A Cast of Corbies - Chapter Twelve
Aug. 30th, 2025 12:50 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_whatUgh, this book is a chore. Both annoyingly and surprisingly so. The other books in the series have been very enjoyable and I like both authors and other collaborations with these authors. But this book is a chore.
On the plus side, we're promised a confrontation between Raven and Magpie this chapter. I want to be optimistic about the idea of Raven actually standing up for himself, but I won't be surprised if this turns into a "let's feel sorry for Magpie" fest again.
So the chapter starts off from Magpie's point of view, which doesn't really bode well, to be honest.
And yeah, great start already:
It’s been a long day, Magpie mused wearily on her way up the boardinghouse stairway to her room. Going to be good to just sit down and relax. I wish my room had something more than that cramped little hipbath. A nice, hot soak would be wonderful…. I bet Regina has a bath deep enough to swim in. All the hot water she wants, too. She was shocked from her envious little reverie by Raven suddenly appearing out of the shadows. Magpie had time only for a startled, “What are you doing?’ before he shoved her into her room and slammed the door shut behind them.
1. On one hand, I completely understand envying a rich person their luxuries. Recently, I saw some pictures of a bizarrely-appealing Flintstonian looking mansion owned by someone famous, Dick Clark maybe? And for all that it was a cartoon cave looking oddity, it also looked kind of amazing. Rich people can do that shit.
But I can't help notice how, a few chapters ago, it seemed like Magpie and Regina had become instant friends, with deep immediate understanding of each other due to their mutually horrible backstories. It was enough to have Regina march over to Raven and scold him for being unfair and cruel to Magpie afterall.
Since then, we've seen no interaction between the two at all, and Magpie's only thought about Regina is this bit of bitter envy. It definitely doesn't sell me on the friendship here, which is a shame because seeing Magpie actually be friendly with another human being might have humanized her a lot.
2. Not a huge fan of the manhandling here either. I'm #TeamRaven when it comes to their confrontation, but that's annoying. Also, I feel like it's a clumsy attempt by the authors to make Magpie look vulnerable when she's been the instigator of almost every conflict they've had.
But, I have to admit, I do appreciate Raven FINALLY standing up for himself:
“Just shut up!” he spat again. “You’ve already gotten us into enough of a tangle with this insane jealousy of yours.”
“Jealousy!” Magpie echoed incredulously. “I’m not—”
“Oh, not much you’re not!” he retorted, his face a veritable mask of anger. “You practically seethe every time I so much as mention Regina’s name. Go on,” Raven added challengingly, “deny it. Tell me to my face that you aren’t jealous of the woman. Well?” he prodded. “Go on! You’re so outspoken about everything else. Tell me you aren’t jealous of Regina!”
That said, I wish it wasn't presented as being all about Regina. Because Magpie has been awful to Raven before Regina was even in the picture. She was awful to him when they met. She was awful at the boarding house. And we've been told about her constantly making snarky comments at him that have nothing to do with Regina.
I feel like Lackey and Sherman are trying to make me buy Magpie's behavior as cute love triangle jealousy.
But, to be fair, Magpie pretty quickly admits that it's true. She is jealous.
Raven's response is okay, I guess, though I feel like he/the authors miss the real issue here:
“Look you, you little twit, you have nothing at all to be jealous about. Regina is a beautiful woman; I’d be the world’s worst liar and greatest fool if I tried to deny it. But she has eyes for one man only-and that man is Arden, Duke of Kingsford.” The exasperation was plain in his voice now, echoing in every word. “Don’t you have eyes, woman? Haven’t you seen her when the Duke’s in the theater? She plays only to him. And when he isn’t there, well, she doesn’t deny their relationship, but have you ever heard her say one disparaging word about him? There’s not a shred of doubt,” Raven continued with flat honesty. “There is no room for another man in Regina’s life.”
I would still be on board with Regina/Raven/Arden as a threesome, but I digress.
But what I wish Raven would say, and I wish these authors would acknowledge, is that none of this is Magpie's business, because Magpie and Raven do not have a romantic relationship.
I don't want to play the "if the genders were reversed" card, because there are plenty of romance novels with this kind of plot. But I do think maybe if Magpie were a man who behaved with this level of possessive jealousy when his female colleague had a conversation with another man, it'd be easier to see the problem here.
Magpie does try to shift the blame around:
“No,” Magpie admitted softly. But she refused to surrender so meekly! ‘That doesn’t forgive the way you’ve been acting.”
“I!” Raven yelped. “I haven’t done anything!”
“Oh no.” Now it was her turn to have the high ground, and she seized it, her own voice dripping with irony. “Every time I see Regina, you’re hovering around her, sniffing at her, edging her into dark corners- But to her surprise, he looked at her as if she had just flubbed a simple harmony.
I'm glad that Raven is finally getting a chance to challenge her here. Because of course, this is all nonsense. We've seen Raven and Regina interact. And that last line is promising...
Until the authors ruin it:
“Don’t be an idiot. And don’t make me out to be one, either! I have more sense than to fool around with a nobleman’s mistress.”
“Not for want of trying! You, yourself, said she’s beautiful, and-and—” She faltered to a stop, her voice unexpectedly choking. But not with tears-no
“And so are you, dammit!” Raven shouted, and without any warning at all, kissed her full on the lips.
...ugh, fucking seriously?!
WHY?
Look, it's not that I can't ship terrible romances. You've seen me talk about F'lar and Lessa. And objectively speaking, F'lar was far worse to Lessa than Magpie is to Raven. I get that. But the thing is, and what made Dragonflight so frustrating, was that the beats when McCaffrey wasn't resorting to stock 70s romance cliches, F'lar and Lessa actually DID have a reasonable amount of chemistry.
They had mutual goals, similar tactics, and beats where they, maybe reluctantly, appreciated each other's accomplishments and talents.
A key element of this kind of couple is that we need those beats of "okay, damnit, that was pretty awesome", to counterbalance the rest.
We've never seen anything like that for these two characters. At most, Magpie thinks Raven is hot, and Raven had one moment when he realizes that she's beautiful and there you go.
But in terms of personality? We see nothing to indicate that Magpie likes any trait that Raven has. She bristles at his humor. She dislikes his tactic with the preacher or with Arden's staff. She doesn't even seem to appreciate his musical ability!
And honestly, I'm not sure Magpie's even had an opportunity to show much by way of skill, unless you count taking over the boarding house. And while Raven does seem to appreciate her administrative skill to an extent, he also didn't really like her running roughshod over the people who actually own it. And it's not like Magpie's done any "business directing" since then.
So this is utterly pointless.
Predictably she slaps him for kissing her. He laughs at both of them, she ends up laughing too, which - honestly is maybe the first indicator we've seen that she even has a sense of humor.
She says she won't apologize for slapping him (which to be fair, she shouldn't), he says he won't apologize for kissing her (which he really should), but they declare peace.
Okay, well, if it stops Magpie from being obnoxious as fuck, I'll take it. I'm not sure what character traits she actually has aside from that, but it'll be good to find out.
Raven says that he had to settle the matters between them quickly because he thinks they'll need to stand firm. He brings up the accidents, pointing out that they've got a lot of enemies: the Church, the Guild, whoever might be pissed off at the Duke, and then the rumors about Regina being a sorceress...
Magpie is initially skeptical, but she finds his speculation plausible. Especially his theory that it's meant to be a plot against the Duke. She points out that if there is a conspiracy, they'll need proof or the Duke won't believe them.
I'm actually enjoying this back and forth, so of course we need to annoy me a bit:
“Not without proof, no.” He nodded, and waited.
He wanted to hear what she had to say! Well, that was a change! “Well then, I think we’d better call a convocation of all the Free Bards in the house, right here and now.” She folded her arms across her chest and looked at him with challenge in her eyes.
She half expected Raven to disagree-they’d been doing so much of that lately-but to her surprise, he nodded eagerly. “If we act quickly, we can catch everyone at one time.”
Her suggestion is fine. But I love that "well, that was a change!" bit. As though he didn't make her "business director" as a peace offering like ten chapters before. Now, maybe if we'd seen her try to contribute anything in the last few chapters, I'd be more sympathetic.
But okay, they've resolved things and there's nearly half a book to go, so for my own sanity, I should try to hate this character less.
So anyway, they get everyone together for a meeting. Magpie silences everyone and turns the meeting over to Raven, who lays everything out in a nice little summarized paragraph.
Owl concurs, having been keeping an eye on the street preacher - his targets have now expanded to ALL performers. And I like this bit from Crow a lot.
“Worse than that,” Crow muttered. “This talk of sorcery: guess who’s going to get blamed for that?” He pointed a thumb at Raven and himself. “Get us, they will. Anyone who’s ‘different.’”
THANK YOU.
I've complained before about the odd way this book tackles anti-Roma racism. I appreciate Crow getting to come right out and say that he and Raven are likely to be among the first targets.
And I also appreciate that the "dark-skinned Nightjar" gets to chime in here too. Because, yeah. We know how this goes. She points out the Church hypocrisy about magic, and that it's probably only a matter of time before they outlaw ANY magic not worked by the priests.
Raven points out that it happened in Gradford (Hi Robin and Kestrel! I hope you're doing well and that you got to reclaim your wagon after all!), and it could happen here.
Owl seems to be the "eyes on the street" guy, and he points out that there are more Church edicts affecting the common folk too. Apparently it's illegal to sell anything dyed scarlet to commoners. (This is news to Nightjar, who is wearing a scarlet scarf right now). Apparently, unless it's worn by a Church official, scarlet is a "sinful color" that "promotes sensual thoughts".
There are more rules too: no selling during prayer hours, no robes that could be mistaken for vestments, and women aren't allowed to wear their hair unbound - as it promotes more sensual thought.
So yeah, this is probably a bad sign.
The King, by the way, seems to be completely silent on the issue. Duke Arden's a good dude: both a populist and one who rules with the help of an elected Council of citizens, he's still only one dude. And if the Church can discredit him, then out he goes.
One of the other Bards asks about the magical non-humans in Kingsford. And well, this is ominous:
Her innocent question faded into grim silence. As the young woman glanced about in bewilderment, Nightjar said, “Think, girl. Have you forgotten Moon-cat Tribe?”
Finch blanched, shrinking back against her twin.
...I don't think the Moon-cats were mentioned before. But it sounds like a not so great story.
So the Bards are on the same page about the threats and ominous atmosphere now, but they've still got the same problem: if they are going to get the Duke to listen to them, they need proof.
Magpie actually has a good idea though: they should bring Regina into the conversation. And since it's her idea, and the authors have finally remembered that the two women are supposed to be acquaintances, it's Magpie's job to do it.
You know, instead of the guy who Regina's been working with and confiding in all along. I still think Magpie's biggest crime in this book isn't being annoying (though she is), but that the story would be 90% the same without her.
But happily, Magpie and Regina end up meeting by chance on the way to the theatre. They hear someone selling seedcakes, and Regina is dying for one. Magpie asks why she doesn't just buy one, but Regina laughs instead. Apparently the street vendors around here are known for putting sawdust or grosser stuff in their wares.
...that might have been good to tell people about a while ago. I know you have a fancy kitchen, Regina, but your cast and crew might have eaten these products...
This gives Magpie an opportunity though, and she clumsily invites Regina back to the boarding house, claiming Erdric/Owl is a marvelous baker. Honestly, if I wasn't so annoyed with Magpie, I'd find it endearing.
Magpie is embarrassed at herself, but Regina would love to come. It'll be a nice afternoon away from court formality. And indeed, she shows up all casual like:
The Free Bards had rather been expecting some grand procession of servants and guards. But Regina slipped in unheralded, dressed not in noble finery but in the same beribboned blouse and colorful skirt most of the musicians wore on the streets. And it’s not some sort of costume for her, Magpie thought with a little thrill of approval. It’s all been worn and used: this is the real Regina, the woman who existed before she caught the Duke’s eye.
“I smell baking,” Regina said with a grin.
I feel like this is something that should have happened a lot sooner. I mean, they've spent weeks, if not months, by now, working at the theatre with this woman. We know she doesn't put on airs, because she never does. Every character beat is basically some form of "actually, Regina is really nice and doesn't act like a dick to anyone".
I know Raven's the only character who usually gets to do anything at the theatre, but the others are at least present!
But anyway, Owl's baking and everyone gets to eat. And just in case we didn't get the memo:
They obediently waited for perhaps five heartbeats. “That’s a few moments,” Nightjar exclaimed, and snatched up a seedcake, juggling the hot thing from hand to hand, slathering it with sweet butter. Biting into it, she rolled her eyes in silent ecstasy, and the others laughed and followed her lead, Regina among them, grinning around a mouthful of cake, her lovely face smeared with butter and crumbs.
“Mph, wonderful,” she got out. “Best I’ve tasted in-best ever! On my life!”
Owl beamed at her and bowed. Magpie, licking her fingers free of butter, grinned at Raven. You could take the woman out of the street rat, but you couldn’t quite take the street rat out of the woman!
Do street rats often get to eat seedcakes with butter?
Also, I feel like nobles can also have dirty faces?
Anyway, whatever. Raven and Magpie start talking to Regina about what they've observed. And I'm suddenly remembering that Raven and Regina also had the "do you think it's a plot" talk a while back. So that takes a lot of suspense out of all this. But whatever, things might be finally happening.
Anyway, Regina is open to the idea of it being a plot, though she points out that some of the accidents are probably innocent.
They speculate about magic being involved. Most of the issues, like Sir Verrick's sword getting stuck in the scabbard, could be easily done by anyone who is disgruntled.
On the plus side, Magpie's still kind of racist.
“But who?” Nightjar wanted to know. “I can’t see any of the actors-and certainly none of us-trying to hurt a good source of income.”
‘The Tilsani?” Magpie suggested dubiously. “He is an odd little thing: maybe he resents humans.”
That won her a glare from Crow. “Just ‘cause someone looks different,” the drummer muttered, “doesn’t make him evil.”
She licked her lips and tried to make her next words an apology of sorts. “Of course not. I didn’t mean—”
...what DID you mean, Magpie? Has the Tilsani actually done anything to indicate he resents humans? Or are you projecting?
Regina says that the Tilsani is totally loyal to the Manager and wouldn't ever want to hurt anyone.
They go back to discussing magic. While most of the pranks could have been done without magic, it's hard to imagine how someone could have gotten into a locked Wardrobe room, slipped past a very wide awake Wardrobe mistress, got into a locked trunk, and stolen Regina's mask without being seen.
They start talking about the Church - the Church has mages, after all, and fill Regina in on what's been happening with the Free Bards and the general restrictions on everyone's freedoms.
Then they redirect, AGAIN, back to if there is magic sabotage. Nightjar, who seems to be the most magically inclined of the group, is pretty sure there is magic involvement. She wants to bring in a powerful mage she knows - as the dude is a Rom, I'm guessing it'll be Peregrine again, playing plot device.
Jaysen seems anxious about getting involved with magic shenanigans, which leads Raven to suddenly channel his new girlfriend (i.e. being kind of a dick):
“I don’t know….” Jaysen said slowly. “It might be dangerous. Getting mixed up in magic, powerful stuff like that.”
Raven shot him a contemptuous glare. “On the other hand, boy, if there’s a mage already working against us, it would rather nice to know about it, don’t you agree?”
Jaysen flushed. “Yes, of course, but—”
“But what? I vote we contact Nightjar's mage."
Maybe they are compatible after all. Ick.
Anyway, the others agree - including Regina, so they decide to send the message to Peregrine. And of course Raven recognizes the name. I'd joke about all Rom knowing each other, but given that we know Raven, Nightingale, Gwyna and Peregrine all tend to hang around Talaysen, it makes sense. It's funny that Raven didn't think of the guy.
They decide that they'll be keeping watch, and Regina will find reasons for the Free Bards to get to go in and out of the Palace. And the chapter ends with them continuing to plan.
On the plus side, we're promised a confrontation between Raven and Magpie this chapter. I want to be optimistic about the idea of Raven actually standing up for himself, but I won't be surprised if this turns into a "let's feel sorry for Magpie" fest again.
So the chapter starts off from Magpie's point of view, which doesn't really bode well, to be honest.
And yeah, great start already:
It’s been a long day, Magpie mused wearily on her way up the boardinghouse stairway to her room. Going to be good to just sit down and relax. I wish my room had something more than that cramped little hipbath. A nice, hot soak would be wonderful…. I bet Regina has a bath deep enough to swim in. All the hot water she wants, too. She was shocked from her envious little reverie by Raven suddenly appearing out of the shadows. Magpie had time only for a startled, “What are you doing?’ before he shoved her into her room and slammed the door shut behind them.
1. On one hand, I completely understand envying a rich person their luxuries. Recently, I saw some pictures of a bizarrely-appealing Flintstonian looking mansion owned by someone famous, Dick Clark maybe? And for all that it was a cartoon cave looking oddity, it also looked kind of amazing. Rich people can do that shit.
But I can't help notice how, a few chapters ago, it seemed like Magpie and Regina had become instant friends, with deep immediate understanding of each other due to their mutually horrible backstories. It was enough to have Regina march over to Raven and scold him for being unfair and cruel to Magpie afterall.
Since then, we've seen no interaction between the two at all, and Magpie's only thought about Regina is this bit of bitter envy. It definitely doesn't sell me on the friendship here, which is a shame because seeing Magpie actually be friendly with another human being might have humanized her a lot.
2. Not a huge fan of the manhandling here either. I'm #TeamRaven when it comes to their confrontation, but that's annoying. Also, I feel like it's a clumsy attempt by the authors to make Magpie look vulnerable when she's been the instigator of almost every conflict they've had.
But, I have to admit, I do appreciate Raven FINALLY standing up for himself:
“Just shut up!” he spat again. “You’ve already gotten us into enough of a tangle with this insane jealousy of yours.”
“Jealousy!” Magpie echoed incredulously. “I’m not—”
“Oh, not much you’re not!” he retorted, his face a veritable mask of anger. “You practically seethe every time I so much as mention Regina’s name. Go on,” Raven added challengingly, “deny it. Tell me to my face that you aren’t jealous of the woman. Well?” he prodded. “Go on! You’re so outspoken about everything else. Tell me you aren’t jealous of Regina!”
That said, I wish it wasn't presented as being all about Regina. Because Magpie has been awful to Raven before Regina was even in the picture. She was awful to him when they met. She was awful at the boarding house. And we've been told about her constantly making snarky comments at him that have nothing to do with Regina.
I feel like Lackey and Sherman are trying to make me buy Magpie's behavior as cute love triangle jealousy.
But, to be fair, Magpie pretty quickly admits that it's true. She is jealous.
Raven's response is okay, I guess, though I feel like he/the authors miss the real issue here:
“Look you, you little twit, you have nothing at all to be jealous about. Regina is a beautiful woman; I’d be the world’s worst liar and greatest fool if I tried to deny it. But she has eyes for one man only-and that man is Arden, Duke of Kingsford.” The exasperation was plain in his voice now, echoing in every word. “Don’t you have eyes, woman? Haven’t you seen her when the Duke’s in the theater? She plays only to him. And when he isn’t there, well, she doesn’t deny their relationship, but have you ever heard her say one disparaging word about him? There’s not a shred of doubt,” Raven continued with flat honesty. “There is no room for another man in Regina’s life.”
I would still be on board with Regina/Raven/Arden as a threesome, but I digress.
But what I wish Raven would say, and I wish these authors would acknowledge, is that none of this is Magpie's business, because Magpie and Raven do not have a romantic relationship.
I don't want to play the "if the genders were reversed" card, because there are plenty of romance novels with this kind of plot. But I do think maybe if Magpie were a man who behaved with this level of possessive jealousy when his female colleague had a conversation with another man, it'd be easier to see the problem here.
Magpie does try to shift the blame around:
“No,” Magpie admitted softly. But she refused to surrender so meekly! ‘That doesn’t forgive the way you’ve been acting.”
“I!” Raven yelped. “I haven’t done anything!”
“Oh no.” Now it was her turn to have the high ground, and she seized it, her own voice dripping with irony. “Every time I see Regina, you’re hovering around her, sniffing at her, edging her into dark corners- But to her surprise, he looked at her as if she had just flubbed a simple harmony.
I'm glad that Raven is finally getting a chance to challenge her here. Because of course, this is all nonsense. We've seen Raven and Regina interact. And that last line is promising...
Until the authors ruin it:
“Don’t be an idiot. And don’t make me out to be one, either! I have more sense than to fool around with a nobleman’s mistress.”
“Not for want of trying! You, yourself, said she’s beautiful, and-and—” She faltered to a stop, her voice unexpectedly choking. But not with tears-no
“And so are you, dammit!” Raven shouted, and without any warning at all, kissed her full on the lips.
...ugh, fucking seriously?!
WHY?
Look, it's not that I can't ship terrible romances. You've seen me talk about F'lar and Lessa. And objectively speaking, F'lar was far worse to Lessa than Magpie is to Raven. I get that. But the thing is, and what made Dragonflight so frustrating, was that the beats when McCaffrey wasn't resorting to stock 70s romance cliches, F'lar and Lessa actually DID have a reasonable amount of chemistry.
They had mutual goals, similar tactics, and beats where they, maybe reluctantly, appreciated each other's accomplishments and talents.
A key element of this kind of couple is that we need those beats of "okay, damnit, that was pretty awesome", to counterbalance the rest.
We've never seen anything like that for these two characters. At most, Magpie thinks Raven is hot, and Raven had one moment when he realizes that she's beautiful and there you go.
But in terms of personality? We see nothing to indicate that Magpie likes any trait that Raven has. She bristles at his humor. She dislikes his tactic with the preacher or with Arden's staff. She doesn't even seem to appreciate his musical ability!
And honestly, I'm not sure Magpie's even had an opportunity to show much by way of skill, unless you count taking over the boarding house. And while Raven does seem to appreciate her administrative skill to an extent, he also didn't really like her running roughshod over the people who actually own it. And it's not like Magpie's done any "business directing" since then.
So this is utterly pointless.
Predictably she slaps him for kissing her. He laughs at both of them, she ends up laughing too, which - honestly is maybe the first indicator we've seen that she even has a sense of humor.
She says she won't apologize for slapping him (which to be fair, she shouldn't), he says he won't apologize for kissing her (which he really should), but they declare peace.
Okay, well, if it stops Magpie from being obnoxious as fuck, I'll take it. I'm not sure what character traits she actually has aside from that, but it'll be good to find out.
Raven says that he had to settle the matters between them quickly because he thinks they'll need to stand firm. He brings up the accidents, pointing out that they've got a lot of enemies: the Church, the Guild, whoever might be pissed off at the Duke, and then the rumors about Regina being a sorceress...
Magpie is initially skeptical, but she finds his speculation plausible. Especially his theory that it's meant to be a plot against the Duke. She points out that if there is a conspiracy, they'll need proof or the Duke won't believe them.
I'm actually enjoying this back and forth, so of course we need to annoy me a bit:
“Not without proof, no.” He nodded, and waited.
He wanted to hear what she had to say! Well, that was a change! “Well then, I think we’d better call a convocation of all the Free Bards in the house, right here and now.” She folded her arms across her chest and looked at him with challenge in her eyes.
She half expected Raven to disagree-they’d been doing so much of that lately-but to her surprise, he nodded eagerly. “If we act quickly, we can catch everyone at one time.”
Her suggestion is fine. But I love that "well, that was a change!" bit. As though he didn't make her "business director" as a peace offering like ten chapters before. Now, maybe if we'd seen her try to contribute anything in the last few chapters, I'd be more sympathetic.
But okay, they've resolved things and there's nearly half a book to go, so for my own sanity, I should try to hate this character less.
So anyway, they get everyone together for a meeting. Magpie silences everyone and turns the meeting over to Raven, who lays everything out in a nice little summarized paragraph.
Owl concurs, having been keeping an eye on the street preacher - his targets have now expanded to ALL performers. And I like this bit from Crow a lot.
“Worse than that,” Crow muttered. “This talk of sorcery: guess who’s going to get blamed for that?” He pointed a thumb at Raven and himself. “Get us, they will. Anyone who’s ‘different.’”
THANK YOU.
I've complained before about the odd way this book tackles anti-Roma racism. I appreciate Crow getting to come right out and say that he and Raven are likely to be among the first targets.
And I also appreciate that the "dark-skinned Nightjar" gets to chime in here too. Because, yeah. We know how this goes. She points out the Church hypocrisy about magic, and that it's probably only a matter of time before they outlaw ANY magic not worked by the priests.
Raven points out that it happened in Gradford (Hi Robin and Kestrel! I hope you're doing well and that you got to reclaim your wagon after all!), and it could happen here.
Owl seems to be the "eyes on the street" guy, and he points out that there are more Church edicts affecting the common folk too. Apparently it's illegal to sell anything dyed scarlet to commoners. (This is news to Nightjar, who is wearing a scarlet scarf right now). Apparently, unless it's worn by a Church official, scarlet is a "sinful color" that "promotes sensual thoughts".
There are more rules too: no selling during prayer hours, no robes that could be mistaken for vestments, and women aren't allowed to wear their hair unbound - as it promotes more sensual thought.
So yeah, this is probably a bad sign.
The King, by the way, seems to be completely silent on the issue. Duke Arden's a good dude: both a populist and one who rules with the help of an elected Council of citizens, he's still only one dude. And if the Church can discredit him, then out he goes.
One of the other Bards asks about the magical non-humans in Kingsford. And well, this is ominous:
Her innocent question faded into grim silence. As the young woman glanced about in bewilderment, Nightjar said, “Think, girl. Have you forgotten Moon-cat Tribe?”
Finch blanched, shrinking back against her twin.
...I don't think the Moon-cats were mentioned before. But it sounds like a not so great story.
So the Bards are on the same page about the threats and ominous atmosphere now, but they've still got the same problem: if they are going to get the Duke to listen to them, they need proof.
Magpie actually has a good idea though: they should bring Regina into the conversation. And since it's her idea, and the authors have finally remembered that the two women are supposed to be acquaintances, it's Magpie's job to do it.
You know, instead of the guy who Regina's been working with and confiding in all along. I still think Magpie's biggest crime in this book isn't being annoying (though she is), but that the story would be 90% the same without her.
But happily, Magpie and Regina end up meeting by chance on the way to the theatre. They hear someone selling seedcakes, and Regina is dying for one. Magpie asks why she doesn't just buy one, but Regina laughs instead. Apparently the street vendors around here are known for putting sawdust or grosser stuff in their wares.
...that might have been good to tell people about a while ago. I know you have a fancy kitchen, Regina, but your cast and crew might have eaten these products...
This gives Magpie an opportunity though, and she clumsily invites Regina back to the boarding house, claiming Erdric/Owl is a marvelous baker. Honestly, if I wasn't so annoyed with Magpie, I'd find it endearing.
Magpie is embarrassed at herself, but Regina would love to come. It'll be a nice afternoon away from court formality. And indeed, she shows up all casual like:
The Free Bards had rather been expecting some grand procession of servants and guards. But Regina slipped in unheralded, dressed not in noble finery but in the same beribboned blouse and colorful skirt most of the musicians wore on the streets. And it’s not some sort of costume for her, Magpie thought with a little thrill of approval. It’s all been worn and used: this is the real Regina, the woman who existed before she caught the Duke’s eye.
“I smell baking,” Regina said with a grin.
I feel like this is something that should have happened a lot sooner. I mean, they've spent weeks, if not months, by now, working at the theatre with this woman. We know she doesn't put on airs, because she never does. Every character beat is basically some form of "actually, Regina is really nice and doesn't act like a dick to anyone".
I know Raven's the only character who usually gets to do anything at the theatre, but the others are at least present!
But anyway, Owl's baking and everyone gets to eat. And just in case we didn't get the memo:
They obediently waited for perhaps five heartbeats. “That’s a few moments,” Nightjar exclaimed, and snatched up a seedcake, juggling the hot thing from hand to hand, slathering it with sweet butter. Biting into it, she rolled her eyes in silent ecstasy, and the others laughed and followed her lead, Regina among them, grinning around a mouthful of cake, her lovely face smeared with butter and crumbs.
“Mph, wonderful,” she got out. “Best I’ve tasted in-best ever! On my life!”
Owl beamed at her and bowed. Magpie, licking her fingers free of butter, grinned at Raven. You could take the woman out of the street rat, but you couldn’t quite take the street rat out of the woman!
Do street rats often get to eat seedcakes with butter?
Also, I feel like nobles can also have dirty faces?
Anyway, whatever. Raven and Magpie start talking to Regina about what they've observed. And I'm suddenly remembering that Raven and Regina also had the "do you think it's a plot" talk a while back. So that takes a lot of suspense out of all this. But whatever, things might be finally happening.
Anyway, Regina is open to the idea of it being a plot, though she points out that some of the accidents are probably innocent.
They speculate about magic being involved. Most of the issues, like Sir Verrick's sword getting stuck in the scabbard, could be easily done by anyone who is disgruntled.
On the plus side, Magpie's still kind of racist.
“But who?” Nightjar wanted to know. “I can’t see any of the actors-and certainly none of us-trying to hurt a good source of income.”
‘The Tilsani?” Magpie suggested dubiously. “He is an odd little thing: maybe he resents humans.”
That won her a glare from Crow. “Just ‘cause someone looks different,” the drummer muttered, “doesn’t make him evil.”
She licked her lips and tried to make her next words an apology of sorts. “Of course not. I didn’t mean—”
...what DID you mean, Magpie? Has the Tilsani actually done anything to indicate he resents humans? Or are you projecting?
Regina says that the Tilsani is totally loyal to the Manager and wouldn't ever want to hurt anyone.
They go back to discussing magic. While most of the pranks could have been done without magic, it's hard to imagine how someone could have gotten into a locked Wardrobe room, slipped past a very wide awake Wardrobe mistress, got into a locked trunk, and stolen Regina's mask without being seen.
They start talking about the Church - the Church has mages, after all, and fill Regina in on what's been happening with the Free Bards and the general restrictions on everyone's freedoms.
Then they redirect, AGAIN, back to if there is magic sabotage. Nightjar, who seems to be the most magically inclined of the group, is pretty sure there is magic involvement. She wants to bring in a powerful mage she knows - as the dude is a Rom, I'm guessing it'll be Peregrine again, playing plot device.
Jaysen seems anxious about getting involved with magic shenanigans, which leads Raven to suddenly channel his new girlfriend (i.e. being kind of a dick):
“I don’t know….” Jaysen said slowly. “It might be dangerous. Getting mixed up in magic, powerful stuff like that.”
Raven shot him a contemptuous glare. “On the other hand, boy, if there’s a mage already working against us, it would rather nice to know about it, don’t you agree?”
Jaysen flushed. “Yes, of course, but—”
“But what? I vote we contact Nightjar's mage."
Maybe they are compatible after all. Ick.
Anyway, the others agree - including Regina, so they decide to send the message to Peregrine. And of course Raven recognizes the name. I'd joke about all Rom knowing each other, but given that we know Raven, Nightingale, Gwyna and Peregrine all tend to hang around Talaysen, it makes sense. It's funny that Raven didn't think of the guy.
They decide that they'll be keeping watch, and Regina will find reasons for the Free Bards to get to go in and out of the Palace. And the chapter ends with them continuing to plan.