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i_read_what2023-11-09 09:42 pm
kalinara) wrote in i_read_what2023-11-09 09:42 pm
Stalking Darkness - Chapter Twenty-Seven and Twenty-Eight
So last time, Alec and Seregil found out that their agent (and his investigation) met an unfortunate end, while the villains met up with a scary not-quite-lich.
So we rejoin our heroes as they're doing their own surveillance on Rythel's boss's place. Apparently the sewer contract is done now, and they're not sure if Rythel will change his pattern.
As it turns out, Rythel has decided to head out. And dressed for the occasion.
As Rythel paused by the lantern over his door, they saw the glint of gold embroidery on the coat beneath his fur-trimmed mantle.
“Looks like we guessed right,” Seregil whispered.
Under his black cloak he wore one of his finest claret-colored coats, white doeskin breeches, and a weighty purse.
Swanky.
The boys split up, agreeing to meet back at the prison. Alec is off to investigate the tenement, while Seregil arranges a social meet up with Rythel at the Street of Lights. This time a gambling house called "the Golden Bowl."
Seregil greets Rythel warmly, as "Sir Rythel", which is a social triumph for the guy. He's happy to invite Seregil to partner him in a game. They play for a while until Seregil invites him for a quiet drink in a private room.
Things get interrupted however when a ragged lad appears with a message for Rythel. Hm. Is the kid Seregil's agent or someone else's? Anyway, Rythel makes a graceful exit. Seregil (pretending to go freshen up) goes to follow.
It definitely seems like the kid isn't Seregil's agent, because Seregil is wondering where the heck Rythel is going. And...oh dear.
Ahead of him, Rythel passed out of sight around a corner. Seregil was hurrying to catch up when the quiet of the evening was shattered by the screams of maddened horses. Running to the corner, he saw Rythel some thirty feet away, standing frozen in the middle of the lane as a team of draft horses charged out of the mists at him, the heavy wagon they pulled fishtailing wildly behind them. The lane was desperately narrow; even if Rythel managed to dodge the horses, he would almost surely be crushed by the cart.
With a nightmarish feeling of impotence, Seregil could not even shout as Rythel just stood there, hands raised as if he meant to halt the beasts.
The lead horse struck him full on, cutting short his ragged scream and trampling him beneath its huge hooves. Then the cart jolted sideways and a leg spun out from beneath it, severed by one iron-rimmed wheel.
Seregil leapt back to the safety of the corner and watched the wagon thunder by. Foam hung from the horses’ mouths; their eyes rolled in panic.
There was no driver on the bench. One long rein whipped uselessly across their backs.
Crushed by a driver-less cart. Hm. That's not suspicious.
Seregil goes to poor Rythel and it sounds really messy.
It was as bad a mess as he’d ever seen made of a man. The torso was smashed. Pressing the back of one hand over his mouth, he recognized a familiar sourness amid the horrid stench that rose from the mangled flesh.
I bought you that wine, Seregil thought, averting his eyes from the contents revealed in the ruins of the ruptured stomach.
Seregil goes and gets the severed leg and puts it over Rythel, then uses Nysander's scroll (intended to peacefully capture the guy - the whole point to the private meeting) to teleport them all to the prison.
Seregil is understandably furious. Everyone comes to see. Thero is sick at the sight. Aw. And Nysander thinks the poor guy lacks compassion. Alec, historically queasy, holds it together, albeit grim-faced and pale. Seregil starts stripping the poor guy, looking for the note that had summoned him.
Poor Alec gets stuck checking the boot on the severed leg. No luck.
Eventually Thero comes back, apologizing for his weakness, asking if there's anything he can do. Nysander makes it into a teaching moment.
“Look well,” Nysander replied somberly. “Someday your vocation will take you from the shelter of the Oreska House; you must be strong enough to face such ugliness. This may have been an accident—“
I wonder how long Thero's been working with Nysander actually. I'd assumed it had been a while, but this seems like a fairly introductory sort of lesson. Or like it ought to be. I suppose with wizard immortality, lesson pacing is probably different.
So Rythel's dead. The map wasn't at the tenement either. Per Alec, everything was gone. Taken away by cart that afternoon.
The investigation, alas, is over.
--
Since that's short, we'll move on. To chapter twenty-eight!
We start off with surreality: Alec running through a bare passageway, clutching Valerius's magic herbs and calling for his father. His dad is wheezing before falling silent. Then, Alec is being chased.
It is, of course, a nasty nightmare. Alec's chest hurts when he wakes up, like he's been running. And there's a storm, with a wind that makes a "lonely moaning sound". Yeah, that sounds fun. Poor kid.
Seregil enters, soaking wet. He's apparently not been taking the setbacks well:
It had been nearly a week since Rythel’s death and none of them, not even Nysander, had been able to find evidence tying the smith to anything other than the sewer sabotage and a few indiscretions at various gambling houses. Everyone had given up by now except Seregil, who’d grown increasingly short-tempered as he pursued one false scent after another. Lately Alec had found it wiser to keep out of his way when they weren’t working. He’d taken it as a hopeful sign this evening when Seregil slouched off to the Street of Lights in search of consolation; his untimely reappearance now didn’t bode well.
He is however really concerned here. He notes that this is the third time that Alec's had nightmares this week. He'd seen the poor kid thrashing in his sleep. Alec actually confirmed that this is the fourth or fifth time.
Seregil says he should have said something, but Alec, quietly, notes that Seregil hasn't been approachable lately. Seregil agrees, apologetically admitting he's a sore loser. Alec apologizes about the map - he should have taken it that first time. Seregil reassures him that he'd done the right thing at the time, it's just a lot of bad timing.
I'd agree with that. The only time I thought there was a real lapse in judgment was the Tym setback, but I can understand why they'd prioritize Nysander's communication over the investigation. He is their boss, technically.
Seregil's inclined to be a good mentor now and asks about the dream. Alec tells him, admitting that it doesn't sound so bad outloud, but it felt really awful at the time.
Seregil tries for reassurance, and actually kind of points out Alec's whole general "not dealing with things" approach here:
After a while Seregil said gently, “You’ve had a lot to contend with lately, what with finding out the truth about your birth and then this. Seeing Rythel all mangled in that cell must have dredged up some unpleasant memories. Maybe this is your way of finally allowing yourself to mourn your father’s death.”
Alec looked up sharply. “I’ve mourned him.” “Perhaps, tali, but in all the time we’ve been together you scarcely ever mention him or weep for him.”
Alec rolled the edge of blanket between his fingers, surprised at the sudden bitterness he felt. “What’s the use? Crying doesn’t change anything.”
Yeah, somehow I think your definition of mourning and Seregil's might be different. Also, there's the whole "got tortured by an evil lord just before you met" thing that I don't really think you've dealt with either.
I am rather glad that this has come up. I've mentioned before that I do feel like this book, in particular, really heavily prioritizes Seregil's angst and trauma over Alec's. Not so much yet, but...well, pardon the spoiler, you'll see what I mean eventually. I am cautiously hopeful that later books in the series though will give Alec a bit more focus. I know the hazadrielfaie will come up eventually, though I actually never read that particular book. I think I got to Shadows Return (book 4), and that's in book 5. Eh, we might find out one day.
Alec does give us a few more details about his dad's death though:
“It wouldn’t change the fact that I couldn’t do anything for my own father but sit there watching him shrink like a burnt moth, listening to him drown in his own blood—” He swallowed hard. “Besides, that’s not even what the dream was about, really.”
“No? What, then?”
Alec shook his head miserably. “I don’t know, but it wasn’t that.”
That sounds horrific, kid.
Anyway, Seregil's got the notion that they can go get breakfast with Nysander tomorrow. Alec can even talk to Nysander and Thero about the life span business. Alec admits that it's been easier not to think of it. Story of his life. Hey, how's that dubious consent first sexual experience gone for you?
I mean if you think about it, Alec's been through a fucking lot of shit. I'm just saying.
For his part, Seregil has been haunted by the Oracle's message from the first book. Not the "father, brother, friend and lover" part, but the other:
The Eater of Death gives birth to monsters. Guard you well the Guardian! Guard well the Vanguard and the Shaft!
Seregil thinks about the "shaft". Maybe an arrow shaft, like the one in Alec's dreams? (I didn't mention that part, but it is in there.) So it seems likely that the "Shaft" refers to Alec.
Anyway, the next morning, they go to Oreska. Nysander and Thero have other guests too: the centaurs from Luck in the Shadows (Hwerlu and Feeya), who somehow fit in the doorways despite them not designed for horse-sized individuals. Magyana is there too.
Seregil just kind of throws everything out on the table:
“Alec’s feeling a bit lost about living for a few extra centuries. I thought you wizards could give him some helpful guidance, since it takes your sort by surprise, too.”
“So he finally told you,” said Magyana, giving Alec a hug. “And high time, too.”
Hwerlu let out a snort of surprise. “Not until now does he know?” He said something to Feeya in their whistling language and she shook her head.
Turning to Alec, Hwerlu smiled. “We saw it that first day you came here, but Seregil says not to tell you. Why?”
“I guess he wanted me to get used to him first,” Alec said, shooting Seregil a wry look.
“I suppose that would take a long while,” Thero threw in.
I don't care what anyone says. I love Thero.
Nysander response here makes me side-eye...
“Yet, as things have turned out, I now believe Seregil may have been wise to wait,” said Nysander. “It is more than a sense of obligation or fear which keeps you with him, is it not, Alec?”
Um, is the implication here that it's better that Alec learned this info after he became emotionally attached to Seregil? Like some kind of Stockholm thing? What?
Alec admits to being overwhelmed by the idea of living for centuries. Thero admits that sometimes he feels that way too, which surprises Seregil. In "all the time" he'd known him, Thero had never revealed a personal feeling.
Um, probably because you kind of bully him at the drop of a hat? Thero snarks back as good as he gets, admittedly, but it seems pretty clear that Seregil's the provocateur most of the time. (A nuance that I appreciate compared to say, McCaffrey.)
Thero elaborates: he'd guessed as a boy, but it was still overwhelming when the wizards confirmed it. He's optimistic though, telling Alec to think about what they'll experience in their lifetimes: the years for learning and discoveries.
Seregil thinks that Thero seems almost human today. Seregil, you're kind of a dick.
He does admit he'd handled it badly, since he had felt shaky after his reunion with his sister. He agrees with Thero though, and notes that it's what kept him sane after leaving Aurenen: the possibilities for someone with a sense of wonder and curiosity.
Nysander and Magyana add their own input, as old hats. Nysander has had over two centuries, and still feels like there'll be something to delight him in another two centuries. And that, while they've seen many people age and die, the friendships were gifts that they wouldn't sacrifice.
Magyana also admits, pragmatically, that after a generation or two, it becomes easier to detach from the feeling. You still love them, but you learn to respect the cycles of life.
This is really a nice bit, I appreciate how each individual character gets to add their own perspective. Seregil, angsty but forthright. Nysander and Magyana have the voice of experience: idealistic for him, pragmatic for her. Thero, as the youngest of the four, being the most familiar with Alec's own emotional state. It's great.
Alec is also thinking of missed opportunities though: he'll never really have a chance to ask his dad about his mother. Seregil's idea makes sense, but he'll never know. Nysander agrees but reminds him he can still honor his parents by respecting the life they gave him.
Seregil awkwardly segues this into the nightmares. The wizards listen with interest, Nysander definitely has a particular intent spark that Seregil picks up on. Magyana suggests that the violent events might have brought up the painful memories - even if the wasting sickness wasn't violent, it was still traumatic for Alec.
Nysander agrees out loud, adding that the timing with the parental reveal might have added to it. He does shoot Seregil a look that implies he thinks it's something else though. Um. You could tell the kid?
Seregil gets a moment alone with Nysander by asking after a particular book that might have contents helpful for Alec. He points out the part with the arrow shaft, and Nysander agrees that it's probably significant.
They chat about the prophecy a bit more. Seregil wonders about the roles. Alec is the Shaft, of course. Nysander's admitted to being the Guardian. He considers and rules out the idea of him being a vanguard, as he wouldn't be told to guard himself. Seregil realizes there must be a fourth figure.
Nysander confirms: Seregil's the "Guide, the Unseen One", because of course Seregil gets two sobriquets. He's pretty sure Micum is the Vanguard. He didn't explain this part because he's been hoping it wouldn't matter.
This puzzles Seregil, but apparently these roles actually recur. There's a Guardian, Shaft, Guide, et al for every generation just in case. Interesting. Nysander's mentor was presumably his own predecessor. Who would have been Seregil or Alec's?
Anyway, Nysander's still hoping that this can all be forestalled. I doubt it, dude, they don't usually write books about the folks that aren't prophetically significant. They'll just have to wait. Something that doesn't sit well with Seregil.
Something notable does come up though. Nysander's put protective spells around the others and someone's tried to break through the ones surrounding Alec and Seregil. Fortunately, the spells are still there though.
Nysander doesn't seem concerned. Seregil is though. He knows Rhal has tracked them down, what about Mardus? Alec was the one to get them to the city, and he didn't know how to cover his tracks. He insists that he has to protect Alec, and warn Micum. Surprisingly, Nysander is okay with this.
When Seregil leaves, Nysander decides to do some foreseeing himself.
—The hands of Tikdrie Megraesh, the icon of his dreams and visions, opened before him. Voices came faintly through the murk, shouting, raging, weeping. He could hear the clash of weapons, men shouting—
Then, harsh as a blow, came the vision of a black disk surrounded by a thin white nimbus of fire. It seemed to glare at him, like an accusing eye.
Yeah, that sounds bad.
So anyway, Seregil rejoins the others. Ylinestra has shown up, because who doesn't want to sit next to a lady who, at best, drugs her sixteen year old sex partner. Seregil does notice that Magyana, who is conversing with Ylinestra, has faint lines of distaste around her eyes. The Centaur woman Feeya is avoiding Ylinestra entirely.
Ylinestra ends up leaving, when it's clear Nysander isn't coming up. Thero leaves, unsubtly, to go after her. Seregil is amused, noting when a cold fish falls in love, it tends to make a total fool of him.
Alec notes that he thinks Seregil's too hard on Thero:
Alec shrugged. “I didn’t care much for him at first, either, but now he doesn’t seem so bad. He helped save our lives during that raid on Kassarie’s keep, and he was useful during that whole business with Rythel, too. Since then, he’s been almost friendly. Nysander may be right about him, after all. As arrogant and cold as he can seem, underneath I don’t think he’s so bad.”
Thank you, Alec!
Seregil dismisses the idea of his little brother/rival being not so bad. They've got bigger things to worry about. He doesn't explain until they get back to the inn.
Explanations wait longer because, as they arrive at the inn, there's a bit of domestic chaos. Seregil gets a message from Rhal, who's seeking to meet. Seregil's on board, but explanations first.
So yeah, now Alec FINALLY gets clued in on the prophecy/disk stuff. Alec follows the explanation well enough, putting it together with his own observations. They realize that if they'd taken all the amulets, not just the one that took out Seregil, they probably would have been killed immediately. Seregil explains that he would have told Alec earlier, but Nysander swore him to secrecy.
Alec seems surprisingly okay with that, but then, he's pretty practical. This isn't like the half-fae thing, where Seregil just arbitrarily kept important information from him. Seregil also fills him in on the crown adventure from earlier in this book, noting that there were a lot of dead bodies, ancient, but killed the like people Micum had found in the fens.
So now there's a new plan: Alec is to ride out to warn Micum, while Seregil wants to chat with soem of Tym's colleagues. There may be more information about stray Plenimarians to find.
Alec has a pretty good question though: there's a disk and a crown, but what else? Seregil isn't following at first, but Alec clarifies: if Nysander's a Guardian, what's he been guarding? They'll probably never know.
Oh, I suspect you'll know soon enough.
Anyway, time for the meeting with Rhal. It's to show off the new ship! And this is pretty funny:
“Bilairy’s Balls, what’s that supposed to be?” Seregil asked as they crossed beneath her prow. Fitted under the bowsprit was the painted statue of a woman.
“Figurehead,” Welken replied. “Lots of the new ships has ‘em. Said to bring luck. Captain Rhal got the best carver in Iolos to do our lady there; she’s even got a real golden ring on her finger with a great red stone winking in it. Captain says her round belly’ll bring us a full hold.”
Dark hair streamed over the woman’s shoulders and the carved skirts of her emerald-green gown flowed back from a rounded, pregnant belly. One outstretched hand pointed ahead; the other lay modestly over her heart.
Alec broke into a broad grin as he squinted up at the painted wooden face; it was not fine work, but the resemblance to Seregil was obvious to anyone who’d seen him playing a Mycenian gentlewoman aboard the Darter.
Hah, Rhal got a bit of his own back after all. Nice.
Alec, innocently, asks if the figurehead has a name. Yep, "Lady Gwethelyn". Seregil is less amused.
So they chat about Plenimarian affairs - Rhal thinks that with the Overlord dead, they might have a few weeks of breathing room. Seregil is skeptical. They give Rhal an amulet from Nysander - it will let Nysander sight off of it no matter where the amulet is. Rhal's on board with this.
They also talk about the figurehead of course.
Rhal scratched his head sheepishly. “Oh, you noticed that, did you? She was a fine-looking woman, that Gwethelyn. Thinking back to that night I caught you out, I don’t know if I was more angry or disappointed. But in the end I’d say meeting you brought me luck, so there she is. The Green Lady’s a fine ship and she’ll do us all proud.”
Aw. Rhal's a good egg.
So anyway, the boys make their leave and then say goodbye to each other. Seregil is getting on a disguise, and well...things might get a little bit intimate here.
Adjusting a greasy patch over one eye, he came over and grasped Alec by the shoulders. “I’ll be all right. And I’m not shutting you out of anything, either.”
Despite the patch, tangled hair, and ridiculous old hat that partially obscured his friend’s features, Alec heard the warm earnestness in his voice clearly enough.
“I know,” he sighed. “You missed a spot.”
Reaching over, Alec smeared ashes over a bit of clean skin just under Seregil’s right cheekbone. His friend’s one visible eye widened noticeably.
Strange feelings stirred again, and Alec felt himself blush.
Seregil held his gaze a moment, then cleared his throat gruffly. “Thanks. We don’t want any telltale signs of cleanliness giving me away, do we? I’ll take a run through the stable dung heap before I go, just to make sure I’ve got the right odor about me. Take care.”
Oh, you dumb boys.
Anyway, the chapter ends with their parting of ways. Gosh, I hope nothing terrible happens before they unite again.
So we rejoin our heroes as they're doing their own surveillance on Rythel's boss's place. Apparently the sewer contract is done now, and they're not sure if Rythel will change his pattern.
As it turns out, Rythel has decided to head out. And dressed for the occasion.
As Rythel paused by the lantern over his door, they saw the glint of gold embroidery on the coat beneath his fur-trimmed mantle.
“Looks like we guessed right,” Seregil whispered.
Under his black cloak he wore one of his finest claret-colored coats, white doeskin breeches, and a weighty purse.
Swanky.
The boys split up, agreeing to meet back at the prison. Alec is off to investigate the tenement, while Seregil arranges a social meet up with Rythel at the Street of Lights. This time a gambling house called "the Golden Bowl."
Seregil greets Rythel warmly, as "Sir Rythel", which is a social triumph for the guy. He's happy to invite Seregil to partner him in a game. They play for a while until Seregil invites him for a quiet drink in a private room.
Things get interrupted however when a ragged lad appears with a message for Rythel. Hm. Is the kid Seregil's agent or someone else's? Anyway, Rythel makes a graceful exit. Seregil (pretending to go freshen up) goes to follow.
It definitely seems like the kid isn't Seregil's agent, because Seregil is wondering where the heck Rythel is going. And...oh dear.
Ahead of him, Rythel passed out of sight around a corner. Seregil was hurrying to catch up when the quiet of the evening was shattered by the screams of maddened horses. Running to the corner, he saw Rythel some thirty feet away, standing frozen in the middle of the lane as a team of draft horses charged out of the mists at him, the heavy wagon they pulled fishtailing wildly behind them. The lane was desperately narrow; even if Rythel managed to dodge the horses, he would almost surely be crushed by the cart.
With a nightmarish feeling of impotence, Seregil could not even shout as Rythel just stood there, hands raised as if he meant to halt the beasts.
The lead horse struck him full on, cutting short his ragged scream and trampling him beneath its huge hooves. Then the cart jolted sideways and a leg spun out from beneath it, severed by one iron-rimmed wheel.
Seregil leapt back to the safety of the corner and watched the wagon thunder by. Foam hung from the horses’ mouths; their eyes rolled in panic.
There was no driver on the bench. One long rein whipped uselessly across their backs.
Crushed by a driver-less cart. Hm. That's not suspicious.
Seregil goes to poor Rythel and it sounds really messy.
It was as bad a mess as he’d ever seen made of a man. The torso was smashed. Pressing the back of one hand over his mouth, he recognized a familiar sourness amid the horrid stench that rose from the mangled flesh.
I bought you that wine, Seregil thought, averting his eyes from the contents revealed in the ruins of the ruptured stomach.
Seregil goes and gets the severed leg and puts it over Rythel, then uses Nysander's scroll (intended to peacefully capture the guy - the whole point to the private meeting) to teleport them all to the prison.
Seregil is understandably furious. Everyone comes to see. Thero is sick at the sight. Aw. And Nysander thinks the poor guy lacks compassion. Alec, historically queasy, holds it together, albeit grim-faced and pale. Seregil starts stripping the poor guy, looking for the note that had summoned him.
Poor Alec gets stuck checking the boot on the severed leg. No luck.
Eventually Thero comes back, apologizing for his weakness, asking if there's anything he can do. Nysander makes it into a teaching moment.
“Look well,” Nysander replied somberly. “Someday your vocation will take you from the shelter of the Oreska House; you must be strong enough to face such ugliness. This may have been an accident—“
I wonder how long Thero's been working with Nysander actually. I'd assumed it had been a while, but this seems like a fairly introductory sort of lesson. Or like it ought to be. I suppose with wizard immortality, lesson pacing is probably different.
So Rythel's dead. The map wasn't at the tenement either. Per Alec, everything was gone. Taken away by cart that afternoon.
The investigation, alas, is over.
--
Since that's short, we'll move on. To chapter twenty-eight!
We start off with surreality: Alec running through a bare passageway, clutching Valerius's magic herbs and calling for his father. His dad is wheezing before falling silent. Then, Alec is being chased.
It is, of course, a nasty nightmare. Alec's chest hurts when he wakes up, like he's been running. And there's a storm, with a wind that makes a "lonely moaning sound". Yeah, that sounds fun. Poor kid.
Seregil enters, soaking wet. He's apparently not been taking the setbacks well:
It had been nearly a week since Rythel’s death and none of them, not even Nysander, had been able to find evidence tying the smith to anything other than the sewer sabotage and a few indiscretions at various gambling houses. Everyone had given up by now except Seregil, who’d grown increasingly short-tempered as he pursued one false scent after another. Lately Alec had found it wiser to keep out of his way when they weren’t working. He’d taken it as a hopeful sign this evening when Seregil slouched off to the Street of Lights in search of consolation; his untimely reappearance now didn’t bode well.
He is however really concerned here. He notes that this is the third time that Alec's had nightmares this week. He'd seen the poor kid thrashing in his sleep. Alec actually confirmed that this is the fourth or fifth time.
Seregil says he should have said something, but Alec, quietly, notes that Seregil hasn't been approachable lately. Seregil agrees, apologetically admitting he's a sore loser. Alec apologizes about the map - he should have taken it that first time. Seregil reassures him that he'd done the right thing at the time, it's just a lot of bad timing.
I'd agree with that. The only time I thought there was a real lapse in judgment was the Tym setback, but I can understand why they'd prioritize Nysander's communication over the investigation. He is their boss, technically.
Seregil's inclined to be a good mentor now and asks about the dream. Alec tells him, admitting that it doesn't sound so bad outloud, but it felt really awful at the time.
Seregil tries for reassurance, and actually kind of points out Alec's whole general "not dealing with things" approach here:
After a while Seregil said gently, “You’ve had a lot to contend with lately, what with finding out the truth about your birth and then this. Seeing Rythel all mangled in that cell must have dredged up some unpleasant memories. Maybe this is your way of finally allowing yourself to mourn your father’s death.”
Alec looked up sharply. “I’ve mourned him.” “Perhaps, tali, but in all the time we’ve been together you scarcely ever mention him or weep for him.”
Alec rolled the edge of blanket between his fingers, surprised at the sudden bitterness he felt. “What’s the use? Crying doesn’t change anything.”
Yeah, somehow I think your definition of mourning and Seregil's might be different. Also, there's the whole "got tortured by an evil lord just before you met" thing that I don't really think you've dealt with either.
I am rather glad that this has come up. I've mentioned before that I do feel like this book, in particular, really heavily prioritizes Seregil's angst and trauma over Alec's. Not so much yet, but...well, pardon the spoiler, you'll see what I mean eventually. I am cautiously hopeful that later books in the series though will give Alec a bit more focus. I know the hazadrielfaie will come up eventually, though I actually never read that particular book. I think I got to Shadows Return (book 4), and that's in book 5. Eh, we might find out one day.
Alec does give us a few more details about his dad's death though:
“It wouldn’t change the fact that I couldn’t do anything for my own father but sit there watching him shrink like a burnt moth, listening to him drown in his own blood—” He swallowed hard. “Besides, that’s not even what the dream was about, really.”
“No? What, then?”
Alec shook his head miserably. “I don’t know, but it wasn’t that.”
That sounds horrific, kid.
Anyway, Seregil's got the notion that they can go get breakfast with Nysander tomorrow. Alec can even talk to Nysander and Thero about the life span business. Alec admits that it's been easier not to think of it. Story of his life. Hey, how's that dubious consent first sexual experience gone for you?
I mean if you think about it, Alec's been through a fucking lot of shit. I'm just saying.
For his part, Seregil has been haunted by the Oracle's message from the first book. Not the "father, brother, friend and lover" part, but the other:
The Eater of Death gives birth to monsters. Guard you well the Guardian! Guard well the Vanguard and the Shaft!
Seregil thinks about the "shaft". Maybe an arrow shaft, like the one in Alec's dreams? (I didn't mention that part, but it is in there.) So it seems likely that the "Shaft" refers to Alec.
Anyway, the next morning, they go to Oreska. Nysander and Thero have other guests too: the centaurs from Luck in the Shadows (Hwerlu and Feeya), who somehow fit in the doorways despite them not designed for horse-sized individuals. Magyana is there too.
Seregil just kind of throws everything out on the table:
“Alec’s feeling a bit lost about living for a few extra centuries. I thought you wizards could give him some helpful guidance, since it takes your sort by surprise, too.”
“So he finally told you,” said Magyana, giving Alec a hug. “And high time, too.”
Hwerlu let out a snort of surprise. “Not until now does he know?” He said something to Feeya in their whistling language and she shook her head.
Turning to Alec, Hwerlu smiled. “We saw it that first day you came here, but Seregil says not to tell you. Why?”
“I guess he wanted me to get used to him first,” Alec said, shooting Seregil a wry look.
“I suppose that would take a long while,” Thero threw in.
I don't care what anyone says. I love Thero.
Nysander response here makes me side-eye...
“Yet, as things have turned out, I now believe Seregil may have been wise to wait,” said Nysander. “It is more than a sense of obligation or fear which keeps you with him, is it not, Alec?”
Um, is the implication here that it's better that Alec learned this info after he became emotionally attached to Seregil? Like some kind of Stockholm thing? What?
Alec admits to being overwhelmed by the idea of living for centuries. Thero admits that sometimes he feels that way too, which surprises Seregil. In "all the time" he'd known him, Thero had never revealed a personal feeling.
Um, probably because you kind of bully him at the drop of a hat? Thero snarks back as good as he gets, admittedly, but it seems pretty clear that Seregil's the provocateur most of the time. (A nuance that I appreciate compared to say, McCaffrey.)
Thero elaborates: he'd guessed as a boy, but it was still overwhelming when the wizards confirmed it. He's optimistic though, telling Alec to think about what they'll experience in their lifetimes: the years for learning and discoveries.
Seregil thinks that Thero seems almost human today. Seregil, you're kind of a dick.
He does admit he'd handled it badly, since he had felt shaky after his reunion with his sister. He agrees with Thero though, and notes that it's what kept him sane after leaving Aurenen: the possibilities for someone with a sense of wonder and curiosity.
Nysander and Magyana add their own input, as old hats. Nysander has had over two centuries, and still feels like there'll be something to delight him in another two centuries. And that, while they've seen many people age and die, the friendships were gifts that they wouldn't sacrifice.
Magyana also admits, pragmatically, that after a generation or two, it becomes easier to detach from the feeling. You still love them, but you learn to respect the cycles of life.
This is really a nice bit, I appreciate how each individual character gets to add their own perspective. Seregil, angsty but forthright. Nysander and Magyana have the voice of experience: idealistic for him, pragmatic for her. Thero, as the youngest of the four, being the most familiar with Alec's own emotional state. It's great.
Alec is also thinking of missed opportunities though: he'll never really have a chance to ask his dad about his mother. Seregil's idea makes sense, but he'll never know. Nysander agrees but reminds him he can still honor his parents by respecting the life they gave him.
Seregil awkwardly segues this into the nightmares. The wizards listen with interest, Nysander definitely has a particular intent spark that Seregil picks up on. Magyana suggests that the violent events might have brought up the painful memories - even if the wasting sickness wasn't violent, it was still traumatic for Alec.
Nysander agrees out loud, adding that the timing with the parental reveal might have added to it. He does shoot Seregil a look that implies he thinks it's something else though. Um. You could tell the kid?
Seregil gets a moment alone with Nysander by asking after a particular book that might have contents helpful for Alec. He points out the part with the arrow shaft, and Nysander agrees that it's probably significant.
They chat about the prophecy a bit more. Seregil wonders about the roles. Alec is the Shaft, of course. Nysander's admitted to being the Guardian. He considers and rules out the idea of him being a vanguard, as he wouldn't be told to guard himself. Seregil realizes there must be a fourth figure.
Nysander confirms: Seregil's the "Guide, the Unseen One", because of course Seregil gets two sobriquets. He's pretty sure Micum is the Vanguard. He didn't explain this part because he's been hoping it wouldn't matter.
This puzzles Seregil, but apparently these roles actually recur. There's a Guardian, Shaft, Guide, et al for every generation just in case. Interesting. Nysander's mentor was presumably his own predecessor. Who would have been Seregil or Alec's?
Anyway, Nysander's still hoping that this can all be forestalled. I doubt it, dude, they don't usually write books about the folks that aren't prophetically significant. They'll just have to wait. Something that doesn't sit well with Seregil.
Something notable does come up though. Nysander's put protective spells around the others and someone's tried to break through the ones surrounding Alec and Seregil. Fortunately, the spells are still there though.
Nysander doesn't seem concerned. Seregil is though. He knows Rhal has tracked them down, what about Mardus? Alec was the one to get them to the city, and he didn't know how to cover his tracks. He insists that he has to protect Alec, and warn Micum. Surprisingly, Nysander is okay with this.
When Seregil leaves, Nysander decides to do some foreseeing himself.
—The hands of Tikdrie Megraesh, the icon of his dreams and visions, opened before him. Voices came faintly through the murk, shouting, raging, weeping. He could hear the clash of weapons, men shouting—
Then, harsh as a blow, came the vision of a black disk surrounded by a thin white nimbus of fire. It seemed to glare at him, like an accusing eye.
Yeah, that sounds bad.
So anyway, Seregil rejoins the others. Ylinestra has shown up, because who doesn't want to sit next to a lady who, at best, drugs her sixteen year old sex partner. Seregil does notice that Magyana, who is conversing with Ylinestra, has faint lines of distaste around her eyes. The Centaur woman Feeya is avoiding Ylinestra entirely.
Ylinestra ends up leaving, when it's clear Nysander isn't coming up. Thero leaves, unsubtly, to go after her. Seregil is amused, noting when a cold fish falls in love, it tends to make a total fool of him.
Alec notes that he thinks Seregil's too hard on Thero:
Alec shrugged. “I didn’t care much for him at first, either, but now he doesn’t seem so bad. He helped save our lives during that raid on Kassarie’s keep, and he was useful during that whole business with Rythel, too. Since then, he’s been almost friendly. Nysander may be right about him, after all. As arrogant and cold as he can seem, underneath I don’t think he’s so bad.”
Thank you, Alec!
Seregil dismisses the idea of his little brother/rival being not so bad. They've got bigger things to worry about. He doesn't explain until they get back to the inn.
Explanations wait longer because, as they arrive at the inn, there's a bit of domestic chaos. Seregil gets a message from Rhal, who's seeking to meet. Seregil's on board, but explanations first.
So yeah, now Alec FINALLY gets clued in on the prophecy/disk stuff. Alec follows the explanation well enough, putting it together with his own observations. They realize that if they'd taken all the amulets, not just the one that took out Seregil, they probably would have been killed immediately. Seregil explains that he would have told Alec earlier, but Nysander swore him to secrecy.
Alec seems surprisingly okay with that, but then, he's pretty practical. This isn't like the half-fae thing, where Seregil just arbitrarily kept important information from him. Seregil also fills him in on the crown adventure from earlier in this book, noting that there were a lot of dead bodies, ancient, but killed the like people Micum had found in the fens.
So now there's a new plan: Alec is to ride out to warn Micum, while Seregil wants to chat with soem of Tym's colleagues. There may be more information about stray Plenimarians to find.
Alec has a pretty good question though: there's a disk and a crown, but what else? Seregil isn't following at first, but Alec clarifies: if Nysander's a Guardian, what's he been guarding? They'll probably never know.
Oh, I suspect you'll know soon enough.
Anyway, time for the meeting with Rhal. It's to show off the new ship! And this is pretty funny:
“Bilairy’s Balls, what’s that supposed to be?” Seregil asked as they crossed beneath her prow. Fitted under the bowsprit was the painted statue of a woman.
“Figurehead,” Welken replied. “Lots of the new ships has ‘em. Said to bring luck. Captain Rhal got the best carver in Iolos to do our lady there; she’s even got a real golden ring on her finger with a great red stone winking in it. Captain says her round belly’ll bring us a full hold.”
Dark hair streamed over the woman’s shoulders and the carved skirts of her emerald-green gown flowed back from a rounded, pregnant belly. One outstretched hand pointed ahead; the other lay modestly over her heart.
Alec broke into a broad grin as he squinted up at the painted wooden face; it was not fine work, but the resemblance to Seregil was obvious to anyone who’d seen him playing a Mycenian gentlewoman aboard the Darter.
Hah, Rhal got a bit of his own back after all. Nice.
Alec, innocently, asks if the figurehead has a name. Yep, "Lady Gwethelyn". Seregil is less amused.
So they chat about Plenimarian affairs - Rhal thinks that with the Overlord dead, they might have a few weeks of breathing room. Seregil is skeptical. They give Rhal an amulet from Nysander - it will let Nysander sight off of it no matter where the amulet is. Rhal's on board with this.
They also talk about the figurehead of course.
Rhal scratched his head sheepishly. “Oh, you noticed that, did you? She was a fine-looking woman, that Gwethelyn. Thinking back to that night I caught you out, I don’t know if I was more angry or disappointed. But in the end I’d say meeting you brought me luck, so there she is. The Green Lady’s a fine ship and she’ll do us all proud.”
Aw. Rhal's a good egg.
So anyway, the boys make their leave and then say goodbye to each other. Seregil is getting on a disguise, and well...things might get a little bit intimate here.
Adjusting a greasy patch over one eye, he came over and grasped Alec by the shoulders. “I’ll be all right. And I’m not shutting you out of anything, either.”
Despite the patch, tangled hair, and ridiculous old hat that partially obscured his friend’s features, Alec heard the warm earnestness in his voice clearly enough.
“I know,” he sighed. “You missed a spot.”
Reaching over, Alec smeared ashes over a bit of clean skin just under Seregil’s right cheekbone. His friend’s one visible eye widened noticeably.
Strange feelings stirred again, and Alec felt himself blush.
Seregil held his gaze a moment, then cleared his throat gruffly. “Thanks. We don’t want any telltale signs of cleanliness giving me away, do we? I’ll take a run through the stable dung heap before I go, just to make sure I’ve got the right odor about me. Take care.”
Oh, you dumb boys.
Anyway, the chapter ends with their parting of ways. Gosh, I hope nothing terrible happens before they unite again.