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i_read_what2019-03-05 08:06 pm
kalinara) wrote in i_read_what2019-03-05 08:06 pm
Dragonquest - Chapter 14 - Hatchings
So last chapter, we found out that, among other things, Lessa had a plan for Brekke. Her goal is to have Brekke stand at the Hatching and see if she can Impress the new Queen.
This chapter, we'll see how well that works (spoiler: not great). But I still love Lessa for trying.
So this chapter starts us off with Jaxom's point of view. If I didn't have a vague recollection of his plot, I'd be a little annoyed by this, since there are other characters whose perspectives might be more valuable. Like, y'know, Brekke. Considering how she's the one suffering tremendous loss.
But we get Jaxom's reaction to current events: understandably, he's scared. The loss of two queens is a tragedy and he thinks that things might be pointing toward even more dire events in the future. He's wondering if this is punishment for his blasphemy in invading the Hatching Ground.
But Jaxom also realizes that it's not really about him: the queens died somewhere other than Ruatha, he didn't know Kylara or Brekke. He is the one character who expresses actual concern for Kylara though, noting that it was funny that everyone was sorry for Brekke when Kylara lost a queen too.
That's actually very true. And while Kylara was vain and sometimes malicious, there was no indication that she'd ever done anything worthy of essentially having her mind destroyed. Thank you for thinking about that, Jaxom.
Jaxom reflects on the wedding, noting how scared he was when he saw F'lar and T'ron fighting. We're told that Lytol "said that a man wasn't afraid to admit to fear". And I love Lytol anew. He's still the best character in this series.
Jaxom loses some of my good will though because, when he sees the blue dragon that's going to give him and Lytol a ride to a hatching, he thinks about the "rankling injustice" of Lytol refusing the fire lizard eggs that should have gone to Ruatha. Jaxom thinks that he should have had one even if Lytol couldn't bear to Impress one himself, and Lytol had no right to refuse him that.
I won't tell Jaxom to fuck off because he's a kid, but I think he deserves a fucking grounding.
I have a bad feeling that I'm going to be spending a lot of the White Dragon bitching about how Jaxom treats Lytol.
Jaxom also annoys me by being a jerk to Felessan. He takes offense when Felessan complains that everyone has been so sour and horrible since the tragedy.
“Don’t you know anything, Felessan?” Jaxom said in a rebuking hiss that startled his friend into wide-eyed silence.
a) Felessan is six years old, Jaxom.
b) Felessan also has had to live with people directly impacted by this tragedy since it happened. And even if he might be too young to really comprehend it, he is old enough to feel the after effects. Stop being a jerk to your friend.
So the children settle in to watch and Jaxom notes that the smallest egg is sitting by itself. He asks what's wrong with it and worries that he hurt it. Felessan reassures him but says that "they" think it might not Hatch.
Then Felessan tells Jaxom about the plan to re-Impress Brekke, which sends Jaxom into thinking of many possibilities including the idea of Lytol on a dragon of his own. Okay, you're winning be back over by thinking of Lytol.
So we get to the Hatching and Lytol is visibly effected by watching one of the dragons Impress a young boy, and it occurs to me and Jaxom both how excruciating this must be. I realize that F'lar really doesn't have a choice about inviting Lytol, the invitations to the Lord Holders are political, and it would look like a massive insult to not invite him, but at the same time...ouch.
When the Queen hatches, there's a sweet moment where all of the girls step away, leaving the first opportunity to Brekke by "mutual consent." And I'm actually legitimately touched. As horrifying as I find the Weyr, these girls really want the honor of being Weyrwoman. And they're yielding it to someone who needs it.
But Brekke doesn't really care. We're told that "She seemed limp, broken, pathetic, listing to one side.". When the dragon steps near her, her fire lizard interferes, shrieking. The dragon hides behind the Ruathan candidate, and Brekke, for the first time, reacts to call back and comfort her lizard.
So, Lessa's plan failed, but did seem to have some effect.
Lytol's reaction is heartwrenching:
"'It would be wrong, terribly wrong for her to succeed,' Lytol said in a dead voice. He seemed to shrink in on himself, his shoulders sagging, his hands dangling limply between his knees."
It does occur to me that none of the people trying to help Brekke seem to have consulted with Lytol at all. And y'know, maybe they SHOULD. Maybe he's the only person who could really understand.
Then there's the issue with the littlest egg. Jaxom's concerned which gets Lytol's attention. Jaxom wonders if someone can't help the egg like a birthing woman can when a baby doesn't come. He asks if the dragonet can die, and Lytol admits that it can, because he never lies to Jaxom.
I love Lytol. I don't think I say that enough.
Jaxom sees that it's rocking though, it's just not cracking. Jaxom thinks it's unfair that no one seems to be paying attention. Jaxom is identifying heavily with the egg, relating it to his own birth, and impulsively helps it. It hatches and of course bonds with him. It's name is Ruth.
Now of course, THIS is a very interesting development politically speaking. Jaxom is the Lord of Ruatha. He also is a Dragonrider now. Of course, Ruth will be a special dragon and therefore Jaxom can do both. But it strikes me as resoundingly unfair to Lessa, who had to give up her birthright for Ramoth. Or even to Felessan, who by blood and ancestry, should have a legitimate claim to the Hold himself. (Though of course, Felessan will get his own dragon eventually.)
The ramifications will be interesting, even if we know the result. But god, poor Lytol. The man couldn't even manage the idea of having a fire lizard. He tortures himself with the Hatching. And now he's going to have to have this constant reminder of his loss day in and day out?
Lytol is a saint, man. A saint.
This chapter, we'll see how well that works (spoiler: not great). But I still love Lessa for trying.
So this chapter starts us off with Jaxom's point of view. If I didn't have a vague recollection of his plot, I'd be a little annoyed by this, since there are other characters whose perspectives might be more valuable. Like, y'know, Brekke. Considering how she's the one suffering tremendous loss.
But we get Jaxom's reaction to current events: understandably, he's scared. The loss of two queens is a tragedy and he thinks that things might be pointing toward even more dire events in the future. He's wondering if this is punishment for his blasphemy in invading the Hatching Ground.
But Jaxom also realizes that it's not really about him: the queens died somewhere other than Ruatha, he didn't know Kylara or Brekke. He is the one character who expresses actual concern for Kylara though, noting that it was funny that everyone was sorry for Brekke when Kylara lost a queen too.
That's actually very true. And while Kylara was vain and sometimes malicious, there was no indication that she'd ever done anything worthy of essentially having her mind destroyed. Thank you for thinking about that, Jaxom.
Jaxom reflects on the wedding, noting how scared he was when he saw F'lar and T'ron fighting. We're told that Lytol "said that a man wasn't afraid to admit to fear". And I love Lytol anew. He's still the best character in this series.
Jaxom loses some of my good will though because, when he sees the blue dragon that's going to give him and Lytol a ride to a hatching, he thinks about the "rankling injustice" of Lytol refusing the fire lizard eggs that should have gone to Ruatha. Jaxom thinks that he should have had one even if Lytol couldn't bear to Impress one himself, and Lytol had no right to refuse him that.
I won't tell Jaxom to fuck off because he's a kid, but I think he deserves a fucking grounding.
I have a bad feeling that I'm going to be spending a lot of the White Dragon bitching about how Jaxom treats Lytol.
Jaxom also annoys me by being a jerk to Felessan. He takes offense when Felessan complains that everyone has been so sour and horrible since the tragedy.
“Don’t you know anything, Felessan?” Jaxom said in a rebuking hiss that startled his friend into wide-eyed silence.
a) Felessan is six years old, Jaxom.
b) Felessan also has had to live with people directly impacted by this tragedy since it happened. And even if he might be too young to really comprehend it, he is old enough to feel the after effects. Stop being a jerk to your friend.
So the children settle in to watch and Jaxom notes that the smallest egg is sitting by itself. He asks what's wrong with it and worries that he hurt it. Felessan reassures him but says that "they" think it might not Hatch.
Then Felessan tells Jaxom about the plan to re-Impress Brekke, which sends Jaxom into thinking of many possibilities including the idea of Lytol on a dragon of his own. Okay, you're winning be back over by thinking of Lytol.
So we get to the Hatching and Lytol is visibly effected by watching one of the dragons Impress a young boy, and it occurs to me and Jaxom both how excruciating this must be. I realize that F'lar really doesn't have a choice about inviting Lytol, the invitations to the Lord Holders are political, and it would look like a massive insult to not invite him, but at the same time...ouch.
When the Queen hatches, there's a sweet moment where all of the girls step away, leaving the first opportunity to Brekke by "mutual consent." And I'm actually legitimately touched. As horrifying as I find the Weyr, these girls really want the honor of being Weyrwoman. And they're yielding it to someone who needs it.
But Brekke doesn't really care. We're told that "She seemed limp, broken, pathetic, listing to one side.". When the dragon steps near her, her fire lizard interferes, shrieking. The dragon hides behind the Ruathan candidate, and Brekke, for the first time, reacts to call back and comfort her lizard.
So, Lessa's plan failed, but did seem to have some effect.
Lytol's reaction is heartwrenching:
"'It would be wrong, terribly wrong for her to succeed,' Lytol said in a dead voice. He seemed to shrink in on himself, his shoulders sagging, his hands dangling limply between his knees."
It does occur to me that none of the people trying to help Brekke seem to have consulted with Lytol at all. And y'know, maybe they SHOULD. Maybe he's the only person who could really understand.
Then there's the issue with the littlest egg. Jaxom's concerned which gets Lytol's attention. Jaxom wonders if someone can't help the egg like a birthing woman can when a baby doesn't come. He asks if the dragonet can die, and Lytol admits that it can, because he never lies to Jaxom.
I love Lytol. I don't think I say that enough.
Jaxom sees that it's rocking though, it's just not cracking. Jaxom thinks it's unfair that no one seems to be paying attention. Jaxom is identifying heavily with the egg, relating it to his own birth, and impulsively helps it. It hatches and of course bonds with him. It's name is Ruth.
Now of course, THIS is a very interesting development politically speaking. Jaxom is the Lord of Ruatha. He also is a Dragonrider now. Of course, Ruth will be a special dragon and therefore Jaxom can do both. But it strikes me as resoundingly unfair to Lessa, who had to give up her birthright for Ramoth. Or even to Felessan, who by blood and ancestry, should have a legitimate claim to the Hold himself. (Though of course, Felessan will get his own dragon eventually.)
The ramifications will be interesting, even if we know the result. But god, poor Lytol. The man couldn't even manage the idea of having a fire lizard. He tortures himself with the Hatching. And now he's going to have to have this constant reminder of his loss day in and day out?
Lytol is a saint, man. A saint.