Luck in the Shadows - Chapter Nine

[kalinara]

Last time, Seregil's new disguise made quite a splash with a certain riverboat captain. We also learned a bit more of Skalan history and politics.



So we rejoin Seregil as he jolts awake from another nasty dream. Alec wakes up too and is suitably concerned. Seregil explains the dream, which basically involved the ship being absolutely destroyed, the river being black as oil, and all sorts of body parts floating in the water. Admittedly, it sounds pretty fucking unpleasant. His description of the floating body parts is particularly revolting for Alec. We're given the cultural note that to a Dalnan like Alec, there's nothing more horrible than a desecrated corpse.

That's interesting when we consider that Alec is a hunter/trapper, whose trade seems to involve the skins of animals. I'm glad we get these little comparative religious tidbits. They're interesting.

But Seregil's not done with his dream:

“Then the ship lurched and I knew that something was climbing up the torn sail. I couldn’t see what it was but it jerked the vessel around like a fishing float. I clung to the far rail, waiting for it. I knew that whatever it was, it was unspeakably vile—that the very sight of it was going to shatter me. Yet even in the midst of my terror, a small, sane part of my mind was screaming that there was something terribly important that I should be remembering. I didn’t know if it would save me, but it was imperative that I think of it before I died. And then I woke up.”

Seregil thinks it sounds a little silly now, but Alec thinks it sounds really bad. Aw. Seregil lies and says talking about it did help and urges Alec back to bed.

But he's not really in a great state of mind after this. We're told that the horror of the nightmare does fade, but it's followed by a strong since of unease and a returning headache. He goes off to be alone for a bit. Alec reads the signal well enough to give him space, but apparently Captain Rhal has other ideas.

Apparently Seregil's disguise is inconveniently effective, and he is pretty insistent that he will entertain Alec and "Lady Gwethelyn" at supper. Alec seems to be a lot more comfortable with the disguise today than when they started, easily bantering about how the sailors have said that they'd never seen the Captain so taken with a woman. There are apparently bets on whether the Captain will have his way with Gwethelyn before they reach their destination.

There is some blushing and lingering glances in this scene, so it's pretty clear that Alec isn't entirely at ease yet. Ahem.

So Captain Rhal has dressed for the occasion: wearing a fusty velvet coat and having trimmed his beard. He starts his courtship and Alec seems to be having a lot of fun as an unwitting obstacle.

Both fowl and wine proved to be excellent. Conversation during the meal was somewhat strained, however. Rhal made little effort to include Alec, and replied somewhat stiffly when the boy made several pointed allusions to Lady Gwethelyn’s fictitious husband. Having grown accustomed to his part, Alec was clearly beginning to revel in it.

Oh, look at our boy. I'm so proud of him. He's learned how to obnoxiously prevent sex with his very presence! <3

Rhal isn't just a handsome face though. He's got some news about the Plenimarans. Their current Overlord, a dude named Petasarian is dying. This is a problem, because while Petasarian has been mostly behaving himself and following the current treaties, his heir, Klystis, seems to be ready for war.

And Rhal definitely thinks there'll be war. He's heard about uncommon amounts of ship building in Plenimaran ports, and press gangs that are so bad that sailors are avoiding shore leave. And when sailors are passing up the chance for new booze and sex, you know it must be bad.

I'm enjoying the fact that, while he's kind of the butt of the joke in these chapters, Rhal is also not an idiot. He appears to be very competent as a sailor and his assessments seem logical and well-reasoned.

Pretty soon he's back to putting on the moves:

“Aged Zengati brandy. Quite rare,” he confided as he poured. “My trade connections in Nanta give me access to a good many luxuries of this sort. Come, Squire Ciris, let’s drink the health of our most excellent lady. May she continue to delight the eye and gladden the heart of those privileged to look upon her.”

Though he spoke to Alec, his gaze never left Seregil’s face as he raised his cup to his lips.

Seregil lowered his eyes modestly, sipping at the fiery spirit.

Alec lifted his cup again, adding with apparently ingenuous gallantry, “And to the fair child she carries, my next cousin!”

Oh, you delightful little cockblock.

Though actually, after a bit of shock, Rhal is NOT discouraged. Seregil, worldlier than Alec, realizes why:

But Rhal was clearly less put off than Alec had intended. Seregil could guess at the new train of thought behind those dark eyes. After all, if a woman’s already plowed and planted and still has a pleasing shape, what harm can be done?

Oops.

But then things get a little disturbing. When Rhal has a dessert brought out:

“Indeed?” Seregil lifted the lid from his dish with a small expectant smile, then froze, the color draining from his face. Inside maggots writhed over severed ears, eyes, and tongues. A hot wave of nausea and panic rolled over him. Dropping the lid with a clatter, he rushed from the room.

Ew. Rhal assumes this is because of Gwethelyn's condition. Alec is very concerned and helps Seregil below. Seregil asks what he saw in the dessert: baked apples.

Seregil explains what he saw. Well, not the details, but enough to give Alec the gist. I'm glad he's not keeping this from the kid. I give Seregil shit as a mentor sometimes, but he's doing the right thing here.

So yeah, Seregil's not doing well at all. And when Alec comes back from offering Rhal Gwethelyn's apologies, he comes back to find Seregil pacing and stripping out of his dress. He puts on breeches under his nightclothes and keeps his sword in his pallet.

Then he fills Alec in completely. He explains the latest nightmare and the dread. He thinks it's probably magic or insanity, as he's seen far worse things than his vision without flinching. He says he'll understand if Alec wants to move on alone, but Alec is Ride or Die. He doesn't feel right about leaving. They end the chapter sitting together, with Alec being as supportive as he can be. Aw.