Luck in the Shadows - Chapter Two

[kalinara]

So last time, the villains stood on top of some bones and said dramatic yet cryptic things, pun unintended, while some bard breaks some hapless kid out of a dungeon. It was a kind of "in media res" opening with very little opportunity for explanation or exposition, so I'd imagine chapter two will remedy that a bit.



We rejoin poor hapless Alec as he wakes up in the noonday sun. He gets alarmed when he realizes that his rescuer is nowhere in sight. The horse is, as is Rolan's pack, so the dude probably hasn't gone far. Also, it's really fucking cold.

Alec looks around for the guy, spots a deer (and is sad not to be able to shoot it) and some snared rabbits. Hot meat sounds pretty good, so he grabs them and keeps looking for Rolan. He finds someone else instead.

A rough-clad stranger was standing with his back to Alec, looking out over the pool. His tunic of green homespun and leather breeches were unremarkable; it was the long scabbard slung low on the intruder's left hip that caught the boy's attention.

Actually, this IS Rolan. He's changed his clothes and stopped playing at being a snooty bard. In case you were wondering, he is attractive!

Rather, he was slender and fine-featured, with large grey eyes set over high cheekbones and a long, narrow nose. His mouth was fine, almost thin, and tilted at the moment in a lopsided grin that made him look younger than Alec would have guessed before.

Also, his name isn't really Rolan Silverleaf. It's "Seregil", which he has to pronounce again for Alec, because it's foreign.

Alec proves he has his own skillset by expertly preparing the coneys (with a borrowed knife). He gives Seregil the liver, as it's apparently good for blood in winter. He thanks Seregil for saving him and gives us some autobiographical details: he's sixteen, lived in the woods his whole life, and his dad died recently. Poor kid.

Anyway, he'd actually had some good luck hunting and trapping before he ran afoul of Lord Asengai. Now he's out equipment and anything to sell. He doesn't have any other family. He's not really sure what to do next, but he's worked in a scullery before and may be able to do that again for the winter.

Now it's Seregil's turn to give information. He is actually a bard. Sometimes. He was collecting stories about the "faie" who supposedly live in the mountains. (Alec knows about the stories. He liked them, but his dad wasn't a fan. He gets sad when he mentions that. Aw.)

Anyway, Seregil's got a job lined up somewhere in Wolde. Unfortunately, Alec notes, to get there in time, Seregil will have to go some place called the "Downs" which are apparently tricky without a guide. Happily though, Alec's a local boy and can help with that!

Alec doesn't really want to accept money from someone who saved his life, but Seregil notes that he is pretty much broke. A practical sort, Alec doesn't take much convincing and names a reasonable price (half now). Seregil over pays a little bit (supposedly it's the smallest coin he has), but they can settle up.

The coin has a crowned woman and a flame. Seregil gets it into Alec's hand with some slight of hand, because he's a show off. He also wants Alec to bathe, which Alec balks at, since it's winter. But he's not going to argue too much with someone who both saved his life and is paying him, so he goes.

I'm a little "...eh" about this. The idea that medieval europeans didn't bathe (even in winter) is an over simplification. But on the other hand, he does have some more legitimate reasons for balking:

Noting the lacy edgings of that still rimmed the stones, however, he decided that gratitude only went so far. Stripping off his rags, he gave himself a scrubbing and pulled the blanket around his waist. As he bent to duck his head under the water, the sight of his reflection froze him, crouched and trembling, on the wet stones. Only the day before, Asengai's men had strapped him to a plank and titled him into a water butt, holding him under again and again until he thought his lungs would burst. He'd had enough of water for now thank you very much.

Okay, that's fair.

We swap to Seregil's point of view. Seregil attributes Alec's haste to being a "northerner" and notes that they seem to develop a genuine aversion to water over the winter.

This is one of those things where it's hard to tell if the author is relying on a stereotype or if the character is. As mentioned, it's an over-simplification to think that medieval Europeans didn't bathe. It's not like Alec would have had access to a bathhouse (which were far more common than I knew!), but he would have likely washed fairly regularly using a basin, probably with water from a stream like that one.

But then it's very likely Ms. Flewelling also knows that and this is just Seregil being a poncy southern git.

Anyway, Seregil has some extra clothes that Alec can wear, since they're "almost of a size". He also makes note of the bruises on Alec's back and thighs when he dresses. Um. Dude. He's sixteen. Stop ogling the jailbait.

We get a bit of culture clash:

Dalna's Hands, there's such a thing as modesty," the boy muttered as he struggled into the breeches.

"Never had any use for it, myself, and I don't see why you're so bothered with it either. Under those bruises and that scowl-- you're fairly pleasing to look at." Seregil's expression betrayed nothing more than the thoughtful concentration a man might show when sizing up a horse he was about to buy.

Here we get a description of Alec. In case you were concerned, he is also attractive:

Indeed, Alec was well favored, Seregil thought, amused by his companion's discomfort. The boy was lightly built and supple with dark, intelligent blue eyes in a fair face that blushed easily and concealed little. This last was easily remedied, though at times an honest face was useful. The ragged, honey-gold hair looked like it had been trimmed with a skinning knife, but time would fix that, too.

Jailbait.

Seregil notes that Alec is "neat-handed" and asks questions. And seems to come to some kind of decision.

And that is...to teach him some coin tricks. It doesn't take very long for Alec to get the hang of it. And Seregil seems to be channeling Henry Higgins here:

As they worked, Seregil found himself again pondering what he'd seen of Alec so far, wondering what he could make of such a boy. Alec was quick and surprisingly well spoken. His nature--a blend of stubborn persistence and appalling openness--made for an interesting mix.

With a bit of positioning and greater training-- Shaking his head, Seregil pushed the thought away.

I think I'd enjoy a version of My Fair Lady/Pygmalion where Henry Higgins taught Eliza Doolittle how to commit crimes. Like Leverage, but with more bad cockney accents.

Seregil also spots an owl overhead, in the daylight, and takes it as an omen. (Owls are apparently the "Lightbringer's own bird")

So now they're setting off on their journey. Seregil bitches about the cold, swearing by "Illior". This gets Alec's attention. Apparently only Southerners swear by Illior (Alec swears by Dalna, or the Maker, as seen in these excerpts). And to most Northerners, the South is a pretty mythic place.

So we get a bit of an in character explanation of "the Three Lands". Flewelling avoids giving us an "As you know, Bob" sort of thing (i.e. when a character tells another character something that both characters should already know, solely for the audience's benefit) by having Alec explain to him what he knows about the South, and then filling in more detail.

There's a "Gold Road" that goes from Wolde (their destination) down to Mycena, which is the northern most of the Three Land. Skala is on a peninsula to the west (it looked more like an island on the map, but I was misreading it), and Plenimar is on another peninsula to the East.

Seregil evades the question as to which land he specifically comes from.

Anyway, Alec remembers hearing some wild tales about the South, including one from a very skeevy source:

"A Skalan trader tried to tell me the streets of his cities were paved with gold," Alec went on. "I didn't believe him, though. He was the one who tried to buy me from Father. I was only eight or nine. I could never figure out what he wanted me for."

"Really?" Seregil lifted a noncommittal eyebrow.

Ew.

But it occurs to me that this is actually a bit of nuance. For most of the story, at least as far as I've read, the Skalans are going to be the good guys. The characters will spend a lot of time in Skala and generally be on board with Skalan interests. But well, there are some unsavory elements in Skala too.

(I'd like to think Alec's dad waited until Alec wasn't looking and shot the pedophile with like twelve arrows. Based on my vague recollection of what gets established about the guy, I feel like that would be completely in character. Well. Maybe not TWELVE arrows. That would be wasteful. He'd do it in one shot.)

So anyway, Skala's at war with Plenimar. This time it's over control of the Gold War, with the intention of conquering the northern freeholds. Very few northerners are aware of this right now, except folk who are already involved. Alec asks if that includes Asengai and the fake dude from the dungeon and doesn't get a straight answer.

-

We get more riding. Alec is concerned about supplies: the summer game's moved south, but Seregil says he's got enough cheese and sausage to feed both of them. Alec has a bit more angst over his bow, feeling like he's missing a limb. Apparently he'd made the one he lost, and it was his best work.

It's a little funny that Alec is more upset over the bow than being tortured, but well, the bow is how he makes his living. Practical angst > traumatic angst.

So they make more conversation, which gives Ms. Flewelling the opportunity to exposit more of the backstory of the world. Clueless characters are a gift when you need to explain things.

Basically the three countries had once been one, ruled by a Hierophant. The first one came from a far away continent, and had brought deities like Dalna and others. They originally settled in Benshal, which is now the capital of Plenimar. They spread their culture and religion outward.

We get our first peek at the "the Sacred Four", which are the deities that the main characters worship: Dalna the Maker (Alec's patron deity), Astellus the Traveler, Illior Lightbringer (Seregil's), and Sakor of the Flame. Alec is only familiar with the first two, as the others never caught on up north.

The Plenimarians were sailors and explorers, and were the first to meet the Aurenfaie, who really should have an umlaut over the e, but I can't be bothered. Sorry. Aurenfaie are this setting's floofy elves. Alec is fascinated, asking if Seregil has met them and what they're like.

Seregil smiled. "Not so different from you and me, really. No pointy ears or tails, anyway. They're a handsome folk, for the most part. The main difference between Aurënfaie and humans is that the 'faie generally live for three or four hundred years."

See, floofy elves. They were also the first to possess magic.

(Random note that will become more significant in later books as I understand, the northern version are called Hazadrielfaie, and apparently settled north prior to the Hierophant's time.)

Alec interjects here with some knowledge that he knows: drysians, or priests of Dalna, possess magic of the earth. But, Seregil tells him and us, there's a difference between that and wizardry. (The latter apparently came about when the elves fucked humans, or tirfaie, as elves are wont to do.)

There are a few interesting notes here. Illior is listed as one of the gods of the Hierophant's people, but also equated with "Aura", who is the Aurenfaie deity.

And Seregil is pretty easy with the term "Tirfaie", only thinking to translate it when Alec asks.

Anyway, more backstory. The wizards are actually mostly in Skala. The Plenimarians found the Aurenfaie, but the floofy elves liked the other guys better. Of course now most of them have withdrawn to their own lands, for reasons complex and many. But there are still wizards born in Skala, and they go to the capitol, Rhiminee for training.

Alec asks if Seregil has seen a wizard. Seregil says he knows a few and then urges them off to bed. Alec, not being an idiot, has by now noticed a pattern. There are some topics that are "forbidden territory" that end the conversation, and he's strayed again.

More traveling. More bonding. They end up talking about Alec's hands, which are cracked and calloused:

"Too much rough living. No delicacy of touch."

Pulling off a glove, he slid his palm across Alec's. The skin was surprisingly smooth.

"I can tell gold from silver in the dark just by the feel of it. Looking at my hands, you'd think I'd never done a day's work in my life. But you! We could dress you up like a gentleman dandy and your hands would give you away before you ever opened your mouth."

"I doubt I'll ever have to worry about that. I like those tricks, though. Can you show me something else?"

The contrast is a bit funny here. Seregil is thinking up some grand fantastic hypothetical, and Alec is like "eh, teach me some useful things".

And he does, teaching Alec some useful finger signs that mean "get the horses" or "we're in danger".

Alec's a good guide, by the way, but quiet by nature when he's not asking questions. Fortunately, he has a lot of questions. This time, we find out what Seregil is going to be doing in Wolde.

He'll be a bard, yes, but not Rolan Silverleaf. This time, he's using "Aren Windover". This gets Alec's attention, because he's actually seen "Aren" perform, but he didn't look like Seregil! Seregil points out that he doesn't look much like "Rolan" either. He proves his identity though by asking Alec's favorite song, which he sings in a "rich, lilting tenor".

Ooo, song lyrics.

"Across the sea sailed Araman,

a hundred men he led.

His ship was black as Death's left eye,

her sails were deep bloodred.

They sailed to Simra's distant shore

to answer Honor's call.

A hundred men sailed out to sea,

but none sailed home at all.


For Honor's price is blood and steel

and Death will be your brother.

A soldier's life is full of strife,

but I swear I'd have no other!

It goes on for a few more verses. The "For Honor's price" seems to be the chorus, with some changing words each time.

On the Lachlan to Menolly scale, it's pretty decent. I can tell there's a rhythm, and I like the story. Alec sings along with Seregil - less fine voice, but able to carry a tune, and Seregil tells him with a good apprenticeship, he could make a passable bard.

Alec thinks his father wouldn't really approve. Seregil thinks the guy sounds like a dour sort. Probably true, but he also sounds like the kind of guy who would shoot a pedophile with arrows. So I think I like him.

They passed much of the afternoon ride trading songs. As soon as Seregil discovered how Alec blushed at the bawdy ones, he made a special point of including plenty of those.

...I'm Watching you. Don't tease the jailbait unless you have Honorable Intentions.

So anyway, more traveling. More backstory. Flewelling is engaging enough, and breaks it up enough, that it doesn't feel all droning. Alec asks how the Three Lands split up.

Apparently the territories got restless, so the Hierophant divided them up. Each one was ruled by a regent, who answered to him. It sounds like he miscalculated though, since he divided the regions geographically. This worked out fine for Mycena and Skala, who got fertile valleys and sheltered plains, but Plenimar was on a dry peninsula without much by way of resources. And when gold was discovered in the north, Mycena had the routes. Plenimar does have ships and warriors though.

...yeah, next time dude, make sure you don't give the folk with the biggest military the suckiest land.

Fortunately, the Aurenfaie eventually helped the Mycenans and Skalans and they won. This was all about eight hundred years ago.

...so maybe two or three Aurenfaie generations? That could be interesting.

Anyway, Alec has a very good question: why was Plenimar so strong if the other two had the gold and resources. And Seregil doesn't know either. It's especially notable because the Skalan wizards were at the height of their powers. Even the drysians took part. There are some stories of Plenimaran necromancers though, with armies of walking dead.

Yeah, that could do it.

Anyway, sometime during the war, the Hierophant was killed and the lands were sundered forever. Then the Aurenfaie came, and the first Skalan queen kills the first Plenimaran Overlord. Noting the mention of the queen, Alec asks about the coin Seregil gave him.

That's not the same queen, but it is the same country. The symbols are for Illior (crescent) and Sakor (flame), and the woman is the present queen of Skala. So the chapter ends with Alec being satisfied that he now knows where Seregil is from.

If the first chapter was a bit sparse in information, this chapter was probably a bit TOO heavy. That said, it wasn't tedious, and it's not a bad thing to give the characters time to get to know each other before plot kicks in. And there are some good beats of characterization contained in what Seregil explains and doesn't explain, and in Alec's questions and own (limited) knowledge.

I hope future chapters will have a better balance between explanation and action, but it's okay here.