Pride of Princes - Part One, Chapter Three
Apr. 2nd, 2023 07:29 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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i_read_whatSo last time, we met our lead characters and they promptly got into a bar fight with a snooty aristocrat. Said bar fight has just been interrupted by the guards in a nice little cliffhanger.
I mean, let's be honest here, there's nothing particularly unpredictable about this section. Snooty guy tried to abuse his power and didn't realize that he was dealing with the literal princes of the kingdom. So this isn't going to end well for him.
That said, sometimes this sort of thing is very entertaining to me. (In a way, it reminds me of the Pona and Menolly confrontation in Dragonsinger, but this works for me because we're at the beginning of the book, and there's no pretense that Reynald will be any kind of ongoing threat.)
There is an interesting bit of implied xenophobia in how Reynald is described though:
Reynald of Caledon strode stiffly through the center of the common room, stepping over the downed bodies of his royal escort and kicking aside fragments of broken crockery. His foreign face was set in an expression of distaste, irritation and arrogance; his dismay at the results of the fight was evident even as he tried to hide it.
What does "foreign face" even mean?
Anyway, he goes up to the guardsmen and immediately makes demands:
The foreign prince nodded. "I am Reynald, cousin to Prince Einar of Caledon," he said flatly. "I wish to press charges against these three Homanans—I want you to see to it they are put in chains and locked away until justice can be levied. I intend to ask the Mujhar himself to hear my testimony."
"My lord, it is your privilege to do so," Dion said quietly. "But may I suggest you reconsider—"
"No, you may not, and I will not," Reynald answered. "I came here with my escort to enjoy an evening's entertainment in what I was told was a fine establishment."
He cast a withering glance around The Rampant Lion. "These men intruded, provoking a fight, and I demand reparation for this affront to my honor, and that of my cousin. Prince Einar."
He continues in this vein for a while, with each brother getting a chance to interject. Brennan merely asks, "lightly", if Einar's here. Hart points out that Reynald isn't injured at all, as he had let his escort do the fighting. Corin notes that Reynald could have just settled it between Brennan and himself, but had given the order to attack instead.
Reynald, of course, is too stupid to wonder why his adversaries are allowed to interrupt him at all, or why Brennan is so casual about having a guard's lance at his throat. But even he notices when, after he accuses Brennan of provoking him, Dion turns to Brennan with a "My lord?"
Brennan opened his mouth, but Reynald spoke before he could. " 'My lord,' " he mimicked, glaring at Dion. "You give him more honor than you give me."
"Aye," Dion answered smoothly; it was easy to see his opinion of the Caledonese lordling, regardless of his neutral expression and tone. "I mean you no disrespect, my lord, but this man will one day be my king."
And lo, the tables have turned.
The brothers get to be a little obnoxious here, in ways that reinforce their respective personalities. Brennan merely comments that "One day" will be a long time away, as his father is a spectacularly healthy man. (The narrative notes, of course, that he's purposely underplaying his hand.) Hart grins, reminding him that they all met the day before in the Great Hall. Corin reminds him that he'd wished their father best wishes for continued health.
One thing that I like is how the pattern of interjection fits a pattern with each brother. Brennan's are mild but with a bit of arrogance, Hart's are more amused and snarky, while Corin is more confrontational and pointed.
In an interesting bit, based on their established personalities, Brennan is the one to ask if Dion brought chains, while Hart is the one to say "enough", and acknowledge that Reynald sees the point. He asks Dion who sent them.
Actually, it was Rhiannon. She felt like it was her fault that the "nonsense" began, so she should be the one to stop it. Aw. It really wasn't your fault. And it seems that she's started rethinking a few things:
Her eyes lingered a moment on the earring in his left ear, now exposed by hair pushed away from his face. "I—I was ungrateful before," she said in a low voice. "You did this for me." She wiggled fingers showing at the edges of the cloth wrapping. "I didn't want you to get hurt, any of you." Her eyes touched briefly on Hart and Corin, but moved back to Brennan almost immediately.
Hart laughed. Corin's mouth twisted wryly.
I do enjoy the brothers as the peanut gallery here.
Brennan tells Reynald that he could, of course, press charges. Or they could let bygones be bygones and meet over Reynald's cousin's banqet tonight. Reynald looks back at his escort, many of whom are still stunned and/or unconscious, and leaves in a huff.
The scene ends with a bit more character establishment:
Corin watched him go, then turned back to Hart. "What about the others?"
Hart grinned his lopsided, charming grin. "He is nephew to the King of Caledon, rujho, and cousin to Prince Einar. It is not for him to concern himself with men wounded in his defense.”
"Ah." Corin, duly enlightened, nodded.
Brennan sighed and untied his belt-purse. He handed it over to the tavern-keeper. "For the damages," And then he worked a ring from one of his fingers. It was not the ruby signet of his rank, but a smaller sapphire set in silver. When it was free of his finger, he put it into Rhiannon's hands. "To replace the 'silver penny.' " He smiled warmly. "You see," he said, "Cheysuli are not so bad."
She stared after him as he preceded his brothers out of The Rampant Lion. And then she kissed the ring.
So we do see here how our lead characters, arrogant and wrapped in social privilege as they are, differ at least a little from Reynald. They don't agree with leaving subordinates behind, they try to make restitution for the damage that they cause (though is it enough to cover the days the tavern will need to be closed to make repairs?), and generally aren't dicks to servant girls.
Rhiannon's reaction though reminds me that, as oldest son, Brennan is betrothed at birth to Liam of Erinn's daughter.
Really, given the trouble that betrothals have caused for two generations now, you'd think they'd stop doing it.
-
So the scene now shifts to Niall, who is displeased. We do hear that there's no one dead. And while some of the Caledonese are wounded, it's not serious. Dion apparently had reported that it didn't seem to be entirely the princes' fault, but Niall, understandably, is still irked.
His favoritism is showing, but he does get called on it.
"Reason, perhaps, but not good reason," Niall said grimly. He shook his head, still bare of its heavy circlet, and swung back. "I cannot believe Brennan took part in this idiocy. It is not like him. Hart and Corin, aye—they would hardly balk at a fight, regardless of provocation—but Brennan?"
Deirdre swept into the room from another entrance,
"My lord Mujhar, your favoritism is showing."
"Is it?" Niall absently admired the rich blue gown that fit her slender body so snugly. Her brass-bright hair was twisted up on her head in a knot secured with thick pins of silver wire, and she wore yet another of his gifts, a silver chain crusted with diamonds and dark blue sapphires. It glittered against her throat. "Aye, well . . . even you must admit it is unlike Brennan."
Corin's irritation at his brother probably does have some merit, I have to admit. It would be annoying to hear this kind of thing a lot.
Speaking of Brennan, Niall is informed that the boys are waiting in his private solar, since they knew that he'd probably want to yell at them. It was Brennan's suggestion, of course. Ugh, uptight and sanctimonious really is catnip to me. It's embarrassing.
Anyway, Deirdre seems inclined to want to give the boys the benefit of the doubt, but Niall asks her to leave the punishment to him. The boys might well have destroyed any hope of renewing the trade alliance after all.
"In other words, you are wanting me to be silent." She scowled at him as she sat down, but it lacked the determination to have much of the desired affect. " Tis for you to do, then," she agreed. "They are your sons, not mine." And she folded her hands primly in her lap.
Admittedly, I'd be annoyed in Deirdre's place too. If you recall, Corin and Keely were still practically newborns when Gisella was sent away, and she came to Homana. Brennan and Hart would have been a year old at the most. She pretty much IS their mother, for all intents and purposes. But this is also a matter of statecraft, and that is the king's purview, I suppose.
Anyway, we switch over to the boys. And we already see tension rising, as the boys have very different reactions to impending discipline:
"Oh, gods," Brennan said when Taggart had told them where they must go. "He is angry."
"And are you a woman or a warrior?" Corin demanded crossly. "We are too big to spank, Brennan; why do you dread facing him so much?"
"Probably because only rarely have I had to be reprimanded. It is you who have spent so much of your time in his bad graces." Brennan turned on his heel and marched out of the solar.
"So has Hart," Corin said defensively, following. Still he cradled the sore wrist, wondering if it were cracked or merely badly bruised. "I am not the only one who has been sent before our jehan."
"Is that a point of pride?" Brennan asked acidly.
"Your arm hurts," Hart announced, bringing up the rear. "You are irritable, rujho."
Nothing new or surprising really, but I rather like the rhythm of their dialogue. I'm going to be a little sad, I think, when they split off into their own sections.
Brennan thinks this is going to be worse if they're defiant instead of contrite. Corin points out that it was Reynold's fault, and that Brennan was the first to join the fight. Hart agrees, and thinks this means that Niall will be less angry. Since Brennan was involved "in this one", Niall may think it had merit.
Hah, yes, boys. Weaponize the favoritism.
And from Niall's point of view, we see them enter:
Niall watched them file in. Brennan first, of course; as always. The eldest was plainly out of sorts in clothing as well as temper, though he tried to hide both by forcing his face into a calm, neutral expression and attempting to straighten the fit of his velvet doublet. Niall saw wine stains, blood stains, gaping rents. Through the remains of the left sleeve, lir-gold gleamed faintly.
Hart, now second in line, looked much worse. His dark blue doublet was as stained and torn, but his face was badly bruised and already showed the beginnings of a black eye. There was no blood or wound visible, but he walked with the odd, stiffly upright posture of a man afraid to move anything above his waist. Ribs, then.
As for Corin, the youngest trailed the other two as if to defy his father, jaw jutting out to advertise his unwillingness to accept responsibility for his actions. It was a familiar posture to Niall, who murmured inwardly that one day, if it pleased the gods, Corin might grow up—and was relieved to see the son who looked so much like him showed no signs of serious physical discomfort. Even if he did favor his right wrist, which looked suspiciously swollen.
It's the same character beats that we already knew, but it's interesting anyway, because we get to appreciate how well Niall can read his sons and that, despite his anger, he does care about them a lot, and we can see him clock each one's physical condition and overt injuries.
There might also be a subtler character beat in that he doesn't actually notice the knife wound in Brennan's arm. The downside of this kind of favoritism is that high expectations can come with a certain blindness to vulnerability or weakness. He's used to scrutinizing his rebellious younger sons, NOT his responsible oldest. Is he missing anything? (spoiler: maybe)
Corin is bold enough to sit on a stool, and even Hart snaps at him to stand up. He doesn't.
So the story starts coming out, in spurts:
Inwardly, Niall sighed. "One at a time," he said aloud.
"Who shall be first?"
Brennan opened his mouth to answer, as always, first, but Corin got there before him. "It was a girl," he said flatly, indelicately, and made both his brothers scowl their disapproval. He colored. "It was."
"A girl." Somehow, Niall had not quite expected that.
Generally it was something more, or something else.
Hart wet his lips. "A wine-girl," he said. Then, as if hearing how ludicrous it sounded, he added, "But not a common sort of wine-girl, or a common sort of tavern."
"Far be it for my sons to frequent a common tavern with merely common wine-girls." The Mujhar's tone was deceptively mild.
I just really like the rhythm here. Anyway, Corin is the one who tells most of the story. And for all his earlier flippancy, he's very serious when he talks about how Reynald hit Rhiannon and knocked her down.
And class comes up again here.
"He hit the girl," Corin told him seriously. "He nearly knocked her down, and she did not deserve it. She had already cut her hand on the broken winejug."
Hart nodded. "He refused to apologize."
Niall's left brow lifted; the right one, divided by the talon scar, was mostly hidden beneath the diagonal slash of leather strap that held the patch in place. "A wine-girl asked apology of a Caledonese prince?"
"No," Corin said lightly. "That took Brennan, of course."
I do think this is the first book in the series where we are looking at class as a significant factor. Shapechangers maybe lightly touched on it with Alix and Carillon's not-romance, but it never seriously came up - likely because the bulk of Alix's storyline was with the Cheysuli. Carillon interacted with common folk as a prince-in-exile, but once he took the throne, he was pretty wrapped up in the Electra plot. Donal and Niall interact primarily with fellow royalty or the Cheysuli, who have a different societal structure entirely.
But it is here. And even Niall, who has been the most likable lead we've had so far, isn't immune:
"Ah." Niall’s single eye flicked to his eldest son. "Then it was you who began it?"
Brennan did not flinch from the tone in his father's voice, which managed to express surprise, disappointment, disapproval, all at once. "Aye," he answered clearly.
"I," Brennan agreed. "Jehan—he was unnecessarily rude. He hurt her."
"So you stepped in and defended her honor, if such still exists."
Okay, that's fucking out of line, Niall. Would you say that about one of your daughters?
There's an interesting bit here where Deirdre opens her mouth as if to protest, but then waits for the interview to be finished. Thank you for being appalled.
Brennan frowned at his father. "Are you saying that because she is a wine-girl, she is undeserving of aid when someone mistreats her?"
"No," Niall answered. "I am saying that I hope she was worth the loss of a trade alliance between Homana and Caledon."
And here we hit smack dab on the justification for classism. Because, of course, Niall's not wrong. Insulting a peasant girl does not have the same consequences as insulting a foreign prince. In that sense, Rhiannon is less important than Reynald is. But Brennan isn't wrong either. Rhiannon didn't deserve to be mistreated. She should have as much right to be defended as Deirdre or Niall's daughters would be.
A bar fight probably was not the best way to go about it.
Brennan, of course, gets the point first. Hart asks if Niall thinks Einar will refuse to negotiate because of this. Corin points out that Niall doesn't know for sure.
And in the end, Niall does hit the right note with me at least:
Niall nodded a little, "Perhaps you were correct to defend the wine-girl's honor; I will not protest that. It is good manners, if nothing else. But I will protest the disregard you had for the delicacy of relationships between realms. I will also protest your inability to recall that diplomacy is necessary in nearly every situation, certainly this one. And I will most decidedly protest your inability to remember that Cheysuli warriors do not brawl in taverns." He paused, marking their shocked faces.
"Princes do not brawl in taverns. My sons do not brawl in taverns." Again he paused, and heard the echo of his voice ringing in the chamber. "Do I make myself clear?"
I mean, fair enough. For me at least. Corin retorts by saying they've done this before. Hoo boy. Even Hart takes a step away from Corin at that one.
Niall's reaction?
Slowly Niall moved from the casement. He walked to his youngest son and paused before the stool. And abruptly, before Corin could speak or make any sort of protest, Niall reached down and grasped the injured wrist, snapping Corin to his feet.
“Jehan—" But Corin, though clearly in pain, broke off his protest when he saw the expression on his father's face.
"You have spent twenty years in Homana-Mujhar, sharing in the bounty of your birth," Niall said in a tone that, for all its gentleness, implied more displeasure than shouting might have. "Your jehana was Princess of Atvia in her own right, bred of Cheysuli warriors and Homanan kings. I care little enough what you may think of me, or what I do—but you will respect the blood that flows in your veins." Niall drew in a breath that did nothing to dispel the rising anger in his tone. "That blood you have spilled all too often in petty tavern brawls. It must stop, Corin. It must. Rid yourself of this resentment and hostility and conduct yourself as a prince and Cheysuli warrior should." He paused, looking for something in Corin's blue eyes. "It is not worthy of you," he said, more quietly.
I don't really like the wrist grabbing thing, Niall. But the lecture is appropriate. Corin just retorts with the accusation that he isn't worthy of Niall.
That hurts, and we're told that Deirdre wants to go to him immediately, but refrains so as not to undermine him. Niall, for his part, looks at the other two rather than Corin, who "so closely resembled the young Niall in coloring as well as insecurity".
And this is a really interesting element.
Niall favors Brennan of the three, and it makes some sense. Brennan is more composed than Corin and more serious than Hart. Even though he's the one who started the fight, he's the one most willing to accept the consequences. (Well, Hart is willing, he just doesn't seem to care that much.)
But are personalities set in stone, or do they develop based on circumstance? If you know that your dad favors your brother, no matter what you do, is it that surprising that you might become an apathetic jokester or a defiant rebel? Or for that matter, if you're aware that you're the recipient of undeserved favoritism, might you then try very hard to do what you can to prove worthy of it?
Niall spent an entire book showing us, in great detail, his insecurities over his identity as a Cheysuli. His sons, mathematically, are no more Cheysuli than he is. But Brennan LOOKS Cheysuli. It's probably a gratifying reassurance, on one hand. And on another, well...Niall doesn't actually get to interact much with Cheysuli that he's not related to, does he? He hero-worshipped his brother, had a distant awe of his father...
I think maybe these are all factors too.
I'll give credit where it's due: I think Roberson has done a good job here of, rather subtly, showing us how a Golden Child dynamic has a negative effect on all three children.
It's really hard not to excerpt all of this!
"What I have said to Corin applies equally to you," he told his twin-born sons. "I have raised none of you to behave as common soldiers on leave, fighting over petty slights and imagined insults, nor as crofters spending their few coins on liquor and wine-girls . . . nor on foolish wagers." His eye flicked to Hart, then returned to Brennan. "I expected such behavior out of you least of all."
Brennan stood very straight, but his shoulders lost their set.
Quickly Hart spoke up. "Blame him no more than me, jehan."
"No," Niall agreed. "But less than you, aye. It was your idea to go there, was it not?"
Hart opened his mouth, then shut it. After a moment, he nodded. "We meant only to drink a little, jehan. Not to fight. You know I would rather throw the dice and rune-sticks than fight."
"Reynald deserved it, jehan," Corin said flatly. "And if the rest of the Caledonese royal house is like him, you do not wish to make an alliance with them anyway."
"Do I not?" Niall looked calmly at his youngest son."I see—I am to base the future of Homanan economy solely on the personalities of Caledon's rulers. At least, so you say."
I mostly included this part for Hart. Because so much of the conflict with Niall and his children center around Brennan and Corin. Brennan gets the favoritism weighted down with responsibility and expectation. Corin gets the resentment and rebellion. Brennan looks Cheysuli. Corin looks like Niall. And poor Hart gets lost in the midst.
He's not the over-achieving favorite. He's not the resentful rebel. Niall only remembers to yell at him when he calls attention to himself. So why bother worrying at all? Why bother taking any of it seriously?
Heck, even his appearance reflects his position. He looks Cheysuli, but with blue eyes. The thing is though, the first thing ethnic Homanans notice about Cheysuli is the "beast eyes". When Rhiannon was separating them in her mind, she had Brennan as the shapechanger, and Hart and Corin as the safe options. But he doesn't look like Niall either. He's falling through the cracks.
Anyway, Niall goes back to Corin here, gently reminding him that he has much to learn about dealing with other kingdoms, and he'd better, as in two or three years, he'll be going to Atvia as Alaric's heir.
Admittedly, given what we've seen of Atvia, I do not blame Corin for not wanting to go. But per Niall, he can choose to remain as a dispossessed, disinherited son, or accept his tahlmorra and go to Atvia.
Corin points out that he could stay with the clans. Niall can't dispossess him from his heritage or his lir.
Yeeeah, but no. Niall points out that a warrior who turns his back on tahlmorra is solely to blame for his own disinheritance and his loss of the afterworld. It does raise the interesting question of who actually gets to determine tahlmorra, but as we've seen from Finn way back in Shapechangers, there IS a difference.
...huh, I was trying to think of who Corin reminded me of. And it just hit me.
This is going to sound more insulting than I mean it, but the character that Corin actually reminds me the most of right now is Shapechanger's Finn. NOT in the sense of being a vile rapist. But I feel like Corin is the character that Roberson MEANT to write in Shapechangers: the resentful, angry young hothead with a chip on his shoulder.
Obviously, she's much better at it now. But wow. That's going to give me a new appreciation of Corin's section of this book, because there are some very notable parallels.
(I have some ideas regarding Brennan and Hart's parallels, but there are some spoilers wrapped up there, and I'll have to see if I'm remembering things correctly)
So anyway, it's time for punishment. First, they're forbidden from attending the banquet. That part is almost a reward, but there's a bit more of an individual punishment attached too:
"In not attending the banquet, you will keep yourselves to your respective chambers," Niall explained, "and you will remain in them until I give you leave to go out of them. No banquets, no taverns, no Clankeep." He fixed his eye on each of his sons individually. "No horses," he said to Brennan, "No wagering," he ordered Hart. And lastly, to Corin, "No visits from any of Deirdre's ladies."
"For how long?" Brennan demanded indignantly, forgoing all the diplomacy he had so carefully cultivated. "If I leave Bane for even a day, all my progress will be undone and I will have to begin again."
Hart frowned. "And how am I expected to pass the time, jehan, while I wait for your leave to go?”
But Corin laughed. "Enforced celibacy, jehan! Well, it will only leave the ladies all the more eager for me when I can share their company again."
Deirdre smiled serenely. " Tis hard for my ladies to be eager when their positions are in jeopardy."
Corin stared at her in astonishment. "You would do that?"
"To support the Mujhar, I will do anything," she said calmly. "Just as all of his children should, sons and daughters alike."
Another excerpt, I know, but I enjoy the juxtaposition of reactions.
Brennan's "diplomacy" (I actually would call it submission) finally breaks, as he focuses on the impediment to progress. Hart actually seems to care about his impending boredom. And Corin thinks he's got a leg up. So to speak.
But that's where Deirdre gets to speak up. Because while she's been mostly passive support for this scene, she does have her own sphere of power and she's happy to support her partner.
The chapter ends with three now suitably chastened sons slowly leaving the chamber.
I mean, let's be honest here, there's nothing particularly unpredictable about this section. Snooty guy tried to abuse his power and didn't realize that he was dealing with the literal princes of the kingdom. So this isn't going to end well for him.
That said, sometimes this sort of thing is very entertaining to me. (In a way, it reminds me of the Pona and Menolly confrontation in Dragonsinger, but this works for me because we're at the beginning of the book, and there's no pretense that Reynald will be any kind of ongoing threat.)
There is an interesting bit of implied xenophobia in how Reynald is described though:
Reynald of Caledon strode stiffly through the center of the common room, stepping over the downed bodies of his royal escort and kicking aside fragments of broken crockery. His foreign face was set in an expression of distaste, irritation and arrogance; his dismay at the results of the fight was evident even as he tried to hide it.
What does "foreign face" even mean?
Anyway, he goes up to the guardsmen and immediately makes demands:
The foreign prince nodded. "I am Reynald, cousin to Prince Einar of Caledon," he said flatly. "I wish to press charges against these three Homanans—I want you to see to it they are put in chains and locked away until justice can be levied. I intend to ask the Mujhar himself to hear my testimony."
"My lord, it is your privilege to do so," Dion said quietly. "But may I suggest you reconsider—"
"No, you may not, and I will not," Reynald answered. "I came here with my escort to enjoy an evening's entertainment in what I was told was a fine establishment."
He cast a withering glance around The Rampant Lion. "These men intruded, provoking a fight, and I demand reparation for this affront to my honor, and that of my cousin. Prince Einar."
He continues in this vein for a while, with each brother getting a chance to interject. Brennan merely asks, "lightly", if Einar's here. Hart points out that Reynald isn't injured at all, as he had let his escort do the fighting. Corin notes that Reynald could have just settled it between Brennan and himself, but had given the order to attack instead.
Reynald, of course, is too stupid to wonder why his adversaries are allowed to interrupt him at all, or why Brennan is so casual about having a guard's lance at his throat. But even he notices when, after he accuses Brennan of provoking him, Dion turns to Brennan with a "My lord?"
Brennan opened his mouth, but Reynald spoke before he could. " 'My lord,' " he mimicked, glaring at Dion. "You give him more honor than you give me."
"Aye," Dion answered smoothly; it was easy to see his opinion of the Caledonese lordling, regardless of his neutral expression and tone. "I mean you no disrespect, my lord, but this man will one day be my king."
And lo, the tables have turned.
The brothers get to be a little obnoxious here, in ways that reinforce their respective personalities. Brennan merely comments that "One day" will be a long time away, as his father is a spectacularly healthy man. (The narrative notes, of course, that he's purposely underplaying his hand.) Hart grins, reminding him that they all met the day before in the Great Hall. Corin reminds him that he'd wished their father best wishes for continued health.
One thing that I like is how the pattern of interjection fits a pattern with each brother. Brennan's are mild but with a bit of arrogance, Hart's are more amused and snarky, while Corin is more confrontational and pointed.
In an interesting bit, based on their established personalities, Brennan is the one to ask if Dion brought chains, while Hart is the one to say "enough", and acknowledge that Reynald sees the point. He asks Dion who sent them.
Actually, it was Rhiannon. She felt like it was her fault that the "nonsense" began, so she should be the one to stop it. Aw. It really wasn't your fault. And it seems that she's started rethinking a few things:
Her eyes lingered a moment on the earring in his left ear, now exposed by hair pushed away from his face. "I—I was ungrateful before," she said in a low voice. "You did this for me." She wiggled fingers showing at the edges of the cloth wrapping. "I didn't want you to get hurt, any of you." Her eyes touched briefly on Hart and Corin, but moved back to Brennan almost immediately.
Hart laughed. Corin's mouth twisted wryly.
I do enjoy the brothers as the peanut gallery here.
Brennan tells Reynald that he could, of course, press charges. Or they could let bygones be bygones and meet over Reynald's cousin's banqet tonight. Reynald looks back at his escort, many of whom are still stunned and/or unconscious, and leaves in a huff.
The scene ends with a bit more character establishment:
Corin watched him go, then turned back to Hart. "What about the others?"
Hart grinned his lopsided, charming grin. "He is nephew to the King of Caledon, rujho, and cousin to Prince Einar. It is not for him to concern himself with men wounded in his defense.”
"Ah." Corin, duly enlightened, nodded.
Brennan sighed and untied his belt-purse. He handed it over to the tavern-keeper. "For the damages," And then he worked a ring from one of his fingers. It was not the ruby signet of his rank, but a smaller sapphire set in silver. When it was free of his finger, he put it into Rhiannon's hands. "To replace the 'silver penny.' " He smiled warmly. "You see," he said, "Cheysuli are not so bad."
She stared after him as he preceded his brothers out of The Rampant Lion. And then she kissed the ring.
So we do see here how our lead characters, arrogant and wrapped in social privilege as they are, differ at least a little from Reynald. They don't agree with leaving subordinates behind, they try to make restitution for the damage that they cause (though is it enough to cover the days the tavern will need to be closed to make repairs?), and generally aren't dicks to servant girls.
Rhiannon's reaction though reminds me that, as oldest son, Brennan is betrothed at birth to Liam of Erinn's daughter.
Really, given the trouble that betrothals have caused for two generations now, you'd think they'd stop doing it.
-
So the scene now shifts to Niall, who is displeased. We do hear that there's no one dead. And while some of the Caledonese are wounded, it's not serious. Dion apparently had reported that it didn't seem to be entirely the princes' fault, but Niall, understandably, is still irked.
His favoritism is showing, but he does get called on it.
"Reason, perhaps, but not good reason," Niall said grimly. He shook his head, still bare of its heavy circlet, and swung back. "I cannot believe Brennan took part in this idiocy. It is not like him. Hart and Corin, aye—they would hardly balk at a fight, regardless of provocation—but Brennan?"
Deirdre swept into the room from another entrance,
"My lord Mujhar, your favoritism is showing."
"Is it?" Niall absently admired the rich blue gown that fit her slender body so snugly. Her brass-bright hair was twisted up on her head in a knot secured with thick pins of silver wire, and she wore yet another of his gifts, a silver chain crusted with diamonds and dark blue sapphires. It glittered against her throat. "Aye, well . . . even you must admit it is unlike Brennan."
Corin's irritation at his brother probably does have some merit, I have to admit. It would be annoying to hear this kind of thing a lot.
Speaking of Brennan, Niall is informed that the boys are waiting in his private solar, since they knew that he'd probably want to yell at them. It was Brennan's suggestion, of course. Ugh, uptight and sanctimonious really is catnip to me. It's embarrassing.
Anyway, Deirdre seems inclined to want to give the boys the benefit of the doubt, but Niall asks her to leave the punishment to him. The boys might well have destroyed any hope of renewing the trade alliance after all.
"In other words, you are wanting me to be silent." She scowled at him as she sat down, but it lacked the determination to have much of the desired affect. " Tis for you to do, then," she agreed. "They are your sons, not mine." And she folded her hands primly in her lap.
Admittedly, I'd be annoyed in Deirdre's place too. If you recall, Corin and Keely were still practically newborns when Gisella was sent away, and she came to Homana. Brennan and Hart would have been a year old at the most. She pretty much IS their mother, for all intents and purposes. But this is also a matter of statecraft, and that is the king's purview, I suppose.
Anyway, we switch over to the boys. And we already see tension rising, as the boys have very different reactions to impending discipline:
"Oh, gods," Brennan said when Taggart had told them where they must go. "He is angry."
"And are you a woman or a warrior?" Corin demanded crossly. "We are too big to spank, Brennan; why do you dread facing him so much?"
"Probably because only rarely have I had to be reprimanded. It is you who have spent so much of your time in his bad graces." Brennan turned on his heel and marched out of the solar.
"So has Hart," Corin said defensively, following. Still he cradled the sore wrist, wondering if it were cracked or merely badly bruised. "I am not the only one who has been sent before our jehan."
"Is that a point of pride?" Brennan asked acidly.
"Your arm hurts," Hart announced, bringing up the rear. "You are irritable, rujho."
Nothing new or surprising really, but I rather like the rhythm of their dialogue. I'm going to be a little sad, I think, when they split off into their own sections.
Brennan thinks this is going to be worse if they're defiant instead of contrite. Corin points out that it was Reynold's fault, and that Brennan was the first to join the fight. Hart agrees, and thinks this means that Niall will be less angry. Since Brennan was involved "in this one", Niall may think it had merit.
Hah, yes, boys. Weaponize the favoritism.
And from Niall's point of view, we see them enter:
Niall watched them file in. Brennan first, of course; as always. The eldest was plainly out of sorts in clothing as well as temper, though he tried to hide both by forcing his face into a calm, neutral expression and attempting to straighten the fit of his velvet doublet. Niall saw wine stains, blood stains, gaping rents. Through the remains of the left sleeve, lir-gold gleamed faintly.
Hart, now second in line, looked much worse. His dark blue doublet was as stained and torn, but his face was badly bruised and already showed the beginnings of a black eye. There was no blood or wound visible, but he walked with the odd, stiffly upright posture of a man afraid to move anything above his waist. Ribs, then.
As for Corin, the youngest trailed the other two as if to defy his father, jaw jutting out to advertise his unwillingness to accept responsibility for his actions. It was a familiar posture to Niall, who murmured inwardly that one day, if it pleased the gods, Corin might grow up—and was relieved to see the son who looked so much like him showed no signs of serious physical discomfort. Even if he did favor his right wrist, which looked suspiciously swollen.
It's the same character beats that we already knew, but it's interesting anyway, because we get to appreciate how well Niall can read his sons and that, despite his anger, he does care about them a lot, and we can see him clock each one's physical condition and overt injuries.
There might also be a subtler character beat in that he doesn't actually notice the knife wound in Brennan's arm. The downside of this kind of favoritism is that high expectations can come with a certain blindness to vulnerability or weakness. He's used to scrutinizing his rebellious younger sons, NOT his responsible oldest. Is he missing anything? (spoiler: maybe)
Corin is bold enough to sit on a stool, and even Hart snaps at him to stand up. He doesn't.
So the story starts coming out, in spurts:
Inwardly, Niall sighed. "One at a time," he said aloud.
"Who shall be first?"
Brennan opened his mouth to answer, as always, first, but Corin got there before him. "It was a girl," he said flatly, indelicately, and made both his brothers scowl their disapproval. He colored. "It was."
"A girl." Somehow, Niall had not quite expected that.
Generally it was something more, or something else.
Hart wet his lips. "A wine-girl," he said. Then, as if hearing how ludicrous it sounded, he added, "But not a common sort of wine-girl, or a common sort of tavern."
"Far be it for my sons to frequent a common tavern with merely common wine-girls." The Mujhar's tone was deceptively mild.
I just really like the rhythm here. Anyway, Corin is the one who tells most of the story. And for all his earlier flippancy, he's very serious when he talks about how Reynald hit Rhiannon and knocked her down.
And class comes up again here.
"He hit the girl," Corin told him seriously. "He nearly knocked her down, and she did not deserve it. She had already cut her hand on the broken winejug."
Hart nodded. "He refused to apologize."
Niall's left brow lifted; the right one, divided by the talon scar, was mostly hidden beneath the diagonal slash of leather strap that held the patch in place. "A wine-girl asked apology of a Caledonese prince?"
"No," Corin said lightly. "That took Brennan, of course."
I do think this is the first book in the series where we are looking at class as a significant factor. Shapechangers maybe lightly touched on it with Alix and Carillon's not-romance, but it never seriously came up - likely because the bulk of Alix's storyline was with the Cheysuli. Carillon interacted with common folk as a prince-in-exile, but once he took the throne, he was pretty wrapped up in the Electra plot. Donal and Niall interact primarily with fellow royalty or the Cheysuli, who have a different societal structure entirely.
But it is here. And even Niall, who has been the most likable lead we've had so far, isn't immune:
"Ah." Niall’s single eye flicked to his eldest son. "Then it was you who began it?"
Brennan did not flinch from the tone in his father's voice, which managed to express surprise, disappointment, disapproval, all at once. "Aye," he answered clearly.
"I," Brennan agreed. "Jehan—he was unnecessarily rude. He hurt her."
"So you stepped in and defended her honor, if such still exists."
Okay, that's fucking out of line, Niall. Would you say that about one of your daughters?
There's an interesting bit here where Deirdre opens her mouth as if to protest, but then waits for the interview to be finished. Thank you for being appalled.
Brennan frowned at his father. "Are you saying that because she is a wine-girl, she is undeserving of aid when someone mistreats her?"
"No," Niall answered. "I am saying that I hope she was worth the loss of a trade alliance between Homana and Caledon."
And here we hit smack dab on the justification for classism. Because, of course, Niall's not wrong. Insulting a peasant girl does not have the same consequences as insulting a foreign prince. In that sense, Rhiannon is less important than Reynald is. But Brennan isn't wrong either. Rhiannon didn't deserve to be mistreated. She should have as much right to be defended as Deirdre or Niall's daughters would be.
A bar fight probably was not the best way to go about it.
Brennan, of course, gets the point first. Hart asks if Niall thinks Einar will refuse to negotiate because of this. Corin points out that Niall doesn't know for sure.
And in the end, Niall does hit the right note with me at least:
Niall nodded a little, "Perhaps you were correct to defend the wine-girl's honor; I will not protest that. It is good manners, if nothing else. But I will protest the disregard you had for the delicacy of relationships between realms. I will also protest your inability to recall that diplomacy is necessary in nearly every situation, certainly this one. And I will most decidedly protest your inability to remember that Cheysuli warriors do not brawl in taverns." He paused, marking their shocked faces.
"Princes do not brawl in taverns. My sons do not brawl in taverns." Again he paused, and heard the echo of his voice ringing in the chamber. "Do I make myself clear?"
I mean, fair enough. For me at least. Corin retorts by saying they've done this before. Hoo boy. Even Hart takes a step away from Corin at that one.
Niall's reaction?
Slowly Niall moved from the casement. He walked to his youngest son and paused before the stool. And abruptly, before Corin could speak or make any sort of protest, Niall reached down and grasped the injured wrist, snapping Corin to his feet.
“Jehan—" But Corin, though clearly in pain, broke off his protest when he saw the expression on his father's face.
"You have spent twenty years in Homana-Mujhar, sharing in the bounty of your birth," Niall said in a tone that, for all its gentleness, implied more displeasure than shouting might have. "Your jehana was Princess of Atvia in her own right, bred of Cheysuli warriors and Homanan kings. I care little enough what you may think of me, or what I do—but you will respect the blood that flows in your veins." Niall drew in a breath that did nothing to dispel the rising anger in his tone. "That blood you have spilled all too often in petty tavern brawls. It must stop, Corin. It must. Rid yourself of this resentment and hostility and conduct yourself as a prince and Cheysuli warrior should." He paused, looking for something in Corin's blue eyes. "It is not worthy of you," he said, more quietly.
I don't really like the wrist grabbing thing, Niall. But the lecture is appropriate. Corin just retorts with the accusation that he isn't worthy of Niall.
That hurts, and we're told that Deirdre wants to go to him immediately, but refrains so as not to undermine him. Niall, for his part, looks at the other two rather than Corin, who "so closely resembled the young Niall in coloring as well as insecurity".
And this is a really interesting element.
Niall favors Brennan of the three, and it makes some sense. Brennan is more composed than Corin and more serious than Hart. Even though he's the one who started the fight, he's the one most willing to accept the consequences. (Well, Hart is willing, he just doesn't seem to care that much.)
But are personalities set in stone, or do they develop based on circumstance? If you know that your dad favors your brother, no matter what you do, is it that surprising that you might become an apathetic jokester or a defiant rebel? Or for that matter, if you're aware that you're the recipient of undeserved favoritism, might you then try very hard to do what you can to prove worthy of it?
Niall spent an entire book showing us, in great detail, his insecurities over his identity as a Cheysuli. His sons, mathematically, are no more Cheysuli than he is. But Brennan LOOKS Cheysuli. It's probably a gratifying reassurance, on one hand. And on another, well...Niall doesn't actually get to interact much with Cheysuli that he's not related to, does he? He hero-worshipped his brother, had a distant awe of his father...
I think maybe these are all factors too.
I'll give credit where it's due: I think Roberson has done a good job here of, rather subtly, showing us how a Golden Child dynamic has a negative effect on all three children.
It's really hard not to excerpt all of this!
"What I have said to Corin applies equally to you," he told his twin-born sons. "I have raised none of you to behave as common soldiers on leave, fighting over petty slights and imagined insults, nor as crofters spending their few coins on liquor and wine-girls . . . nor on foolish wagers." His eye flicked to Hart, then returned to Brennan. "I expected such behavior out of you least of all."
Brennan stood very straight, but his shoulders lost their set.
Quickly Hart spoke up. "Blame him no more than me, jehan."
"No," Niall agreed. "But less than you, aye. It was your idea to go there, was it not?"
Hart opened his mouth, then shut it. After a moment, he nodded. "We meant only to drink a little, jehan. Not to fight. You know I would rather throw the dice and rune-sticks than fight."
"Reynald deserved it, jehan," Corin said flatly. "And if the rest of the Caledonese royal house is like him, you do not wish to make an alliance with them anyway."
"Do I not?" Niall looked calmly at his youngest son."I see—I am to base the future of Homanan economy solely on the personalities of Caledon's rulers. At least, so you say."
I mostly included this part for Hart. Because so much of the conflict with Niall and his children center around Brennan and Corin. Brennan gets the favoritism weighted down with responsibility and expectation. Corin gets the resentment and rebellion. Brennan looks Cheysuli. Corin looks like Niall. And poor Hart gets lost in the midst.
He's not the over-achieving favorite. He's not the resentful rebel. Niall only remembers to yell at him when he calls attention to himself. So why bother worrying at all? Why bother taking any of it seriously?
Heck, even his appearance reflects his position. He looks Cheysuli, but with blue eyes. The thing is though, the first thing ethnic Homanans notice about Cheysuli is the "beast eyes". When Rhiannon was separating them in her mind, she had Brennan as the shapechanger, and Hart and Corin as the safe options. But he doesn't look like Niall either. He's falling through the cracks.
Anyway, Niall goes back to Corin here, gently reminding him that he has much to learn about dealing with other kingdoms, and he'd better, as in two or three years, he'll be going to Atvia as Alaric's heir.
Admittedly, given what we've seen of Atvia, I do not blame Corin for not wanting to go. But per Niall, he can choose to remain as a dispossessed, disinherited son, or accept his tahlmorra and go to Atvia.
Corin points out that he could stay with the clans. Niall can't dispossess him from his heritage or his lir.
Yeeeah, but no. Niall points out that a warrior who turns his back on tahlmorra is solely to blame for his own disinheritance and his loss of the afterworld. It does raise the interesting question of who actually gets to determine tahlmorra, but as we've seen from Finn way back in Shapechangers, there IS a difference.
...huh, I was trying to think of who Corin reminded me of. And it just hit me.
This is going to sound more insulting than I mean it, but the character that Corin actually reminds me the most of right now is Shapechanger's Finn. NOT in the sense of being a vile rapist. But I feel like Corin is the character that Roberson MEANT to write in Shapechangers: the resentful, angry young hothead with a chip on his shoulder.
Obviously, she's much better at it now. But wow. That's going to give me a new appreciation of Corin's section of this book, because there are some very notable parallels.
(I have some ideas regarding Brennan and Hart's parallels, but there are some spoilers wrapped up there, and I'll have to see if I'm remembering things correctly)
So anyway, it's time for punishment. First, they're forbidden from attending the banquet. That part is almost a reward, but there's a bit more of an individual punishment attached too:
"In not attending the banquet, you will keep yourselves to your respective chambers," Niall explained, "and you will remain in them until I give you leave to go out of them. No banquets, no taverns, no Clankeep." He fixed his eye on each of his sons individually. "No horses," he said to Brennan, "No wagering," he ordered Hart. And lastly, to Corin, "No visits from any of Deirdre's ladies."
"For how long?" Brennan demanded indignantly, forgoing all the diplomacy he had so carefully cultivated. "If I leave Bane for even a day, all my progress will be undone and I will have to begin again."
Hart frowned. "And how am I expected to pass the time, jehan, while I wait for your leave to go?”
But Corin laughed. "Enforced celibacy, jehan! Well, it will only leave the ladies all the more eager for me when I can share their company again."
Deirdre smiled serenely. " Tis hard for my ladies to be eager when their positions are in jeopardy."
Corin stared at her in astonishment. "You would do that?"
"To support the Mujhar, I will do anything," she said calmly. "Just as all of his children should, sons and daughters alike."
Another excerpt, I know, but I enjoy the juxtaposition of reactions.
Brennan's "diplomacy" (I actually would call it submission) finally breaks, as he focuses on the impediment to progress. Hart actually seems to care about his impending boredom. And Corin thinks he's got a leg up. So to speak.
But that's where Deirdre gets to speak up. Because while she's been mostly passive support for this scene, she does have her own sphere of power and she's happy to support her partner.
The chapter ends with three now suitably chastened sons slowly leaving the chamber.
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Date: 2023-07-10 02:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-07-10 03:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-09-13 04:04 am (UTC)This makes me not like him. The series hasn't really gone into how much society values women's virginity, but what we're given points to the standard "women must be virgins on their wedding night or they're spoiled for marriage and can only be a mistress". If that is the case, then Corin has been "spoiling" women in the palace left and right, and realistically, many of them are probably at court in order to find good matches among the nobility. And he's laughing about it and assumes that they'll just be throwing themselves at him even harder if he's unavailable for a while.
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Date: 2024-09-13 11:24 am (UTC)I think Roberson is seeing Deirdre's "ladies" more as female servants, when if we look at royal courts in the equivalent historical time periods, said "ladies" would literally be ladies, and thus looking for marriage in their own right.
I suppose they might have some kind of set up like when Henry VIII banged his wife's ladies - where everyone turned a blind eye because, well, royalty, and you're not going to ostracize the King's favorite. But I could wish that Corin were more aware of that kind of thing.