of regard for Nysander’s feelings, a grudging truce had developed between them. Nonetheless, they’d never been at ease in the other’s presence, though either one would have eaten fire before they’d admit it aloud.

Seregil considered himself to be above such petty emotions as jealousy or envy; so what if Thero had taken his place at Nysander’s side, filling it better, in some respects, than he ever had? Seregil had no reason to doubt Nysander’s personal regard for him, or the importance of their professional association. His continuing dislike of Thero, he’d long since concluded, must be on a purely instinctual level, and thus irreconcilable and probably justified.

Translation: Seregil's a dick who has no interest in trying to give his replacement a chance. And I mean, Thero does give back as good as he gets. But I feel like Seregil is definitely the one who exacerbates things more often.

Anyway, Seregil apologizes to Nysander. Nysander doesn't really apologize back:

Leaning against the door frame, Seregil cleared his throat. “I was an idiot just now.”

Nysander waved his apology aside. “Come in, please, and sit with me. Do you know, I was just trying to think how long it has been since you spent so many nights under this roof.”

“Too long, I’m afraid.”

Nysander regarded him with a sad smile. “Too long indeed, if you could imagine that I would keep anything from you out of distrust.”

Way to guilt trip. Anyway, Nysander says Seregil's actually taking this pretty well. They discuss Alec a bit: Nysander likes him. And then the conversation takes on an interesting note:

Nysander studied his friend’s face for a moment, then said gently, “He is very young, Seregil, and obviously has great respect and fondness for you. I trust you are aware of that?”

“My intentions toward Alec are perfectly honorable! You, of all people, ought to—”

“That is not what I was alluding to,” Nysander replied calmly. “What I am saying is that you must consider more than his mere education. You should be a friend to him as well as a teacher. The ime will come when the master must accept his pupil as an equal.”

“That’s the whole point, isn’t it?”

“I am glad to hear you say so. But you must be honest with him, too.” Nysander regarded him with sudden seriousness. “I know of at least one thing that he is not aware of. Why have you not told him of his true—?”

So yeah. We get a few things here. Seregil is sensitive about an implication of impropriety. He's also keeping something from Alec. Nysander isn't really sure why. But Nysander also has no room to talk.

The chapter ends on this cryptic note.

I really do like what Flewelling does with Thero, and Seregil and Thero, here. Thero is off-putting and unlikable, sure, but he doesn't come across as malicious or even mean. He takes some jibes at Seregil, but it's hard to say that's not warranted. Seregil's just as bad, if not worse. And I appreciate that too. I don't need my main characters to be flawless. Just interesting.