Stalking Darkness - Chapter Twelve
Aug. 10th, 2023 08:35 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kalinara posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
i_read_whatSo last time, Skala prepares for war and Nysander annoys the shit out of me. That last bit isn't particularly new. One day I'll figure out why everything child-me read had either bards or cryptic asshole wizard mentors.
Anyway, this chapter starts with Alec and Seregil. They receive a message from Beka: the Queen's Horse is riding out at dawn. Since Seregil is Beka's patron, he's basically honor bound to throw a party. I think we can trust Seregil to provide a good shindig.
Alec is uneasy about what this might mean in terms of the war. Seregil thinks that the Queen is concerned about an early spring attack, and wants to station troops on the border in case of trouble.
The downside is that there's not enough notice to send for Micum and Kari. Aw. But Micum has military experience, so he'll likely understand.
So the party seems to be an expected custom, since Captain Myrhini has "released" Lieutenant Cavish (oo, official rank) and her riders for the evening, and Alec gets to see that Seregil is indeed a very efficient party planner.
Within a few hours, extra servants had been engaged, a raucous group of musicians was installed in the gallery with their fiddles, pipes, and drums, and a steady stream of deliveries from the market had been whipped into a proper feast by the cook and her crew.
In the meantime, the salon was cleared of all breakables and three long trestle tables set up, together with hogsheads of ale and wine set on pitched braces at the head of the room.
Wow. Beka and her comrades arrive, all splendid in green tabards. Alec muses that he's always envied her a little for being in such an elite group. This is literally the first we've ever seen him express anything of the sort, but Alec is a bit repressed, so it's possible that he just hasn't addressed it.
It does make me think that maybe Seregil should sit the poor kid down and explain a bit more about this Watcher nonsense? Thief lessons are all well and good, but maybe he should understand a bit more about what that whole governmental spying thing entails?
This bit is pretty cute though:
Alec’s awe diminished somewhat as the men and women of Beka’s command filed past into the painted salon.
He’d only seen them at a distance on the practice field before-dashing figures clashing in mock battle. Now he saw that most of them were scarcely older than he. Some had the bearing of landless second sons and daughters or merchant’s scions; others—those who stood gaping at the opulent room—came from humbler backgrounds and had earned their place by sheer prowess and the price of a horse and arms.
It's a little sad though too. All these young kids going off to war. Beka introduces her trio of Sergeants: Mercalle, Braknil and Portus. They all seem pretty experienced. Mercalle is missing two fingers on her hand, which is apparently a common wound for warriors. I'm not sure why, but maybe swordplay?
Portus is interesting because he's younger than the other two, and carries himself like a noble. It's a little surprising then that he's not an officer.
Beka's Sergeants do seem to have a good rapport with her. Braknil, in particular, had been one of her trainers before asking to serve with her. Mercalle notes that while a title might guarantee an officer's commission, it doesn't guarantee quality, and she thinks many won't see high summer. (This seems more like a general comment, not directed toward Beka.) Portus chuckles at Mercalle's optimism, and Alec thinks he hears remnants of a lower city accent in his smooth words.
Interesting. A noble bastard maybe?
Seregil gives a brief history of the Horse Guard: it had started out a LONG time ago, back when Skala had a king. He had given them as a token force to his daughter after hearing the Oracle's prophecy (that a woman was to lead Skala). Gerilain surprised everyone by leading them successfully.
Apparently Braknil has an ancestor that served with Gerilain, and it's a family tradition.
Soon after, Captain Myrhini and a "Commander Perris" (who leads another squadron) arrive. She scowls, asking why no one is drunk yet and demands that Lieutenant Beka explain herself. It's pretty cute.
Seregil has another surprise: he's brought some guests from the Street of Lights to "liven things up". The guests all wear colored tokens: white, green, rose and amber. If you recall, the colors match up to what's available at each brothel and for whom. Though to be honest, I don't remember which color is which. Alec says that Beka might want to stick with amber. (Presumably then amber represents the male sex workers who serve female patrons.)
Beka says she'll stick with Alec instead. Aw.
Myrhini and Seregil chat about the war prospects. It'll be cold camps and long riding for the young guards until spring. Then things are likely to get a whole lot worse. Apparently this group are some of the best, and Myrhini hopes they'll stay alive long enough to get seasoned.
Alec it seems is having a much better time at this party than the last, and we're told that by midnight, he's drunker than he'd ever been in his life, and now knows most riders and courtesans by name, and danced with them too.
Interesting, it does NOT specify that he's only danced with female courtesans and riders. Obviously, eventually, this story will be a romance. But Alec is still pretty repressed and clueless about certain things. That might be a promising sign. He's then hoisted onto a table by some of the riders. Apparently Beka has said that he's lucky, so they've decided to make him their mascot. Hee.
Alec pulled on the uniform and made the company an exaggerated bow. “I am honored!” “You are drunk!” someone shouted back.
Alec considered this, then nodded solemnly. “I am that, but as the Maker teaches us, in the depths of the cup lies the back door to enlightenment—or something like that, anyway.” Snatching up a half-full bottle of wine, he waved it in their general direction. “And the drunker I get, the braver and worthier you all look to me!”
“A visionary of the vine,” Kallas exclaimed, spreading his arms in mock reverence. “Give me your blessing, O beardless sage!”
Alec obligingly slopped some wine on the man’s face. “Long life and a hollow leg, my son.”
Aw, cute!
The riders who are present all get happy benedictions. There are quite a few missing, though, as well as most of the courtesans. Understandably.
Beka though, gets the last and best blessing, as Alec dumps a fresh bottle over her head. The riders cheer, joking that a blessing that wet should make her immortal. Alec, realizing that his almost sister is really going off to war, sincerely hopes so.
The chapter ends here.
Anyway, this chapter starts with Alec and Seregil. They receive a message from Beka: the Queen's Horse is riding out at dawn. Since Seregil is Beka's patron, he's basically honor bound to throw a party. I think we can trust Seregil to provide a good shindig.
Alec is uneasy about what this might mean in terms of the war. Seregil thinks that the Queen is concerned about an early spring attack, and wants to station troops on the border in case of trouble.
The downside is that there's not enough notice to send for Micum and Kari. Aw. But Micum has military experience, so he'll likely understand.
So the party seems to be an expected custom, since Captain Myrhini has "released" Lieutenant Cavish (oo, official rank) and her riders for the evening, and Alec gets to see that Seregil is indeed a very efficient party planner.
Within a few hours, extra servants had been engaged, a raucous group of musicians was installed in the gallery with their fiddles, pipes, and drums, and a steady stream of deliveries from the market had been whipped into a proper feast by the cook and her crew.
In the meantime, the salon was cleared of all breakables and three long trestle tables set up, together with hogsheads of ale and wine set on pitched braces at the head of the room.
Wow. Beka and her comrades arrive, all splendid in green tabards. Alec muses that he's always envied her a little for being in such an elite group. This is literally the first we've ever seen him express anything of the sort, but Alec is a bit repressed, so it's possible that he just hasn't addressed it.
It does make me think that maybe Seregil should sit the poor kid down and explain a bit more about this Watcher nonsense? Thief lessons are all well and good, but maybe he should understand a bit more about what that whole governmental spying thing entails?
This bit is pretty cute though:
Alec’s awe diminished somewhat as the men and women of Beka’s command filed past into the painted salon.
He’d only seen them at a distance on the practice field before-dashing figures clashing in mock battle. Now he saw that most of them were scarcely older than he. Some had the bearing of landless second sons and daughters or merchant’s scions; others—those who stood gaping at the opulent room—came from humbler backgrounds and had earned their place by sheer prowess and the price of a horse and arms.
It's a little sad though too. All these young kids going off to war. Beka introduces her trio of Sergeants: Mercalle, Braknil and Portus. They all seem pretty experienced. Mercalle is missing two fingers on her hand, which is apparently a common wound for warriors. I'm not sure why, but maybe swordplay?
Portus is interesting because he's younger than the other two, and carries himself like a noble. It's a little surprising then that he's not an officer.
Beka's Sergeants do seem to have a good rapport with her. Braknil, in particular, had been one of her trainers before asking to serve with her. Mercalle notes that while a title might guarantee an officer's commission, it doesn't guarantee quality, and she thinks many won't see high summer. (This seems more like a general comment, not directed toward Beka.) Portus chuckles at Mercalle's optimism, and Alec thinks he hears remnants of a lower city accent in his smooth words.
Interesting. A noble bastard maybe?
Seregil gives a brief history of the Horse Guard: it had started out a LONG time ago, back when Skala had a king. He had given them as a token force to his daughter after hearing the Oracle's prophecy (that a woman was to lead Skala). Gerilain surprised everyone by leading them successfully.
Apparently Braknil has an ancestor that served with Gerilain, and it's a family tradition.
Soon after, Captain Myrhini and a "Commander Perris" (who leads another squadron) arrive. She scowls, asking why no one is drunk yet and demands that Lieutenant Beka explain herself. It's pretty cute.
Seregil has another surprise: he's brought some guests from the Street of Lights to "liven things up". The guests all wear colored tokens: white, green, rose and amber. If you recall, the colors match up to what's available at each brothel and for whom. Though to be honest, I don't remember which color is which. Alec says that Beka might want to stick with amber. (Presumably then amber represents the male sex workers who serve female patrons.)
Beka says she'll stick with Alec instead. Aw.
Myrhini and Seregil chat about the war prospects. It'll be cold camps and long riding for the young guards until spring. Then things are likely to get a whole lot worse. Apparently this group are some of the best, and Myrhini hopes they'll stay alive long enough to get seasoned.
Alec it seems is having a much better time at this party than the last, and we're told that by midnight, he's drunker than he'd ever been in his life, and now knows most riders and courtesans by name, and danced with them too.
Interesting, it does NOT specify that he's only danced with female courtesans and riders. Obviously, eventually, this story will be a romance. But Alec is still pretty repressed and clueless about certain things. That might be a promising sign. He's then hoisted onto a table by some of the riders. Apparently Beka has said that he's lucky, so they've decided to make him their mascot. Hee.
Alec pulled on the uniform and made the company an exaggerated bow. “I am honored!” “You are drunk!” someone shouted back.
Alec considered this, then nodded solemnly. “I am that, but as the Maker teaches us, in the depths of the cup lies the back door to enlightenment—or something like that, anyway.” Snatching up a half-full bottle of wine, he waved it in their general direction. “And the drunker I get, the braver and worthier you all look to me!”
“A visionary of the vine,” Kallas exclaimed, spreading his arms in mock reverence. “Give me your blessing, O beardless sage!”
Alec obligingly slopped some wine on the man’s face. “Long life and a hollow leg, my son.”
Aw, cute!
The riders who are present all get happy benedictions. There are quite a few missing, though, as well as most of the courtesans. Understandably.
Beka though, gets the last and best blessing, as Alec dumps a fresh bottle over her head. The riders cheer, joking that a blessing that wet should make her immortal. Alec, realizing that his almost sister is really going off to war, sincerely hopes so.
The chapter ends here.