Jhereg - Chapter Seven

[kalinara]

So last time, we finally got an excuse to meet some of the famous people that Vlad keeps name-dropping for us. And learned of a past civil war...which might be repeatable. Oops



This chapter's quote seems considerably more on point than most: "Always speak politely to an enraged Dragon." But then, I get the sense that Dragons (both literal and Dragaeran Housefolk) aren't particularly fond of subtlety.

So the chapter starts with some reflection from Vlad. See, apparently the idea of "Castle Black" is pretty cheesy in this setting. Black is the color of sorcery for Dragaerans, so already naming your castle that is pretty over the top. It's also a floating castle. That sounds impressive to me, but apparently there had been a number of floating castles prior to the Interregnum, which has been mentioned before in this book.

What maybe hadn't mentioned before about the Interregnum is that, during this time, (over four hundred years ago, now), Dragaeran sorcery just stopped working. And thus, the floating castles went splat. So, in young Vlad's eyes, having a floating castle now, one named "Castle Black" of all things, is incredibly melodramatic and showy.

Vlad tells us a bit about the castle's owner, the aforementioned "Lord Morrolan". Possibly the most notable thing is that he was born during the Interregnum, which means he's at most, about four hundred years old. That's old by our standards, of course, but really young for Dragaerans. He might be the youngest Dragaeran we've met/heard about so far. And even more notably, he'd spent a lot of his early life in the East, learning witchcraft. (The Easterners, we're told, used this time to invade the Dragaerans for a change. Fair enough.)

So this is confirmation that the magic systems go both ways. We knew, from Vlad, that an Easterner could learn Dragaeran sorcery. But that makes some sense, as Dragaeran sorcery is tied somehow to the orb. Witchcraft is, from what we've seen, a completely internal type of phenomenon. So the fact that Dragaerans are capable of it too raises some interesting questions about the differences between both groups.

We get some more exciting sounding backstory here, which totally doesn't show up in one of the spinoff novels (read: it totally does):

Then, when Zerika, of the House of the Phoenix, came strolling out of the Paths of the Dead with the Orb clutched in her greedy little hands, Morrolan was right there, helping her stomp her way to the throne. After that, he was instrumental in driving back the Easterners, and he helped cure the plagues they left behind them as remembrances of their visit.

Anyway, this backstory is tangential to Vlad, whose point is that Morrolan is actually far more tolerant of Easterners than most Dragaerans (especially Dragonlords). Vlad actually, we're told now, works for him on a permanent basis, separate from his House Jhereg career. Though when they met, they almost killed each other.

(That's also a story told in a later book. :-D)

Vlad also tells us that Morrolan both is actually worthy of having a home like Castle Black, but has an ulterior motive too. As an excitable young Dragonlord, Morrolan likes having a pretentious home because he can then challenge anyone who mocks it to a duel. That's a bit delightful, and it starts to be clear how he and Vlad can be friends.

And in fact, Vlad actually sounds like he REALLY, GENUINELY likes the guy here:

Lord Morrolan, of the House of the Dragon, was one of damn few nobles who deserved the title. I have seen him show most of the attributes one expects of a noble: courtesy, kindness, honor. I would also say that he is one of the most bloodthirsty bastards I have ever met.

--

So now Vlad is off to Castle Black. He's met by Lady Teldra, who gets a pretty substantial description herself:

I don’t know what Morrolan paid her for her services as reception committee and welcoming service. Lady Teldra was tall, beautiful, and graceful as a dzur. Her eyes were as soft as an iorich’s wing, and her walk was smooth, flowing, and delicate as a court dancer’s. She held herself with the relaxed, confident poise of, well, of an issola.

I bowed low to her, and she returned my bow along with a stream of meaningless pleasantries that made me very glad I had come and almost made me forget my mission.

Eventually, Lady Teldra will have a larger role in the series. I don't recall if she does anything significant in this book though.

God, this review has even more excerpts than usual, but that's because we're meeting a LOT of characters in this section.

Moreso than the long introduction, Vlad's greeting exchange with Morrolan illustrates their dynamic nicely:

“Enter,” said Morrolan.

I did, and bowed deeply to him; he acknowledged.

“What is it, Vlad?”

“Problems,” I told him, as Lady Teldra swished back to her position near the castle entrance. “What else do you think I’d be doing here? You don’t think I’d deign to visit you socially, do you?”

He permitted himself a smile and held out his right arm to Loiosh, who flew over to it and accepted some head-scratching. “Of course not,” he responded. “That was only an illusion of you at the party the other day.”

Vlad asks if Aliera is around and Sethra, another big name that we've seen mentioned before. He tells Morrolan that it'll be easier to explain to all three of them together.

Now here's the thing that's interesting in all of this. Vlad has talked about Morrolan, Aliera, and Sethra before. They're important folk. And we've thus far seen nothing to disprove that impression. The interesting thing is that Vlad, who is a fairly nobody, low level mob enforcer/ganglord of a very small neighborhood, can get a meeting with all of these people on a polite, though not remotely subservient, request.

The next bit is character description, so I'll share it too. It helps to be able to imagine characters in a review as much as in the story itself, IMO.

Aliera arrived almost immediately, and Morrolan and I stood for her. She gave us each a small bow. Morrolan was a bit tall for a Dragaeran. His cousin Aliera, however, was the shortest Dragaeran I have ever known; she could have been mistaken for a tall human. Bothered by this, it was her habit to wear gowns that were too long, and then make up the difference by levitating rather than walking. There have been those who made disparaging remarks about this. Aliera, however, was never one to hold a grudge. She almost always revivified them afterwards.

Both Morrolan and Aliera had something of the typical Dragon facial features—the high cheekbones, rather thin faces and sharp brows of the House; but there was little else in common. Morrolan’s hair was as black as mine, whereas Aliera had golden hair—rare in a Dragaeran and almost unheard of in a Dragonlord. Her eyes were normally green, another oddity, but I’ve seen them change from green to gray, and occasionally to ice blue. When Aliera’s eyes turn blue, I’m very, very careful around her.

Sethra arrived just after her. What can I tell you about Sethra Lavode? Those who believe in her say she has lived ten thousand years (some say twenty). Others say she is a myth. Call her life unnatural, feel her undead breath. Color her black for sorcery, color her gray for death.

She smiled at me. We were all friends here. Morrolan carried Blackwand, which slew a thousand at the Wall of Baritt’s Tomb. Aliera carried Pathfinder, which they say served a power higher than the Empire. Sethra carried Iceflame, which embodied within it the power of Dzur Mountain. I carried myself rather well, thank you.

We all sat down, making us equals.

There's an interesting quality in a first person novel. The quintessential example of this quality is in Megan Whalen Turner's "The Thief", in my opinion. And that's that, in a first person novel, your perspective is completely limited to what your main character tells you. And sometimes, your main character isn't telling you everything. They could be lying, misleading you through omission, they could leave out information that the audience supposedly already knows, they could themselves be clueless to undercurrents going on.

And you as a reader only realize it when something doesn't match your expectations.

My point is, in this scene, Vlad really doesn't read like a nobody, low level enforcer/ganglord type. Does he?

Reinforcing this new impression is how Vlad brings up his problem. He asks about Mellar, in the context of his being a guest at Castle Black. Morrolan is straightforward about it: Mellar had acquired a book that he'd thought Morrolan would be interested in (it was about Pre-Empire Sorcery, which is, apparently a controversial topic. Vlad is fairly surprised by this, but Morrolan compares his interest in the subject to owning a Morganti blade: if the government folks want to give you a hard time about it, they can, but generally they won't bother unless you go around using it.)

Eventually Vlad's questions lead Morrolan to, thoughtfully rather than angrily, ask what this is about. Vlad says that he'll tell them now if they insist, but he would like to know more first, so he has a better idea of what he's talking about.

“Or how much you feel like telling us?” asked Aliera, sweetly.

I couldn’t repress a smile.

Aliera and Vlad have an interesting dynamic too. Also, as a random trivia note, Steven Brust named his daughter Aliera after this character. I think we can guess that she's his favorite. But fortunately, she's pretty fun.

I like this bit too:

“How was it that Mellar happened to stay here after delivering the book? You aren’t in the habit of inviting Jhereg into your home.”

Morrolan permitted himself another smile. “With a few exceptions,” he said.

...is it just me or does it sound like Morrolan is flirting there? But Vlad, sadly, is oblivious. Also married and presumably monogamous.

Anyway, Mellar had scored an invite with the book. Dropping it off personally wasn't unexpected as the subject matter IS illegal. And he was invited to dine. (Aliera remembers him and thinks he was dull.) This led to an invite to the general party, and eventually to stay for seventeen days, if he cared to. (It sounds like this is a fairly customary thing as Morrolan was a little surprised that Mellar accepted.)

Things get a bit spicier here though, as Vlad asks about the book. It had apparently belonged to Morrolan once and been "lifted" before Morrolan had upgraded his security system. That was about ten years ago.

So Vlad realizes now that Kragar was right: Mellar has been operating on a longer plan.

So now it's time for honesty, and for the first time, the comparative power levels in the room start making themselves known from Vlad's side:

I looked at the three of them. How should I go about this? I had a sudden urge to answer, “Oh, nothing,” get up, and see how close I could get to the door before they stopped me. I didn’t really like the idea of having the three of them fly into a sudden rage—with me being the bearer of bad tidings and all. Of course, I didn’t really think any of them would hurt me, but . . . 

I tried to think of an indirect approach and got nowhere.

It would be interesting to see how the others think about Vlad, and see what the power differential looks like from the other side.

So on Loiosh's telepathic encouragement (who says be direct, then teleport away fast), Vlad says it outright: Mellar's using Morrolan to hide from the Jhereg. Vlad also suggests that if he looks into it, he'll see that Mellar either took the book himself or hired someone to.

Morrolan doesn't like being manipulated, but he's holding fast to the rule about treatment of his guests. No harming Mellar until seventeen days are up. (Unless, Vlad points out to Morrolan's suspicious look, he leaves of his own free will.)

Aliera is angry and doesn't want Mellar to get away with this. Morrolan agrees...AFTER thirteen days pass. (He's been there for four.) Then he'll kill him.

Vlad's concern is to House Jhereg though. They don't have thirteen days. Sethra, interestingly, seems to understand, and points out that even if they hunt Mellar down afterward, he'll have succeeded in using a Dragon to hide from the Jhereg.

Vlad notes an interesting factor: Aliera has Pathfinder, a Great Qeapon with the power to find anything or anyone. Why go to all this trouble if he knows he can be easily tracked down and killed for the insult?

Aliera points out that she's only had her weapon for a short time, and it's not common knowledge that she has a "Great Weapon" at all. (The concept is not explained yet. Probably soon though.) He may have just assumed he could escape.

So we do see the downside of the Klingon-style honor of the Dragons. Aliera really doesn't want to wait for thirteen days. Morrolan is gets a pretty good speech on this:

“I have entertained my own blood enemies at my table, and arranged Morganti duels with them. I have seen the Necromancer speaking quietly to one who had been an enemy of hers for six incarnations. I have seen Sethra,” he gestured toward her, “sitting across from a Dzurlord who had sworn to destroy her. I will not allow you, my own cousin, to cast my name in the mud; to make me an oathbreaker. Is that how you would preserve the honor of the House of the Dragon?”

“Oh, speak on, great protector of honor,” she said. “Why not go all the way? Put up a poster outside the Jhereg barracks, saying that you are always willing to protect anyone who wants to run from their hired killers?”

He ignored the sarcasm. “And can you explain to me,” he said, “how it is that we can defend our honor as a House if each member does not honor even his own words?”

Aliera points out there's a difference between tradition and personal custom. But Morrolan had sworn an oath to make Castle Black a place of refuge. Dragon honor is ridiculously overblown, but neither character is stupid. They both back up their positions with rational arguments.

That said, being Dragons, the argument starts getting into threats and grandstanding and very nearly comes to blows, until Sethra breaks in:

Now Sethra stood up. Thank the Lords of Judgment, she hadn’t drawn Iceflame. She calmly stepped between them. “You both lose,” she said. “Neither of you has any intention of attacking the other, and you both know it. Aliera wants Morrolan to kill her, which preserves her honor and breaks his oath, so that he may as well go ahead and kill Mellar. Morrolan wants Aliera to kill him, being the one to break guest-laws, so she can then go ahead and kill Mellar herself. I, however, have no intention of allowing either of you to be killed or dishonored, so you may as well forget the provocations.”

I'm reminded of Vlad's ridiculously convoluted analysis of the Demon's motives and tactics. Dragaerans are just Like That, I suppose.

Sethra, knows, somehow, that Vlad is the one meant to kill Mellar. She keeps up the polite fiction of the assassin being an "acquaintance" then suggests that they try to think of ways to help the assassin.

Unfortunately, their options are limited. Morrolan leaves, because while he wants them to succeed, he can't really scheme against his own guests. While the others consider how to do this, without breaking Morrolan's rules.

Tricking him with magic is out. To Morrolan, that's basically the same as using an energy bolt to kill him directly. Regular lying is okay. But this is going to take a lot more planning. Vlad asks them to keep thinking about the problem and heads back to his office.

The chapter ends there.

I rather like this bit because I feel like Brust has put in a lot of thought as to how people with ridiculous Klingon honor actually think and function. And he's set up a very nice trap for them, that doesn't require anyone to be an idiot.

The clever part about the trap is that it ties everything together with Morrolan's personal honor. So even though the others are more willing to kill this dude, they can't do so without damaging their friend. And because he is their friend and they care about him, they're stuck too. It's very clever and a nice way to emphasize those emotional connections.