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i_read_what2025-11-24 06:49 pm
kalinara) wrote in i_read_what2025-11-24 06:49 pm
In Sylvan Shadows - Chapter Seventeen
SO last time, Cadderly made headway with his book! And Rufo's life continues to suck.
Poor Rufo. I mean, don't get me wrong, he was a dick in Canticle. And his advances on Danica were not okay by any means. But he's actually been pretty low key during this book. Elbereth has done so well at taking over the bullying dick role that Rufo just seems kind of hapless. And his treason, while cowardly, is because he's being terrorized and manipulated.
I am actually enjoying the Cadderly as cleric storyline we've got right now though. Being a cleric is interesting, and it's not necessarily something that translates easily from a tabletop game (in which there are systems and rules) to a story. A Cleric gets his power from a Deity. Arguably, said Deity could withdraw that power at any time. Or the Cleric will have to do what the Deity wants. In a tabletop game, the Cleric succeeding at a healing spell is a guarantee. In a story though, maybe not.
It's interesting to explore the differences.
Anyway, the story starts with Danica and Cadderly entering the glade where Galladel, Elbereth, Shayleigh, Tintagel and others who have never been important enough for names have gathered.
Cadderly gets his moment to shine, announcing he's translated the book.
Galladel is not pleased to see them, of course, because he exists only to be a negative contrast to Elbereth and demands to know where Cadderly got the book. Elbereth defends Cadderly, saying he found it and Elbereth had given permission to keep it.
Elbereth does wonder about the translation claim, since the book is pretty big and Cadderly hasn't had time to read it, let alone translate it.
Cadderly stutters an explanation, but it's enough to intrigue the elves that we're supposed to like (Elbereth and Shayleigh) so there you go.
Galladel, of course, is a dick:
“What value do you expect to find within those pages?” Galladel asked sharply, his angry tone stopping his son in midstride. An expression of confusion crossed Cadderly’s face, for the young scholar certainly hadn’t expected that reaction.
“You bring us false hope,” the elf king went on, his anger unrelenting.
Cadderly is enthusiastic about the story of Dellanil Quil'quien awakened the trees against goblins.
Galladel maybe has a point here though he's a dick about it:
“You tell us nothing that we do not know!” the elf king snapped. “Do you think that none among us has read the book of Dellanil?”
“I had thought the runes ancient and lost to understanding,” Cadderly stammered. Danica put her hand on his shoulder, and the young scholar appreciated the much needed support.
“Lost now,” Galladel replied, “but I, too, have read the work, centuries ago when those runes were not so uncommon. I could decipher them still, if I had the mind and the time to do so.”
“You did not think to awaken the trees?” Elbereth asked his father in disbelief.
Galladel’s glare bored into his impertinent son. “You speak of that act as though it were some simple magical spell.”
Why would the elves keep a book that no one could read? It makes some sense that Galladel, as a member of a prior generation (and elf generations are long), might have the ability to read them himself.
Anyway, Cadderly says that it's not a spell, but more like a summoning to awaken powers. Galladel insists that the powers are no more, and to his credit, Salvatore actually manages to give Galladel some much needed humanity, for lack of a better word:
“This is not the first war that has come to Shilmista since I began my reign,” the elf king explained. He seemed suddenly old and vulnerable, his face pale and hollow. “And I read the account of Dellanil’s battle, as you have,” he offered sympathetically to Cadderly. “Like you, I was filled with hope on that long ago occasion, and filled with belief of the magic of Shilmista.
“But the trees did not come to my call,” the elf king continued, drawing nods of recognition from two other aged elves sitting by his side. “Not a single one. Many elves died repelling the invaders, more than should have, I fear, since their king was too busy to join in their fight.”
It seemed to Cadderly as if the aged elf’s shoulders sagged even lower as he recalled that tragic time.
I do appreciate this. People don't become bitter and jaded for no reason. And I really like that moment of sympathy to Cadderly.
Anyway, Galladel definitely believes that the trees aren't "sentient sentinels of Shilmista" anymore. Though Shayleigh reminds them of Hammerdeen's instruction to heed the tree song.
Galladel points out that Hammerdeen as a dryad is much more attuned to the flora than any elf. She would hear any plant. Elbereth reminds Galladel that they have few options, but Galladel remains dismissive.
“The summons will not work,” Galladel insisted, his tone showing clearly that he considered the conversation at an end. “You do have our thanks, scholar Cadderly,” he said, somewhat condescendingly. “Your efforts have not gone unnoticed.”
You know, as much as we're clearly supposed to dislike him here, I can't help but note that a little condescension is kind compared to how Elbereth himself treated Cadderly for most of the book.
Cadderly decides to grow a backbone for once and challenges Galladel, asking what they'd do. And if they're planning to run away from the forest instead of fight. And I kind of side with Galladel here with his whole "this is what we're talking about...privately", because while I like Cadderly, he's not an elf. This isn't really his call.
Per Galladel, most will leave. Some want to stay and fight. Galladel, unsurprisingly is not on board with the latter group. Elbereth is in that group, of course. The plan is to go to the Edificant Library and then Evermeet.
Cadderly, sympathetically, says that the Library will welcome them, but also brings up the effect on the region. He thinks if the forest falls, then the men of the mountain, and the lake region will too.
Galladel gets mad at this, interpreting it as Cadderly wanting to sacrifice the elves so that men survive. He's defensive too, pointing out that he's been in Shilmista since before the library was constructed.
Cadderly is smart enough to realize that arguing further is futile. He's sad when Danica pulls him away.
So they go back to the campsite. Eventually, Elbereth, Shayleigh and Tintagel join them. Elbereth asks "sternly" if Cadderly is certain he's deciphered the runes. Cadderly has. And he's following Elbereth's line of thought.
Shayleigh and Tintagel look uncomfortable, understandably.
Elbereth fills them in: the elves intend to depart the forest. Tintagel defends Galladel a little, pointing out that Galladel has wintessed the deaths of many elves. Which is a fair point. Elbereth has had it rough, but he wasn't present for the worst of the battles. And I rather like that Tintagel gets to challenge Elbereth and be right.
But Elbereth still wants to fight, in fact, he wants to awaken the trees. Pikel is pretty enthusiastic about the idea. Hah.
Cadderly's excited, Danica and Shayleigh point out that Galladel will not approve. Elbereth has a decent point though: they should try, the worst that can happen is they fail, and they go along with Galladel's plans.
So Cadderly opens the book. Rufo slips away.
--
We shift scenes to Rufo reporting in. He's clearly pretty miserable and I still feel bad for him. I mean, he's clearly doomed by the narrative, but maybe he could have had a different fate if he hadn't come to Shilmista...
The elves will depart? came the telepathic voice, revealing the imp’s excitement. What defenses will they leave behind? And what of young Cadderly? Tell me of Cadderly!
“Leave me alone!” Rufo screamed back. “You have gained enough from me. Go and question another.” The angular man could sense the imp’s distant laughter.
“The elves will depart,” Rufo admitted, hoping to mask the more important news with something the enemy would discern soon enough in any case.
And that is all? came the expected question.
“That is all,” Rufo replied. “A few may remain, just to slow your advance, but the rest will go, never to return.”
Rufo does something else, though. When they ask about Cadderly, Rufo lies, saying Cadderly intends to go with the elves, back home.
Druzil knows Rufo is hiding things, but likes taunting him instead.
--
We shift scenes to Danica, and this bit is a little irritating to be honest:
Danica was glad of the change that came over Cadderly, whatever the outcome of their desperate attempt. She knew that Cadderly was a sensitive man, frustrated by the violence that had been forced upon him and by the destruction of so many wondrous things, both in beautiful Shilmista and back in the Edificant Library. Danica didn’t doubt Cadderly’s willingness to fight back however he could. They stood in the same glade that the elves had used earlier for council, wanting their attempt to be private in case it failed, as Galladel had predicted. Watching Cadderly and Elbereth in their preparations for the ceremony, the young scholar tutoring the elf on particular inflections and movements, Danica almost allowed herself to believe that the trees of Shilmista would awaken, and that the forest would be saved.
I mean, your sensitive boyfriend might not be quite so dispirited if you didn't just watch your new best friend torment him for three quarters of the book?
Just saying.
Anyway, everyone's kind of tentatively hopeful. Ivan bitches about it, but that's not surprising. Elbereth begins the song. Pikel dances along, which makes Shayleigh and Tintagel smile.
Galladel appears, unhappily, but Danica begs him not to interrupt, and rather surprisingly he nods and stays quiet.
I like that too. Galladel is bitter and jaded, but he's not going to keep them from trying.
That said, the only response the call gets is from some wolves. And Galladel doesn't hesitate to say "I told you so". Elbereth is remorseful, but happy that they tried. Cadderly is perplexed.
Hammerdeen appears to provide answers: the trees did hear, but the ones in this region are too young. Cadderly was in the wrong place. Danica's a bit of a dick here:
“But the trees in this region of the forest have heard the elven song,” Hammadeen offered to brighten their mood, “and they are pleased by it.”
“Lot o’ good that’ll do them,” the departing Ivan chided.
Danica echoed the thoughts of the remaining three perfectly when she whispered, “How pleased will the trees be to hear the crack of orcish axes?”
Hammadeen stopped laughing and faded into the pine.
Well, gosh, it's not like the trees can suddenly grow more powerful, Danica. Maybe you should go find the place where they ARE old and powerful?
They end up traveling back. Shayleigh has apparently decided to be a negative nelly:
This time it would seem King Galladel was correct,” Shayleigh went on.
“We had nothing to lose,” Cadderly replied, a bit more sharply than he had intended.
“But we did,” said Shayleigh. “For word has spread of our failure. All the elves know that Shilmista would not rise beside them. Our hearts are heavy. Few will remain beside Elbereth as he continues to hinder the enemy.”
I mean, it was a long shot anyway, lady. Cadderly and Danica want to stay, but get yelled at by Ivan. He has no intention of letting them, or Pikel, stay to get massacred.
The chapter ends here.
Poor Rufo. I mean, don't get me wrong, he was a dick in Canticle. And his advances on Danica were not okay by any means. But he's actually been pretty low key during this book. Elbereth has done so well at taking over the bullying dick role that Rufo just seems kind of hapless. And his treason, while cowardly, is because he's being terrorized and manipulated.
I am actually enjoying the Cadderly as cleric storyline we've got right now though. Being a cleric is interesting, and it's not necessarily something that translates easily from a tabletop game (in which there are systems and rules) to a story. A Cleric gets his power from a Deity. Arguably, said Deity could withdraw that power at any time. Or the Cleric will have to do what the Deity wants. In a tabletop game, the Cleric succeeding at a healing spell is a guarantee. In a story though, maybe not.
It's interesting to explore the differences.
Anyway, the story starts with Danica and Cadderly entering the glade where Galladel, Elbereth, Shayleigh, Tintagel and others who have never been important enough for names have gathered.
Cadderly gets his moment to shine, announcing he's translated the book.
Galladel is not pleased to see them, of course, because he exists only to be a negative contrast to Elbereth and demands to know where Cadderly got the book. Elbereth defends Cadderly, saying he found it and Elbereth had given permission to keep it.
Elbereth does wonder about the translation claim, since the book is pretty big and Cadderly hasn't had time to read it, let alone translate it.
Cadderly stutters an explanation, but it's enough to intrigue the elves that we're supposed to like (Elbereth and Shayleigh) so there you go.
Galladel, of course, is a dick:
“What value do you expect to find within those pages?” Galladel asked sharply, his angry tone stopping his son in midstride. An expression of confusion crossed Cadderly’s face, for the young scholar certainly hadn’t expected that reaction.
“You bring us false hope,” the elf king went on, his anger unrelenting.
Cadderly is enthusiastic about the story of Dellanil Quil'quien awakened the trees against goblins.
Galladel maybe has a point here though he's a dick about it:
“You tell us nothing that we do not know!” the elf king snapped. “Do you think that none among us has read the book of Dellanil?”
“I had thought the runes ancient and lost to understanding,” Cadderly stammered. Danica put her hand on his shoulder, and the young scholar appreciated the much needed support.
“Lost now,” Galladel replied, “but I, too, have read the work, centuries ago when those runes were not so uncommon. I could decipher them still, if I had the mind and the time to do so.”
“You did not think to awaken the trees?” Elbereth asked his father in disbelief.
Galladel’s glare bored into his impertinent son. “You speak of that act as though it were some simple magical spell.”
Why would the elves keep a book that no one could read? It makes some sense that Galladel, as a member of a prior generation (and elf generations are long), might have the ability to read them himself.
Anyway, Cadderly says that it's not a spell, but more like a summoning to awaken powers. Galladel insists that the powers are no more, and to his credit, Salvatore actually manages to give Galladel some much needed humanity, for lack of a better word:
“This is not the first war that has come to Shilmista since I began my reign,” the elf king explained. He seemed suddenly old and vulnerable, his face pale and hollow. “And I read the account of Dellanil’s battle, as you have,” he offered sympathetically to Cadderly. “Like you, I was filled with hope on that long ago occasion, and filled with belief of the magic of Shilmista.
“But the trees did not come to my call,” the elf king continued, drawing nods of recognition from two other aged elves sitting by his side. “Not a single one. Many elves died repelling the invaders, more than should have, I fear, since their king was too busy to join in their fight.”
It seemed to Cadderly as if the aged elf’s shoulders sagged even lower as he recalled that tragic time.
I do appreciate this. People don't become bitter and jaded for no reason. And I really like that moment of sympathy to Cadderly.
Anyway, Galladel definitely believes that the trees aren't "sentient sentinels of Shilmista" anymore. Though Shayleigh reminds them of Hammerdeen's instruction to heed the tree song.
Galladel points out that Hammerdeen as a dryad is much more attuned to the flora than any elf. She would hear any plant. Elbereth reminds Galladel that they have few options, but Galladel remains dismissive.
“The summons will not work,” Galladel insisted, his tone showing clearly that he considered the conversation at an end. “You do have our thanks, scholar Cadderly,” he said, somewhat condescendingly. “Your efforts have not gone unnoticed.”
You know, as much as we're clearly supposed to dislike him here, I can't help but note that a little condescension is kind compared to how Elbereth himself treated Cadderly for most of the book.
Cadderly decides to grow a backbone for once and challenges Galladel, asking what they'd do. And if they're planning to run away from the forest instead of fight. And I kind of side with Galladel here with his whole "this is what we're talking about...privately", because while I like Cadderly, he's not an elf. This isn't really his call.
Per Galladel, most will leave. Some want to stay and fight. Galladel, unsurprisingly is not on board with the latter group. Elbereth is in that group, of course. The plan is to go to the Edificant Library and then Evermeet.
Cadderly, sympathetically, says that the Library will welcome them, but also brings up the effect on the region. He thinks if the forest falls, then the men of the mountain, and the lake region will too.
Galladel gets mad at this, interpreting it as Cadderly wanting to sacrifice the elves so that men survive. He's defensive too, pointing out that he's been in Shilmista since before the library was constructed.
Cadderly is smart enough to realize that arguing further is futile. He's sad when Danica pulls him away.
So they go back to the campsite. Eventually, Elbereth, Shayleigh and Tintagel join them. Elbereth asks "sternly" if Cadderly is certain he's deciphered the runes. Cadderly has. And he's following Elbereth's line of thought.
Shayleigh and Tintagel look uncomfortable, understandably.
Elbereth fills them in: the elves intend to depart the forest. Tintagel defends Galladel a little, pointing out that Galladel has wintessed the deaths of many elves. Which is a fair point. Elbereth has had it rough, but he wasn't present for the worst of the battles. And I rather like that Tintagel gets to challenge Elbereth and be right.
But Elbereth still wants to fight, in fact, he wants to awaken the trees. Pikel is pretty enthusiastic about the idea. Hah.
Cadderly's excited, Danica and Shayleigh point out that Galladel will not approve. Elbereth has a decent point though: they should try, the worst that can happen is they fail, and they go along with Galladel's plans.
So Cadderly opens the book. Rufo slips away.
--
We shift scenes to Rufo reporting in. He's clearly pretty miserable and I still feel bad for him. I mean, he's clearly doomed by the narrative, but maybe he could have had a different fate if he hadn't come to Shilmista...
The elves will depart? came the telepathic voice, revealing the imp’s excitement. What defenses will they leave behind? And what of young Cadderly? Tell me of Cadderly!
“Leave me alone!” Rufo screamed back. “You have gained enough from me. Go and question another.” The angular man could sense the imp’s distant laughter.
“The elves will depart,” Rufo admitted, hoping to mask the more important news with something the enemy would discern soon enough in any case.
And that is all? came the expected question.
“That is all,” Rufo replied. “A few may remain, just to slow your advance, but the rest will go, never to return.”
Rufo does something else, though. When they ask about Cadderly, Rufo lies, saying Cadderly intends to go with the elves, back home.
Druzil knows Rufo is hiding things, but likes taunting him instead.
--
We shift scenes to Danica, and this bit is a little irritating to be honest:
Danica was glad of the change that came over Cadderly, whatever the outcome of their desperate attempt. She knew that Cadderly was a sensitive man, frustrated by the violence that had been forced upon him and by the destruction of so many wondrous things, both in beautiful Shilmista and back in the Edificant Library. Danica didn’t doubt Cadderly’s willingness to fight back however he could. They stood in the same glade that the elves had used earlier for council, wanting their attempt to be private in case it failed, as Galladel had predicted. Watching Cadderly and Elbereth in their preparations for the ceremony, the young scholar tutoring the elf on particular inflections and movements, Danica almost allowed herself to believe that the trees of Shilmista would awaken, and that the forest would be saved.
I mean, your sensitive boyfriend might not be quite so dispirited if you didn't just watch your new best friend torment him for three quarters of the book?
Just saying.
Anyway, everyone's kind of tentatively hopeful. Ivan bitches about it, but that's not surprising. Elbereth begins the song. Pikel dances along, which makes Shayleigh and Tintagel smile.
Galladel appears, unhappily, but Danica begs him not to interrupt, and rather surprisingly he nods and stays quiet.
I like that too. Galladel is bitter and jaded, but he's not going to keep them from trying.
That said, the only response the call gets is from some wolves. And Galladel doesn't hesitate to say "I told you so". Elbereth is remorseful, but happy that they tried. Cadderly is perplexed.
Hammerdeen appears to provide answers: the trees did hear, but the ones in this region are too young. Cadderly was in the wrong place. Danica's a bit of a dick here:
“But the trees in this region of the forest have heard the elven song,” Hammadeen offered to brighten their mood, “and they are pleased by it.”
“Lot o’ good that’ll do them,” the departing Ivan chided.
Danica echoed the thoughts of the remaining three perfectly when she whispered, “How pleased will the trees be to hear the crack of orcish axes?”
Hammadeen stopped laughing and faded into the pine.
Well, gosh, it's not like the trees can suddenly grow more powerful, Danica. Maybe you should go find the place where they ARE old and powerful?
They end up traveling back. Shayleigh has apparently decided to be a negative nelly:
This time it would seem King Galladel was correct,” Shayleigh went on.
“We had nothing to lose,” Cadderly replied, a bit more sharply than he had intended.
“But we did,” said Shayleigh. “For word has spread of our failure. All the elves know that Shilmista would not rise beside them. Our hearts are heavy. Few will remain beside Elbereth as he continues to hinder the enemy.”
I mean, it was a long shot anyway, lady. Cadderly and Danica want to stay, but get yelled at by Ivan. He has no intention of letting them, or Pikel, stay to get massacred.
The chapter ends here.