Reading roundup: Dragaera auxiliary
13. Steven Brust, Lord of Castle Black (book 2 of Viscount of Adrilankha) -- you know what, I'm buying this one with my next Amazon order. I was super-impressed with 500YA, as mentioned before, but I don't think it's a book I will want to reread, necessarily. LoCB I kind want to keep under my pillow and snuggle periodically. I didn't think it was possible for me to love Morrolan any more than I already did, but apparently it totally is. Spoilers from here
It's really neat to read a book essentially bridging the gap between the oblivious young witch we meet in PotD and the formidable fighter, wizard, and haughty Dragonlord from the Vlad books, especially a book that does it so charmingly. Whatever Paarfi's problem with Morrolan was before, they seem to have reconciled before the publication of LoCB, and it's nice to see credit being given where credit is due with no authorial sniping. There is such a lovely mix of scenes funny (I laughed out loud a few times and was smiling a lot), and badass, and touching. For the latter, Morrolan first coming to Southmoor and looking at the coin with his father's profile on it and standing amidst the ruins of the family castle; Morrolan confronted with defeat for the first time and his conversation with Fentor. For the former, Morrolan disposing his resources while barely knowing the names of enemies or potential allies (which may be a Dragon trait, come to that, since Kytraan seems to be unable to keep Tsanali's name straight, also); Morrolan being awkward with the tongs and feather when opening a wine-bottle because Teldra only recently showed him how to do it "properly"; Morrolan demanding tribute from Dzur Mountain while Sethra can barely keep from laughing at him; Morrolan being hand-wavy about sorcery; Morrolan tasting battle for the first time and being confused because his enemies keep running away (I wonder if that's why he developed the style of attacking before they scatter that we see in Taltos with Loraan's guards); Morrolan trading words with Zerika and encouraging her to insult him in a way he would actually understand; Morrolan becoming obsessed with sorcery to the point of blithely accepting possible death as a side-effect; Morrolan discovering that there are books of sorcery (and learning to read Dragaeran for the purpose); Morrolan being all "Yes, dear" with Teldra when it comes to Castle Black plans.
And, for the middle, of course, Morrolan drawing Blackwand for the first time and then showing his mettle in battle, and also Morrolan and Khaavren squaring off and coming to a mutual understanding (and, it looks like in Sethra Lavode, a fair degree of mutual admiration). And, more nuanced than badassity, the elements that show him for the kind of man he is. One of the neatest things about Morrolan, which has nowhere been so clear as here, is that his self-confidence in no way precludes him from admitting ignorance and being willing to learn. He learns from Fentor, and is perfectly willing to voice the opinion that he may be a liability as commander. He learns from Sethra and Tazendra and Sethra the Younger. He learns to read from Tukko. At the same time, he is not cowed by authority -- even when he perhaps should be, as when facing Sethra (he doesn't know the stories the others know about her, but I don't get the feeling that he would have acted differently if he *had* heard them). He relies on advisors and experts while being supremely confident in himself -- I just find that really awesome for some reason.
I found quite interesting his first interaction with Sethra the Younger, whose views on Easterners, as ignorant and nothing more than prey, seem to bother him but not enough to argue with her. I wonder how much of that is still true by the time of the Vlad books. Vlad complains, in Yendi, that Sethra the Younger's plans of invading the East don't seem to bother Morrolan, but I wonder how much of that is Morrolan truly agreeing with her vs it just being one of those things you don't fight about with your friend because you know it's pointless as you'll never convince them and it's moot anyway. LoCB suggests to me it's the latter, but of course it might also be wishful thinking on my part. At this point Morrolan still very clearly has the Eastern culture ingrained in him, such as when taking food at Dzur Mountain is a big deal because Easterners don't eat with their enemies, or his views on the gods, or "You must understand, good Captain, that I have not long been in these lands, and, where I was raised, matters are arranged in a rather simpler way [...] If someone offends me, I pass my sword through his body, and then the issue is settled". Morrolan spent about half his life in the East (it was the 247th year of the Interregnum when he came to Southmoor), so I wonder how much of that identification he kept even while assimilating into Dragaeran culture.
I also like Morrolan's rather unusual relationship with ambition. It's no surprise that he doesn't want to be Dragon Heir, of course -- no Dragonlord does. But he insists on not being addressed as "Your Highness" -- and by the time of Sethra Lavode, it does seem like no-one attempts to call him that, but address him as Count. (Also, see long digression on Dragon Heirship and other related stuff below... It started out as a parenthetical and got incredibly long.) Political ambitions aside, Morrolan doesn't even seem to have sorcerous ambitions -- he seems to practice it purely for the joy of it, which is really neat to see.
(I do wonder: Zerika says there were 4 Dragonlords with a higher claim than Morrolan but three died in the Disaster and one was discredited. The discredited one, of course, is Norathar, but who are the other three? Rather, I have too many contenders, unless Adron himself doesn't count. Even if he doesn't, there's Aliera, Morrolan's unnamed mother (Adron's younger sister), and Molric, her elder son -- assuming Adron had no other siblings and Rollondar had no other children. And also, does that mean that the Heirship is still following the e'Kieron line at this point and that Morrolan is eligible in spite of bearing the e'Drien surname/patronymic/whatever? How do the Dragon patronymics even work, in cases where the parents are of different lines? i.e. why is Morrolan e'Drien rather than e'Kieron? Does it always follow the father, which seems at odds with how titles and things work in gender-equal Dragaera... Is it actually based on some kind of genetic scan? i.e. Morrolan favors the e'Drien line in appearance and, it seems, in temperament, therefor he is an e'Drien rather than e'Kieron? I'm quite sure I'm way overthinking this, but I do really wonder...
And when one of the gods says that Morrolan is of the wrong bloodline, what does that mean? He is a descendent of Kieron, on his mother's side, with only one generation of e'Drien admixing separating him from Adron/Aliera. Does this imply that Adron's line is pure e'Kieron all the way down? That Morrolan and Aliera's generation would pass some sort of purity threshold in terms of remove from Kieron, and therefore the only reason Aliera is eligible to practice Elder Sorcery is that she has no complicating genes on her mother's side?
Also, why was Norathar's father, K'Laiyer e'Lanya chosen as Dragon Heir to replace Adron at some point, though the role returned to Adron? I wish I knew how Dragon Council's Heir determination thing worked... and I wonder if it's consistent between the Vlad and Paarfi books. Anyway.)
I love Morrolan's impatience (especially after three and a half books of wanting everyone to GET ON WITH saying what they mean already, I can totally sympathize -- I'm guessing, in Morrolan's case, that this is a result of having grown up among Easterners, who, being short-lived, don't have time to ask for everything five times XP), and his sense of humour, and just everything about him, OK. Here, have some quotes:
Morrolan and Fentor:
M: "Then, you believe he will attempt to swallow me up, as he has swallowed up the others?"
F: "My lord, I am convinced of it."
M: "Well, I shall not permit this to happen."
Fentor bowed his head, but said nothing.
"How," said Morrolan. "You doubt me?"
[...]
"My lord, I do not see how you have the resources to resist an army such as Kana can bring against you."
"Do I not have an army as well, and is it not growing?"
"Not enough, my lord."
"And have I not my Circle of Witches, and is it not growing as well?"
"Not enough, my lord."
"And am I not of the House of the Dragon?"
"Not enough, my lord."
[...]
"Sergeant, I am becoming annoyed with this conversation."
"I am sorry to hear that, my lord. But, you perceive, your annoyance will not change the facts, and it is my duty to acquaint you with the facts, however unpleasant they may be, or unwelcome to your ears."
Morrolan glared at him, which glare Fentor withstood coolly. At length, Morrolan said, "And then, what will you do?"
"I, my lord? I will do as I am ordered, until I fall in battle. What Dragonlord could ask for more?"
"I can, my dear Sergeant. I do not wish us to die gallantly, I wish us to win!"
"Very well, I accept that the Orb has returned. And I accept that this -- what is her name?"
"Zerika the Fourth," said Teldra [...]
"Yes," continued Morrolan. "I accept that this Zerika has the Orb. But, what then?"
"Then," said Teldra, "it is the duty of a gentleman to support and defend the legitimate Empress."
Morrolan considered this for a long moment. "Very well. I must consider this matter. In any case, it is clear that I cannot permit this-- what is this name?"
"Kana."
"Yes, I cannot permit this Kana to over-run me."
Arra and Morrolan:
Morrolan sighed and nodded. "Well, I can only hope I have done the right thing, and that, moreover, I will continue to do it. You perceive, this matter of an Empress, a real Empress, has thrown me out of my reckoning, and I am not entirely certain how I ought to respond."
"My lord, what causes this confusion?"
"The notion of serving another. This idea is not pleasing to me."
"Morrolan spent a brief moment looking around, considering where he was, and the quiet, dark elegance of the furnishings, and realized taht he had, to some degree, lost control of the encounter from its very beginning, and, furthermore, that he had not the least idea with whom he was dealing, nor what her powers, resources, or abilities might be.
"I am here, he said without further preamble, "to discuss the matter of tribute."
"How," said Sethra in apparent confusion. "You wish to give me tribute?"
Morrolan cleared his throat. "That was not, in fact, precisely my meaning."
"From the east shall he come, strong in ignorance, short in patience, hiding his wit beneath arrogance--"
Morrolan felt his eyes narrow, and he said in a low voice, "If this is to refer to me, sir, I must insist--"
"From the way you attack your consonants as if they were an enemy swordsman and swallow you vowels as if they were a light snack, I would judge that you were raised in the East."
Sethra continued staring intently at Morrolan. "It is an old prophecy," she said. "Very old."
Morrolan shifted in his chari. "I am not," he said, "entirely certain I enjoy being in a prophecy."
Morrolan upon first drawing Blackwand:
"And above all of this, Morrolan was aware that, more than ever before, he would very much like to find something to kill. By preference, many things, all of them eager to fight back."
"the others were equally pleased that they were no longer aware of its [Blackwand's] presence, except in the dimmest, most distant way, feeling only a vague unease such as one feels on a journey when convinced one has failed to bring everything needed, but cannot remember what has been left behind."
Morrolan turned to the Necromancer. "Can you help?"
"My lord?"
"Sorcery. I have learned something of sorcery. I am told it can do amazing things. I don't know. Blast them with fire, or make stones fall on their heads, or create an illusion of giant butterflies with nine-inch teeth. Something."
More Morrolan and Fentor, re: modifications made to the temple to make it siege-worthy:
"You were wrong," said Morrolan.
A certain redness came into Fentor's countenance, and he gave Morrolan a stiff bow.
Morrolan studied him, and, for the first time, showed some signs of what he would become. he said, "You still believe you were right?"
Fentor remained mute.
"Answer!" said Morrolan.
"I do, my lord!" said Fentor, glaring now.
"Well, then explain to me why, and perhaps I will be convinced."
Fentor, who had no small amount of experience with commanders, not to mention generals, stared in surprise.
"You will?"
"Perhaps."
Morrolan stood upon the roof of the temple [...] and listened patiently while his commander explained the use of the ditches, scaffoldings, buttresses, and other devices of modern military science [...] At last, the commander said, "Well, my lord? Is that sufficient?"
"For what?" asked Morrolan.
"For your understanding."
"Not the least in the world," said Morrolan. "But it is of no matter. You say it will do, and I believe you."
[...]
Fentor bowed, accepting the inevitable. "And may I suggest--"
"Yes?"
"When the battle commences, this will be an excellent place from which to observe."
"Oh, as to that--"
"Well?"
"I think the front line will be better."
"My lord? You intend to lead the troops personally?"
"How not?"
Fentor hesitated. He could hardly explain that Morrolan was insufficiently skilled at generalship to be entrusted to make decisions in the field. He cleared his throat and said, "And yet, a position in the rear is better for receiving communications and making decisions."
"In that case, my dear Fentor--"
"Yes?"
"As you know this business better than I do, I would suggest that you position yourself here."
"How, me?"
"And why not?"
"Because, my lord, my place is with the men engaged in battle."
"Just so," said Morrolan.
"And yet, should you be killed--"
"Well? If I am killed, will that make you less able to make decisions? On the contrary, I should imagine that you might better be able to make decisions without my interference."
Fentor cleared his throat again, as this was uncomfortably close to his own thinking. He said, "If you believe that, my lord, why not--"
"Because it is my army, my fief, and my responsibility. Therefore, as long as I live, the mistakes will be mine."
(I also found it interesting that Morrolan's "win at any cost" instruction to Fentor is echoed by Grita in conversation with Tsanali a bit later: "I would never achieve a victory at the cost of my honor; that is the difference between us" || "Is that it? Do you think, perhaps, that there is also this difference: I am determined."
"Morrolan, who had not yet learned the importance of ceremony, grandiloquence, and inspirational utterances in convincing the desperate to do the impossible, gave the order to advance, and himself led the way. (It should be added that none of the events which followed did anything to show Morrolan why he ought to use brave words to inspire his army, and so, as far as this historian can determine, he has never learned.)"
"Morrolan had been through his first engagement, which he found to be, more than anything else, confusing. [...] this was not, in fact, because of the usual confusion that can come about the battlefield, especially for a commander who has put himself directly on the lines -- rather, it was because none of the enemy would come near him. On the contrary, the instant he drew his weapon [Blackwand] from its sheath, every enemy he drew near turned on his heels and ran."
"Fentor [...] now looked at his liege with an expression of respect not unmixed with fear."
"It was only Fentor's quick realization of what had happened, and his ability to prevail upon Morrolan, even in the delirium of battle, that prevented the small army from being completely destroyed. Morrolan himself led the retreat, breaking through an opposing force attempting to complete the encirclement, and, after having done so, he returned to lead a delaying action to discourage the pursuit."
"Fentor--"
"My lord?"
"You were right."
"Sir?"
"I had no conception of just how many they had. Or, to be more precise, I knew the numbers, but didn't know what they meant. You were right."
"Yes, my lord. As were you."
"As was I?"
"Indeed. We have delayed them considerably, and confused them more; your maneuver was far more successful than I'd have thought."
"I am Southmoor. Has your group a leader whom I ought specially to address?"
The answer came at once "I should imagine that would be me. My name is Zerika, and, as you may deduce from the Orb circling my head, I am your Empress."
"My Empress!" cried Morrolan, suddenly holding himself very still, and staring first at Zerika and then at the Orb.
"Kneeling may be appropriate," observed Zerika.
"My Empress?" repeated Morrolan, still with a look of consternation upon his countenance. "But, by what means did I acquire an Empress? I give you my word, three months ago I didn't have so much as an estate."
"Do you do yourself the honor to jest with me?"
"Perhaps a little," said Morrolan. "And yet you may see--"
Teldra whispered in Morrolan's ear, "She should be addressed as Your Majesty," at exactly the same moment that Khaavren said the same thing, only not whispering in the least.
[...]
"My lod Morrolan, if you do not recognize me, then, if I may ask, why do you do yourself the honor of fighting my battles? And very effectually, at that."
Morrolan bowed to acknowledge the compliment, and said, "I am fighting this battle for the simplest possible reason: Sethra Lavode asked me to, and she is my friend."
"Well then, my lord, perhaps I could be your friend as well, and then you could fight for me on my own behalf."
"Why, one can always use friends."
"I am glad you think so."
"Sethra Lavode, to prove her friendship, gave me this sword."
[...]
Zerika laughed. "I believe you do yourself the honor of bargaining with me. Are you entirely certain you are a Dragon, my friend? For you begin to sound like a Chreotha."
"If you mean to insult me, madam, I fear I am too recently come to this land to comprehend. I beg you, in that case, to be more explicit."
"Ah, you were raised in the East?"
"I was."
"Much is, then, explained. My dear Morrolan, I ought to glower at you, as the brave captain does, or else give you a glance full of haughty disdain, as you perceive our good Lyorn is doing. But, do you know, I believe I like you. Therefore, I will prove my friendship to you by saying that, if the Empire survives, you shall be given the three counties to the north. Come, what do you say to that?"
"I say that Your Majesty's wish is my command."
[...]
Morrolan bowed. "Very good, Your Majesty." Then he glanced first at Khaavern, then at Aerich. "And, should either of you wish to express to me in words what you have been saying so eloquently without them, then certainly we can make the opportunity to give these matters the discussion they merit."
Morrolan and Sethra the Younger:
Morrolan bowed. "You seem to know a great deal about Easterners."
"A hunter must know his prey."
Morrolan frowned, but chose not to take the conversation in this direction
[...]
"It seems that, laying aside the superstitions of ignorant Easterners" -- Morrolan, though faintly irritated at this, let is pass out of a desire to hear the rest of what she had to say.
M: "I am uncertain as to this higher purpose to which you do me the honor of speaking."
SY: "In what way are you uncertain?"
"Is it true that men desire it?"
"Don't you?"
"No," said Morrolan.
Sethra the Younger smiled. "Well, but you are young. It may be that, someday, you will."
"I do not say that this is impossible, only -- [...] It seems to me it would be a better world if, instead of considering higher purposes, we all simply tended to our own affairs. [...] Let the Empire, if there must be one, facilitate trade and insure that the roads are safe. It seems to me that serving a higher purpose has led to more trouble than benefit."
Zerika informed him that, as far as she could determine, and pending a meeting of his House, he was Dragon Heir to the throne, which meant that, as the Dragon was to be the next House, he had certain duties to fulfill in terms of making himself familiar with the Orb.
"Is it a position," he inquired, "that I am able to refuse."
"No," she said, "But it is possible that my understanding is incomplete and you are not next in line. [...]"
"I will investigate, once matters become more stable."
"In the meantime, you can be addressed as 'Your Highness'"
"Must I?"
"Well, not if you choose not to be, I suppose, save on certain occasions at court."
[...]
"I should much prefer, as I understand these matters from Lady Teldra, to be Warlord."
"I have offered that position to Sethra Lavode."
"Well, I cannot doubt her qualifications, but is it not true that she feels herself confined to Dzur Mountain for now?"
"For the most part. But I feel, nevertheless, she will make a better Warlord from Dzur Mountain than anyone else in the field."
Morrolan sighed and said, "Alas, I cannot dispute with you on this point."
Morrolan and Khaavren:
K: "The fact that you did not, on that occasion, attempt to run your sword through my body [...] indicates that, perhaps, you did not consider there had been an offense."
M: "In fact, I did not. Ought I have?"
"As to that, I cannot say. Some would, some would not, but I assure you, it has not for an instant crossed my mind that you might be timid."
"I am glad of that. Because if you did think me timid, well, I should have to endeavor to change your mind. It would grieve me to have someone of your mettle to have such an opinion of me, and the esteem in which I hold you would require me to dispatch you at once."
Lord Morrolan [...] was so astonished and delighted at his new abilities that he quite nearly killed himself on several occasions [via teleportation]. After one of these attempts, in which he was only saved because Sethra Lavode happened to be attempting to psychically bespeak him at that moment and became aware of his predicament, he received, from this Enchantress, a stern deiscussion of the dangers of his activities.
"Come now," she said. "Suppose it were said of you that you had honorably created and led an army, but then, having done so, destroyed yourself through misadventure with a spell. Is that what you wish history to record?"
Morrolan explained that, insofar as he was concerned, history could record whatever it liked and be damned to it.
"But then, what of your friends? How will they feel if you should come to such an end?"
"Oh, they will, no doubt, find other friends."
"And what of your enemies? What of those you intend to punish, especially in the East? Suppose word should reach their ears that they were now safe from your vengeance, because you had, in toying with powers you could not control, done yourself in?"
Morrolan frowned and considered. "Well, it is true. I should not care for that."
"Then I beg you, my friend, take your time. Do not push yourself so much. [...]"
"You make a strong argument, mandam. [...] And yet, it is difficult. I so wish to learn--"
"There are other ways to learn."
"How?"
"You can read books."
"Read books?"
"Certainly."
"Books on sorcery? Do these exist?"
"Why, not above a million of them. [...]"
"Verra! I had not known this. How long do you suppose it will take me?"
"To read a million books? Well, as to that--"
"No, to learn to read this peculiar language of yours, in which one symbol may stand for ten different sounds, and two-symbold comginations may stand for a hundred."
"How, you do not read?"
"Oh, I read. That is, I am an accomplished reader in several languages. Only it happens that this one we are speaking now is not one of them."
From this point on, and for some little time, Morrolan all but vanished to most of his friends. He [...] split his time between reading, and running through sorcerous drills. Indeed, except for meals and sleeping, he would have done nothing else had it not been for the wise Suivo, who insists in his Foreword on the absolute necessity, when making an intense study of sorcery, of keeping the physical body in the utmost trim. Morrolan, having not yet the experience at reading to know that the reader of any book of instruction ought to ignore those lessons he finds inconvenient, took Suivo at his word and forced himself to spend at least an hour a day practicing swordsmanship with some of the dozen or so in his army."
"Well then, I shall call my keep Castle Black, because I intend to make it a home of sorcery."
[...]
"There are many sorcerers who will consider such a name to be a challenge."
"Well," said Morrolan, shrugging. "Let them consider it however they wish. In any case--"
"Yes?"
"I* do not think I should care to live in a place called Castle Clear."
Most of the plans for what would become Castle Black were laid down, as the reader may have inferred, without Morrolan's direct participation, as he was much involved in the study of sorcery, wherefore they fell, as we have implied, to Lady Teldra, usually with agreement from Morrolan that came in the form of a distracted nod accompanied by the words "Yes, yes, certainly." [...] Morrolan condescended to speak with the nobled Carver on three occasions: the first time, to be certain Carver understood about the windowless tower which Morrolan desired to have built as a place where he might commune with his Goddess; the second time to inform him that he required an entire wing to house Arra and his Circle of Witches; and a third time to approve the final plans, which he did with the words "Yes, yes, of course. If Teldra thinks it is good, you may begin," after which he returned to his reading.
the march of Kana's army through the duchy, accompanied by the inevitable acts of thievery, rape, beating, and occasional murder that accompany the march of even the most disciplined army, were sufficient to convince the peasants that the relatively modest demands of the Count, blessed by traddition and the Empire, were, in fact, not at all unreasonable. Moreover, many of the older families recalled with something like longing the old days, remembering the ceremony and grandeur of serving a Dragonlord and conveniently forgetting the inconvenience and annoyance of the thievery, rape, beating, and occaisonal murder that accompanies the existence of a standing army by even the most benevolent aristocrats.
Incidentally, I hadn't realized that Fentor went that far back in Morrolan's service, and that he was the one who first drilled Morrolan and generally taught him to fight. Now I want to reread Jhereg and keep an eye out for how they interact.
Things that don't have to do with Morrolan:
I like Zerika's tendency towards field promotion -- the way she just starts calling Khaavren "Captain" until he stops objecting/twitching, and later simply addressed Pel with the fixed phrase of monarch towards Discreet (which he, naturally, takes much more positively than Khaavren does). And in general Zerika's interaction with those two, such as when Pel says not to treat the enemy wounded but Zerika insists, and, "I hope that, once we begin our charge for those fortifications we see yonder, you will not, once again, change your mind." and Zerika chafing at being unable to fight because she is too valuable.
Pel, incidentally, continues to be awesome. I liked that the conflict between ambition and friendship was a struggle to him, though rather quickly decided by the presence of the Orb. The "that's not my attack -- THAT's my attack [...]" line was wonderful, and I loved both Pel's "tedious" plan for avoiding starvation at the newly-floating proto-Castle Black and the way he used his intelligence position to suborn enemy soldiers and recruit them to Zerika's cause.
Tazendra as the first post-Interregnum wizard was great fun, from her early explosive experimentation to being unable to wield a sword and her staff and hold the reins of her horse all at once. I also liked the little scene towards the beginning where she demonstrates how she's learned to read the signs (of Grita's sneaking, in this case) no worse than Khaavren or Aerich in 500YA. Oh, and her comment when everyone is debating whether it's worth the risk to try to levitate Castle Black -- "Besides, if it fails [...] Think of how many of the enemy we will crush below us." was priceless. Also, "Very well, he has a cousin. But, my dear Sethra, this is not remarkable. Many people has cousins. I had a cousin myself, only he was killed attempting to climb Dzu-- that is to say, he died on a quest." XD
The Piro + Ibronka love story was cute, especially Roaana's teasing of Ibronka ("I am merely trying to goad you [...] Because, my love, I am not his [Piro's] friend, and therefore I cannot goad him.") and Ibronka's final, "Come over here, Viscount, and kiss me, before I die of embarrassment". And then Roaana and Kytraan finding the two love-birds sickeningly twee afterwards ("Perhaps we have made a mistake." "That is very possible." "However, it is better than it was before." "Perhaps." [...] "Perhaps," said Roaana, "Kana will launch an assault on us with overwhelming force." Kytraan nodded hopefully.) I also liked, at the end, Clari's laconic observation that, "Madam is hard to miss."
I still don't care at all about Piro, but Kytraan continues to be rather adorable. (It's kind of neat to compare him and Morrolan, actually, since they are both Dragonlords and must be of an age -- Kytraan must be a little bit older, in fact, since he did know his father a little. For all of his (rapidly diminishing) naivite and ignorance of Dragaeran customs, Morrolan is so much more mature, and I wonder how much of that is circumstance vs innate personality. I guess it does look like the e'Driens and the e'Kierons tend to be more subtle; I don't think we ever meet a subtle e'Lanya?). There were also a couple of scenes, like the one where after spying Pel has figured out everything and Kytraan is clueless as to how ("That is good, then. I feel better in regards to my ears. [...] But there may be a deficiency between them."), and Tazendra says not to worry about it because she doesn't, and the one where Piro & co have their own talk about the end justifying the means and Kytraan says, "It is clear enough to me. [...] Her Majesty says fight, and so I fight." and Tazendra murmurs, "I believe I like this gentleman" -- that rather confirmed Tazendra/Kytraan for me as a ship (even though the revelation that Aerich was the only man Tazendra would consider marrying was itneresting). I also liked the description of Roanna, Ibronka, and Clari traveling with Khaavren (and prompting comments from passers by) and their crush on Aerich.
Zerika and Laszlo (Brimford), huh? I hadn't realized that Zerika's Easterner lover went that far back. And I guess Laszlo becomes a priest of Verra, and, like Arra, essentially immortal?
Reappearance of Illista was a neat surprise. One of the things that this installment drove home is how much I respect Brust's (and/or Paarfi's, I guess) female villains. The scene where Habil, Grita, and Illista are planning together was quite impressive. All three of them are "bad guys" (I'm not sure I can consider Habil a villain, at least), but Grita and Habil, at least, are supremely competent (I was pleased to learn that Pel admires Habil's planning), and have sound reasons for what they're doing. It's not just random insane evil for evil's sake, which seems to come up so much with Evil Queen types. I mean, revenge is not exactly a noble pursuit, but it is understandable, especially in Grita's case). Anyway, in the case of all three ladies, they are ruthless, formidable adversaries, ones I can respect, which is refreshing (compared to someone like Cersei, say).
Tukko gets ever more mysterious... addressing Sethra as "young one" and making reference to being bound (to Dzur Mountain, presumably?) I do wonder who/what he is... other than a Dzur, and whether there's any rhyme or reason to when Sethra refers to him as Tukko vs Chazz.
The plot at the end, with Piro suddenly deciding to become a bandit, was rather WTF. I... was with him up until that point, because Khaavren totally did behave like an ass, starting with assuming he knew the girl Piro was speaking about was Roaana, and I could see him going back to Southmoor and enlisting, but where did the bandit thing come from? And why would Ibronka (with Dzur heroism) and Roaana (who seemed pretty sane), go along with it, rather than suggest some less insane idea? I was glad Kytraan, at least, seemed to have some trouble adjusting to the idea of turning bandit, but then he went along with it too... I don't even know what is supposed to be the point of it.
I did enjoy Paarfi's grumpy synopsis at the beginning, with the conceit that his publisher forced him to summarize the events of the previous book. Also, hee, Dragaeran "I spy with my little I" games, and rhyming ones at that! And the thing, mentioned in passing, about the dispute of when life begins in the womb as measured by whether those who were not born yet before the Orb disappeared react to it. And Gaiman's afterword was charming, though with less point than I'd been anticipating.
14. Steven Brust, Sethra Lavode -- OK, we're back to long stretches of people who are not Morrolan in between glimpses of Morrolan, which means I enjoyed it less, though there were some aspects of it I found quite interesting. Spoilers ahoy! Including some VERY major ones.
One of my favorite parts was Khaavren coming to talk to Shant and Lewchin, and how bonds of friendship (even young friendship) are shown to be no less important than bonds of family. Khaavren was still being an ass, and I was glad he got some comeuppance for it. And, of course, Pel saving the day through his Yendi tricks was great, too. And the exchange with Khaavren over his planned dalliance with the pretty Teckla messenger ("I give you my word, I have no intention of marrying her.") Ah, Pel. He is a very refreshing character in a lot of ways. Especially when he says things like, "How could we not [agree], Aerich, when, for an inflexible, supercilious termagant, well, you are most agreeable. I should clink my cup with yours, if you had anything in it but water" [because Aerich will not partake of goods purchased with stolen funds].
I also liked the conflict between Khaavren and Zerika, especially as he explained it in his conversation with Aerich:
K: "Bah. This Phoenix annoys me."
A: "Does she?" said Aerich, with something of a smile. "More than the last one did?"
"Oh, the last one couldn't help it, so I didn't mind."
"You have unusual standards."
But also how he explained it to her:
Z: Tell me, Sir Khaavren; did you speak to your last master in this fashion?
K: His Majesty Tortaalik? No, Your Majesty. Never.
"And why do I receive such treatment when he did not?
"Because he was weak, and small, and mean. I do him honor for having done his best, but he could never become more than he was, so it was useless to treat him with respect.
and the whole thing with Pel. Khaavren "arresting" Pel to keep him at Whitecrest Manor was funny, Khaavren speaking with Zerika about it was great, ("cannot bend that far without breaking"), and I nearly teared up when Zerika said, "Your Discretion [...] My conscience stabs me; I have been unjust to a loyal servant." (I was a little sorry to see Zerika make Pel Prime Minster rather than Discreet, although he is certainly a good fit for the role.)
Also, Sethra telling off Khaavren was just beautiful:
S: "May I ask why [you resigned]?"
K: "Madam, I am--"
"Bide, my lord."
"Well?"
"I simply wish to observe that if the word 'old' is about to escape your lips, I will be forced to remind you to whom you are speaking."
"And excellent observation, madam. I should, above all, not care to weaken the sense of a perfectly good word."
And I'm glad Khaavren finally came out and admitted to her it was pride keeping him from Zerika's service at that point.
I was spoiled for all the big deaths towards the end, and I'm glad I was because... I would have liked it even less if I hadn't known they were coming. Tazendra's last stand felt fitting for her, and I appreciated the detail that Mica had come to rescue her and died for her. Aerich's death felt less poignant, except when Khaavren tells Piro later, "I have no more objections to make; my conscience is dead now." (because, yeah, conscience as another human being? apparently a huge kink of mine). About Kytraan's death I felt much as the following meta dialogue shows, especially since he was my favorite of Piro's friends:
"Kytraan..."
"Yes."
"We went through so much, and then, to have him killed so casually, so quickly, almost as if he were nothing."
At the end of things, I think my ranking of favorites from the original "four musketeers" stand as follows: Tazendra (she has such life!), Pel 9who might have been higher, but he is so obscure...), Khaavren, Aerich. The young gang it's Kytraan, Ibronka, Roaana, Piro. And, yeah, way to kill off both my favorites, SKZB. :P
Of course, Morrolan continues to be adorable. His behavior around the soiree at Castle Black, his reaction on hearing the god involved with Kana was Tri'nagore, his "homecoming" at Blackchapel, defilement of the icon, discovering time zones -- I loved all of those details. And, of course, I was tickled that Khaavren (and Aerich, presumably) felt he reminded them of Adron, though, personally, Morrolan seems A LOT more laid back. I was not sure how I would feel about the much-alluded incident of Morrolan putting whole villages, man, woman, and child to the sword, especially given how Paarfi writes about the soul-stealing effects of Morganti weapons, and... I don't know, I find it hard to censure him overmuch when he came alone (save for Blackwand, of course) against four villages and a god. And I found it neat that Arra and the Circle, who had originally fled from Tri'nagore's worshippers, were the ones to help Morrolan defeat him. Obligatori Morrolan quotes:
"Morrolan [...] smiled and laughed and greeted his guests through the night, at one time remarking to Teldra, 'This is very nearly as enjoyable a pastime as battle.'"
"Morrolan, though enjoying his reception in the event, had not expected to; that is, so much of his effort was directed at his study of the sorcerous arts that he had resented the interruption, though, indeed, he had agreed to it some months before when Teldra had proposed the idea. The result was that, with most of his attention absorbed by the ball, and the remainedr still running the comvinations for certain spells through his mind ("draw, twist, spread; draw, twist, send"), he had no attention left for matters of politics or economy"
"Morrolan set his book down and rose to his feet when the Enchantress entered, but, instead of welcoming her to his home, or even saying how happy he was to see her, the words that came from his lips were 'Is it true that all matter consists mostly of energy, and that to alter the form of this energy is to change the nature of the matter?'"
Morrolan and Sethra, when she tells him she wants him to lead one of the divisions in the Battle of Adrilanka:
M: Why have you chosen me? You must know a score, a hundred, a thousand officers with more experience and knowledge of the miliatry arts and sciences.
S: As to that, a thousand may be over-stating the case.
[...]
S: If you were to be called upon to make a complex attack [...] I should wish for a commander with experience. If the intention was to have an independent campaing to coincide with my own, then I should require a general with great knowledge of how to maintain lines of communication and retreat. But you are to hold a position, or, at most, lead a countercharge at some point. And I have no commander whose troops look at them, and speak about them, in the same way that yours do.
M: Madam, I confess that I do not understand what you do me the honor of telling me.
S: That does not startle me, good Morrolan. It may be because of your sword, or it may be an acciedent of magger that is inherent in your character, or it may have to do with your history. Perhaps is it something of all of these. But, although you may not be aware of it, you are the sort of commander that a soldier would follow over Deathgate Falls, or for whom he would defend a line made up of the demons of Se'hagonathu."
"How, I am?"
"You are, I promise you."
"I had not been aware of this fact."
"Perhaps I have erred in informing you of it. The knowledge may be of help to you, or it may hinder you. I believe it will do no harm, however, or I should not have told you."
"He was just considering whether he ought to clap, when [the door] opened before him. On observing that there was no one there to open it, he reflectd, 'I must have one of those doors,' and stepped into Dzur Mountain."
Morrolan on Tri'nagore:
"He is worshiped by barbarians near Blackchapel [...]"
"Barbarians?" said Sethra Lavode, as if unsure how he was using the term.
"Barbarians?" echoed Sethra the Younger, as if wondering how this could be true of some Easterners more than others.
"But have you an army?"
"Yes," said Morrolan. "Here, at my side." With this, he touched the hilt of his sword.
"My dear Teldra, you are turning into something that is halfway between a wife and a servant!"
Arra and Morrolan talking about his defeat of Tri'nagore:
"Well, perhaps I ought not to be astonished after all."
"Oh," said Morrolan, "not that I wish to congratulate myself overmuch, but, I believe a certain degree of astonishment is appropriate."
Arra and Morrolan climbing up the stairs to the tower to see Verra's window:
Arra: "But what is it?"
M: "You must see."
"My lord, I cannot; you perceive that you have not moved, and your-- and you are occupying the only entrance."
"For Morrolan, the county of Southmoor was raised to a duchy [...] The generosity on the part of Her Majesty astonished and delighted him far more than, in fact, he would have expected, although his principal reaction was to observe to himself that Lady Teldra would be delighted to be the senechal to a Duke. He bowed very low to Her Majesty and expressed the desire that he would have the opportunity to die in her defense as soon as possible."
I found the description of Zerika rebuilding her Empire -- where her support came from, and for what pedestrian and self-interested reasons -- quite interesting, and I wish there'd been more of it. It was also way neat to see the creation of telepathic messenger services, teleportation for hire, telepathic battlefield communication, and so on.
Also, it was neat to see Daro leading a charge in the Battle of Adrilankha -- it's been awhile since she properly kicked ass. And I liked Kana's last words, on the executioner's Star, "I believe that I should not have made a bad Emperor, if I'd had the chance."
Oh, and there was the incident with Aerich and the Teckla in the ruins of Tazendra's manor, only I don't feel like rereading Teckla to compare.
Random quotes:
"Have you never had anyone give you a note in which he admitted that he was indebted to you?
"Why, my neighbor once had use of my prize boar, and I received a note saying that , in exchange, I should have my choice of shoats [...]"
"Well, you see, the same thing can be done with money."
"How, can it? I had never known. And then, you get the choice of imperials when they have bred?"
"indeed [the Necromancer's] actions were so like those that are fancifully represented as the manipulations of the sorcerer, and so unlike the actual workings of the sorcerer, that one is tempted to inquire if these fancies have their origins in necromany, or if, to the left, the demon had spent some time attending the theater, and was making motions that she understood were expected of her."
Khaavren on Pel: "When you are making your plans and schemes, and watching them come together piece by piece, or when you have discovered a way to cross a street by manipulating a sorcerer into teleporting a crate there, after manipulating a warehouseman into concealing you within the crate, then you are enjoying life."
I must say that the afterword of this one, by John M. Ford, I didn't enjoy much at all, and kind of skimmed, in fact.
Back to the main post
It's really neat to read a book essentially bridging the gap between the oblivious young witch we meet in PotD and the formidable fighter, wizard, and haughty Dragonlord from the Vlad books, especially a book that does it so charmingly. Whatever Paarfi's problem with Morrolan was before, they seem to have reconciled before the publication of LoCB, and it's nice to see credit being given where credit is due with no authorial sniping. There is such a lovely mix of scenes funny (I laughed out loud a few times and was smiling a lot), and badass, and touching. For the latter, Morrolan first coming to Southmoor and looking at the coin with his father's profile on it and standing amidst the ruins of the family castle; Morrolan confronted with defeat for the first time and his conversation with Fentor. For the former, Morrolan disposing his resources while barely knowing the names of enemies or potential allies (which may be a Dragon trait, come to that, since Kytraan seems to be unable to keep Tsanali's name straight, also); Morrolan being awkward with the tongs and feather when opening a wine-bottle because Teldra only recently showed him how to do it "properly"; Morrolan demanding tribute from Dzur Mountain while Sethra can barely keep from laughing at him; Morrolan being hand-wavy about sorcery; Morrolan tasting battle for the first time and being confused because his enemies keep running away (I wonder if that's why he developed the style of attacking before they scatter that we see in Taltos with Loraan's guards); Morrolan trading words with Zerika and encouraging her to insult him in a way he would actually understand; Morrolan becoming obsessed with sorcery to the point of blithely accepting possible death as a side-effect; Morrolan discovering that there are books of sorcery (and learning to read Dragaeran for the purpose); Morrolan being all "Yes, dear" with Teldra when it comes to Castle Black plans.
And, for the middle, of course, Morrolan drawing Blackwand for the first time and then showing his mettle in battle, and also Morrolan and Khaavren squaring off and coming to a mutual understanding (and, it looks like in Sethra Lavode, a fair degree of mutual admiration). And, more nuanced than badassity, the elements that show him for the kind of man he is. One of the neatest things about Morrolan, which has nowhere been so clear as here, is that his self-confidence in no way precludes him from admitting ignorance and being willing to learn. He learns from Fentor, and is perfectly willing to voice the opinion that he may be a liability as commander. He learns from Sethra and Tazendra and Sethra the Younger. He learns to read from Tukko. At the same time, he is not cowed by authority -- even when he perhaps should be, as when facing Sethra (he doesn't know the stories the others know about her, but I don't get the feeling that he would have acted differently if he *had* heard them). He relies on advisors and experts while being supremely confident in himself -- I just find that really awesome for some reason.
I found quite interesting his first interaction with Sethra the Younger, whose views on Easterners, as ignorant and nothing more than prey, seem to bother him but not enough to argue with her. I wonder how much of that is still true by the time of the Vlad books. Vlad complains, in Yendi, that Sethra the Younger's plans of invading the East don't seem to bother Morrolan, but I wonder how much of that is Morrolan truly agreeing with her vs it just being one of those things you don't fight about with your friend because you know it's pointless as you'll never convince them and it's moot anyway. LoCB suggests to me it's the latter, but of course it might also be wishful thinking on my part. At this point Morrolan still very clearly has the Eastern culture ingrained in him, such as when taking food at Dzur Mountain is a big deal because Easterners don't eat with their enemies, or his views on the gods, or "You must understand, good Captain, that I have not long been in these lands, and, where I was raised, matters are arranged in a rather simpler way [...] If someone offends me, I pass my sword through his body, and then the issue is settled". Morrolan spent about half his life in the East (it was the 247th year of the Interregnum when he came to Southmoor), so I wonder how much of that identification he kept even while assimilating into Dragaeran culture.
I also like Morrolan's rather unusual relationship with ambition. It's no surprise that he doesn't want to be Dragon Heir, of course -- no Dragonlord does. But he insists on not being addressed as "Your Highness" -- and by the time of Sethra Lavode, it does seem like no-one attempts to call him that, but address him as Count. (Also, see long digression on Dragon Heirship and other related stuff below... It started out as a parenthetical and got incredibly long.) Political ambitions aside, Morrolan doesn't even seem to have sorcerous ambitions -- he seems to practice it purely for the joy of it, which is really neat to see.
(I do wonder: Zerika says there were 4 Dragonlords with a higher claim than Morrolan but three died in the Disaster and one was discredited. The discredited one, of course, is Norathar, but who are the other three? Rather, I have too many contenders, unless Adron himself doesn't count. Even if he doesn't, there's Aliera, Morrolan's unnamed mother (Adron's younger sister), and Molric, her elder son -- assuming Adron had no other siblings and Rollondar had no other children. And also, does that mean that the Heirship is still following the e'Kieron line at this point and that Morrolan is eligible in spite of bearing the e'Drien surname/patronymic/whatever? How do the Dragon patronymics even work, in cases where the parents are of different lines? i.e. why is Morrolan e'Drien rather than e'Kieron? Does it always follow the father, which seems at odds with how titles and things work in gender-equal Dragaera... Is it actually based on some kind of genetic scan? i.e. Morrolan favors the e'Drien line in appearance and, it seems, in temperament, therefor he is an e'Drien rather than e'Kieron? I'm quite sure I'm way overthinking this, but I do really wonder...
And when one of the gods says that Morrolan is of the wrong bloodline, what does that mean? He is a descendent of Kieron, on his mother's side, with only one generation of e'Drien admixing separating him from Adron/Aliera. Does this imply that Adron's line is pure e'Kieron all the way down? That Morrolan and Aliera's generation would pass some sort of purity threshold in terms of remove from Kieron, and therefore the only reason Aliera is eligible to practice Elder Sorcery is that she has no complicating genes on her mother's side?
Also, why was Norathar's father, K'Laiyer e'Lanya chosen as Dragon Heir to replace Adron at some point, though the role returned to Adron? I wish I knew how Dragon Council's Heir determination thing worked... and I wonder if it's consistent between the Vlad and Paarfi books. Anyway.)
I love Morrolan's impatience (especially after three and a half books of wanting everyone to GET ON WITH saying what they mean already, I can totally sympathize -- I'm guessing, in Morrolan's case, that this is a result of having grown up among Easterners, who, being short-lived, don't have time to ask for everything five times XP), and his sense of humour, and just everything about him, OK. Here, have some quotes:
Morrolan and Fentor:
M: "Then, you believe he will attempt to swallow me up, as he has swallowed up the others?"
F: "My lord, I am convinced of it."
M: "Well, I shall not permit this to happen."
Fentor bowed his head, but said nothing.
"How," said Morrolan. "You doubt me?"
[...]
"My lord, I do not see how you have the resources to resist an army such as Kana can bring against you."
"Do I not have an army as well, and is it not growing?"
"Not enough, my lord."
"And have I not my Circle of Witches, and is it not growing as well?"
"Not enough, my lord."
"And am I not of the House of the Dragon?"
"Not enough, my lord."
[...]
"Sergeant, I am becoming annoyed with this conversation."
"I am sorry to hear that, my lord. But, you perceive, your annoyance will not change the facts, and it is my duty to acquaint you with the facts, however unpleasant they may be, or unwelcome to your ears."
Morrolan glared at him, which glare Fentor withstood coolly. At length, Morrolan said, "And then, what will you do?"
"I, my lord? I will do as I am ordered, until I fall in battle. What Dragonlord could ask for more?"
"I can, my dear Sergeant. I do not wish us to die gallantly, I wish us to win!"
"Very well, I accept that the Orb has returned. And I accept that this -- what is her name?"
"Zerika the Fourth," said Teldra [...]
"Yes," continued Morrolan. "I accept that this Zerika has the Orb. But, what then?"
"Then," said Teldra, "it is the duty of a gentleman to support and defend the legitimate Empress."
Morrolan considered this for a long moment. "Very well. I must consider this matter. In any case, it is clear that I cannot permit this-- what is this name?"
"Kana."
"Yes, I cannot permit this Kana to over-run me."
Arra and Morrolan:
Morrolan sighed and nodded. "Well, I can only hope I have done the right thing, and that, moreover, I will continue to do it. You perceive, this matter of an Empress, a real Empress, has thrown me out of my reckoning, and I am not entirely certain how I ought to respond."
"My lord, what causes this confusion?"
"The notion of serving another. This idea is not pleasing to me."
"Morrolan spent a brief moment looking around, considering where he was, and the quiet, dark elegance of the furnishings, and realized taht he had, to some degree, lost control of the encounter from its very beginning, and, furthermore, that he had not the least idea with whom he was dealing, nor what her powers, resources, or abilities might be.
"I am here, he said without further preamble, "to discuss the matter of tribute."
"How," said Sethra in apparent confusion. "You wish to give me tribute?"
Morrolan cleared his throat. "That was not, in fact, precisely my meaning."
"From the east shall he come, strong in ignorance, short in patience, hiding his wit beneath arrogance--"
Morrolan felt his eyes narrow, and he said in a low voice, "If this is to refer to me, sir, I must insist--"
"From the way you attack your consonants as if they were an enemy swordsman and swallow you vowels as if they were a light snack, I would judge that you were raised in the East."
Sethra continued staring intently at Morrolan. "It is an old prophecy," she said. "Very old."
Morrolan shifted in his chari. "I am not," he said, "entirely certain I enjoy being in a prophecy."
Morrolan upon first drawing Blackwand:
"And above all of this, Morrolan was aware that, more than ever before, he would very much like to find something to kill. By preference, many things, all of them eager to fight back."
"the others were equally pleased that they were no longer aware of its [Blackwand's] presence, except in the dimmest, most distant way, feeling only a vague unease such as one feels on a journey when convinced one has failed to bring everything needed, but cannot remember what has been left behind."
Morrolan turned to the Necromancer. "Can you help?"
"My lord?"
"Sorcery. I have learned something of sorcery. I am told it can do amazing things. I don't know. Blast them with fire, or make stones fall on their heads, or create an illusion of giant butterflies with nine-inch teeth. Something."
More Morrolan and Fentor, re: modifications made to the temple to make it siege-worthy:
"You were wrong," said Morrolan.
A certain redness came into Fentor's countenance, and he gave Morrolan a stiff bow.
Morrolan studied him, and, for the first time, showed some signs of what he would become. he said, "You still believe you were right?"
Fentor remained mute.
"Answer!" said Morrolan.
"I do, my lord!" said Fentor, glaring now.
"Well, then explain to me why, and perhaps I will be convinced."
Fentor, who had no small amount of experience with commanders, not to mention generals, stared in surprise.
"You will?"
"Perhaps."
Morrolan stood upon the roof of the temple [...] and listened patiently while his commander explained the use of the ditches, scaffoldings, buttresses, and other devices of modern military science [...] At last, the commander said, "Well, my lord? Is that sufficient?"
"For what?" asked Morrolan.
"For your understanding."
"Not the least in the world," said Morrolan. "But it is of no matter. You say it will do, and I believe you."
[...]
Fentor bowed, accepting the inevitable. "And may I suggest--"
"Yes?"
"When the battle commences, this will be an excellent place from which to observe."
"Oh, as to that--"
"Well?"
"I think the front line will be better."
"My lord? You intend to lead the troops personally?"
"How not?"
Fentor hesitated. He could hardly explain that Morrolan was insufficiently skilled at generalship to be entrusted to make decisions in the field. He cleared his throat and said, "And yet, a position in the rear is better for receiving communications and making decisions."
"In that case, my dear Fentor--"
"Yes?"
"As you know this business better than I do, I would suggest that you position yourself here."
"How, me?"
"And why not?"
"Because, my lord, my place is with the men engaged in battle."
"Just so," said Morrolan.
"And yet, should you be killed--"
"Well? If I am killed, will that make you less able to make decisions? On the contrary, I should imagine that you might better be able to make decisions without my interference."
Fentor cleared his throat again, as this was uncomfortably close to his own thinking. He said, "If you believe that, my lord, why not--"
"Because it is my army, my fief, and my responsibility. Therefore, as long as I live, the mistakes will be mine."
(I also found it interesting that Morrolan's "win at any cost" instruction to Fentor is echoed by Grita in conversation with Tsanali a bit later: "I would never achieve a victory at the cost of my honor; that is the difference between us" || "Is that it? Do you think, perhaps, that there is also this difference: I am determined."
"Morrolan, who had not yet learned the importance of ceremony, grandiloquence, and inspirational utterances in convincing the desperate to do the impossible, gave the order to advance, and himself led the way. (It should be added that none of the events which followed did anything to show Morrolan why he ought to use brave words to inspire his army, and so, as far as this historian can determine, he has never learned.)"
"Morrolan had been through his first engagement, which he found to be, more than anything else, confusing. [...] this was not, in fact, because of the usual confusion that can come about the battlefield, especially for a commander who has put himself directly on the lines -- rather, it was because none of the enemy would come near him. On the contrary, the instant he drew his weapon [Blackwand] from its sheath, every enemy he drew near turned on his heels and ran."
"Fentor [...] now looked at his liege with an expression of respect not unmixed with fear."
"It was only Fentor's quick realization of what had happened, and his ability to prevail upon Morrolan, even in the delirium of battle, that prevented the small army from being completely destroyed. Morrolan himself led the retreat, breaking through an opposing force attempting to complete the encirclement, and, after having done so, he returned to lead a delaying action to discourage the pursuit."
"Fentor--"
"My lord?"
"You were right."
"Sir?"
"I had no conception of just how many they had. Or, to be more precise, I knew the numbers, but didn't know what they meant. You were right."
"Yes, my lord. As were you."
"As was I?"
"Indeed. We have delayed them considerably, and confused them more; your maneuver was far more successful than I'd have thought."
"I am Southmoor. Has your group a leader whom I ought specially to address?"
The answer came at once "I should imagine that would be me. My name is Zerika, and, as you may deduce from the Orb circling my head, I am your Empress."
"My Empress!" cried Morrolan, suddenly holding himself very still, and staring first at Zerika and then at the Orb.
"Kneeling may be appropriate," observed Zerika.
"My Empress?" repeated Morrolan, still with a look of consternation upon his countenance. "But, by what means did I acquire an Empress? I give you my word, three months ago I didn't have so much as an estate."
"Do you do yourself the honor to jest with me?"
"Perhaps a little," said Morrolan. "And yet you may see--"
Teldra whispered in Morrolan's ear, "She should be addressed as Your Majesty," at exactly the same moment that Khaavren said the same thing, only not whispering in the least.
[...]
"My lod Morrolan, if you do not recognize me, then, if I may ask, why do you do yourself the honor of fighting my battles? And very effectually, at that."
Morrolan bowed to acknowledge the compliment, and said, "I am fighting this battle for the simplest possible reason: Sethra Lavode asked me to, and she is my friend."
"Well then, my lord, perhaps I could be your friend as well, and then you could fight for me on my own behalf."
"Why, one can always use friends."
"I am glad you think so."
"Sethra Lavode, to prove her friendship, gave me this sword."
[...]
Zerika laughed. "I believe you do yourself the honor of bargaining with me. Are you entirely certain you are a Dragon, my friend? For you begin to sound like a Chreotha."
"If you mean to insult me, madam, I fear I am too recently come to this land to comprehend. I beg you, in that case, to be more explicit."
"Ah, you were raised in the East?"
"I was."
"Much is, then, explained. My dear Morrolan, I ought to glower at you, as the brave captain does, or else give you a glance full of haughty disdain, as you perceive our good Lyorn is doing. But, do you know, I believe I like you. Therefore, I will prove my friendship to you by saying that, if the Empire survives, you shall be given the three counties to the north. Come, what do you say to that?"
"I say that Your Majesty's wish is my command."
[...]
Morrolan bowed. "Very good, Your Majesty." Then he glanced first at Khaavern, then at Aerich. "And, should either of you wish to express to me in words what you have been saying so eloquently without them, then certainly we can make the opportunity to give these matters the discussion they merit."
Morrolan and Sethra the Younger:
Morrolan bowed. "You seem to know a great deal about Easterners."
"A hunter must know his prey."
Morrolan frowned, but chose not to take the conversation in this direction
[...]
"It seems that, laying aside the superstitions of ignorant Easterners" -- Morrolan, though faintly irritated at this, let is pass out of a desire to hear the rest of what she had to say.
M: "I am uncertain as to this higher purpose to which you do me the honor of speaking."
SY: "In what way are you uncertain?"
"Is it true that men desire it?"
"Don't you?"
"No," said Morrolan.
Sethra the Younger smiled. "Well, but you are young. It may be that, someday, you will."
"I do not say that this is impossible, only -- [...] It seems to me it would be a better world if, instead of considering higher purposes, we all simply tended to our own affairs. [...] Let the Empire, if there must be one, facilitate trade and insure that the roads are safe. It seems to me that serving a higher purpose has led to more trouble than benefit."
Zerika informed him that, as far as she could determine, and pending a meeting of his House, he was Dragon Heir to the throne, which meant that, as the Dragon was to be the next House, he had certain duties to fulfill in terms of making himself familiar with the Orb.
"Is it a position," he inquired, "that I am able to refuse."
"No," she said, "But it is possible that my understanding is incomplete and you are not next in line. [...]"
"I will investigate, once matters become more stable."
"In the meantime, you can be addressed as 'Your Highness'"
"Must I?"
"Well, not if you choose not to be, I suppose, save on certain occasions at court."
[...]
"I should much prefer, as I understand these matters from Lady Teldra, to be Warlord."
"I have offered that position to Sethra Lavode."
"Well, I cannot doubt her qualifications, but is it not true that she feels herself confined to Dzur Mountain for now?"
"For the most part. But I feel, nevertheless, she will make a better Warlord from Dzur Mountain than anyone else in the field."
Morrolan sighed and said, "Alas, I cannot dispute with you on this point."
Morrolan and Khaavren:
K: "The fact that you did not, on that occasion, attempt to run your sword through my body [...] indicates that, perhaps, you did not consider there had been an offense."
M: "In fact, I did not. Ought I have?"
"As to that, I cannot say. Some would, some would not, but I assure you, it has not for an instant crossed my mind that you might be timid."
"I am glad of that. Because if you did think me timid, well, I should have to endeavor to change your mind. It would grieve me to have someone of your mettle to have such an opinion of me, and the esteem in which I hold you would require me to dispatch you at once."
Lord Morrolan [...] was so astonished and delighted at his new abilities that he quite nearly killed himself on several occasions [via teleportation]. After one of these attempts, in which he was only saved because Sethra Lavode happened to be attempting to psychically bespeak him at that moment and became aware of his predicament, he received, from this Enchantress, a stern deiscussion of the dangers of his activities.
"Come now," she said. "Suppose it were said of you that you had honorably created and led an army, but then, having done so, destroyed yourself through misadventure with a spell. Is that what you wish history to record?"
Morrolan explained that, insofar as he was concerned, history could record whatever it liked and be damned to it.
"But then, what of your friends? How will they feel if you should come to such an end?"
"Oh, they will, no doubt, find other friends."
"And what of your enemies? What of those you intend to punish, especially in the East? Suppose word should reach their ears that they were now safe from your vengeance, because you had, in toying with powers you could not control, done yourself in?"
Morrolan frowned and considered. "Well, it is true. I should not care for that."
"Then I beg you, my friend, take your time. Do not push yourself so much. [...]"
"You make a strong argument, mandam. [...] And yet, it is difficult. I so wish to learn--"
"There are other ways to learn."
"How?"
"You can read books."
"Read books?"
"Certainly."
"Books on sorcery? Do these exist?"
"Why, not above a million of them. [...]"
"Verra! I had not known this. How long do you suppose it will take me?"
"To read a million books? Well, as to that--"
"No, to learn to read this peculiar language of yours, in which one symbol may stand for ten different sounds, and two-symbold comginations may stand for a hundred."
"How, you do not read?"
"Oh, I read. That is, I am an accomplished reader in several languages. Only it happens that this one we are speaking now is not one of them."
From this point on, and for some little time, Morrolan all but vanished to most of his friends. He [...] split his time between reading, and running through sorcerous drills. Indeed, except for meals and sleeping, he would have done nothing else had it not been for the wise Suivo, who insists in his Foreword on the absolute necessity, when making an intense study of sorcery, of keeping the physical body in the utmost trim. Morrolan, having not yet the experience at reading to know that the reader of any book of instruction ought to ignore those lessons he finds inconvenient, took Suivo at his word and forced himself to spend at least an hour a day practicing swordsmanship with some of the dozen or so in his army."
"Well then, I shall call my keep Castle Black, because I intend to make it a home of sorcery."
[...]
"There are many sorcerers who will consider such a name to be a challenge."
"Well," said Morrolan, shrugging. "Let them consider it however they wish. In any case--"
"Yes?"
"I* do not think I should care to live in a place called Castle Clear."
Most of the plans for what would become Castle Black were laid down, as the reader may have inferred, without Morrolan's direct participation, as he was much involved in the study of sorcery, wherefore they fell, as we have implied, to Lady Teldra, usually with agreement from Morrolan that came in the form of a distracted nod accompanied by the words "Yes, yes, certainly." [...] Morrolan condescended to speak with the nobled Carver on three occasions: the first time, to be certain Carver understood about the windowless tower which Morrolan desired to have built as a place where he might commune with his Goddess; the second time to inform him that he required an entire wing to house Arra and his Circle of Witches; and a third time to approve the final plans, which he did with the words "Yes, yes, of course. If Teldra thinks it is good, you may begin," after which he returned to his reading.
the march of Kana's army through the duchy, accompanied by the inevitable acts of thievery, rape, beating, and occasional murder that accompany the march of even the most disciplined army, were sufficient to convince the peasants that the relatively modest demands of the Count, blessed by traddition and the Empire, were, in fact, not at all unreasonable. Moreover, many of the older families recalled with something like longing the old days, remembering the ceremony and grandeur of serving a Dragonlord and conveniently forgetting the inconvenience and annoyance of the thievery, rape, beating, and occaisonal murder that accompanies the existence of a standing army by even the most benevolent aristocrats.
Incidentally, I hadn't realized that Fentor went that far back in Morrolan's service, and that he was the one who first drilled Morrolan and generally taught him to fight. Now I want to reread Jhereg and keep an eye out for how they interact.
Things that don't have to do with Morrolan:
I like Zerika's tendency towards field promotion -- the way she just starts calling Khaavren "Captain" until he stops objecting/twitching, and later simply addressed Pel with the fixed phrase of monarch towards Discreet (which he, naturally, takes much more positively than Khaavren does). And in general Zerika's interaction with those two, such as when Pel says not to treat the enemy wounded but Zerika insists, and, "I hope that, once we begin our charge for those fortifications we see yonder, you will not, once again, change your mind." and Zerika chafing at being unable to fight because she is too valuable.
Pel, incidentally, continues to be awesome. I liked that the conflict between ambition and friendship was a struggle to him, though rather quickly decided by the presence of the Orb. The "that's not my attack -- THAT's my attack [...]" line was wonderful, and I loved both Pel's "tedious" plan for avoiding starvation at the newly-floating proto-Castle Black and the way he used his intelligence position to suborn enemy soldiers and recruit them to Zerika's cause.
Tazendra as the first post-Interregnum wizard was great fun, from her early explosive experimentation to being unable to wield a sword and her staff and hold the reins of her horse all at once. I also liked the little scene towards the beginning where she demonstrates how she's learned to read the signs (of Grita's sneaking, in this case) no worse than Khaavren or Aerich in 500YA. Oh, and her comment when everyone is debating whether it's worth the risk to try to levitate Castle Black -- "Besides, if it fails [...] Think of how many of the enemy we will crush below us." was priceless. Also, "Very well, he has a cousin. But, my dear Sethra, this is not remarkable. Many people has cousins. I had a cousin myself, only he was killed attempting to climb Dzu-- that is to say, he died on a quest." XD
The Piro + Ibronka love story was cute, especially Roaana's teasing of Ibronka ("I am merely trying to goad you [...] Because, my love, I am not his [Piro's] friend, and therefore I cannot goad him.") and Ibronka's final, "Come over here, Viscount, and kiss me, before I die of embarrassment". And then Roaana and Kytraan finding the two love-birds sickeningly twee afterwards ("Perhaps we have made a mistake." "That is very possible." "However, it is better than it was before." "Perhaps." [...] "Perhaps," said Roaana, "Kana will launch an assault on us with overwhelming force." Kytraan nodded hopefully.) I also liked, at the end, Clari's laconic observation that, "Madam is hard to miss."
I still don't care at all about Piro, but Kytraan continues to be rather adorable. (It's kind of neat to compare him and Morrolan, actually, since they are both Dragonlords and must be of an age -- Kytraan must be a little bit older, in fact, since he did know his father a little. For all of his (rapidly diminishing) naivite and ignorance of Dragaeran customs, Morrolan is so much more mature, and I wonder how much of that is circumstance vs innate personality. I guess it does look like the e'Driens and the e'Kierons tend to be more subtle; I don't think we ever meet a subtle e'Lanya?). There were also a couple of scenes, like the one where after spying Pel has figured out everything and Kytraan is clueless as to how ("That is good, then. I feel better in regards to my ears. [...] But there may be a deficiency between them."), and Tazendra says not to worry about it because she doesn't, and the one where Piro & co have their own talk about the end justifying the means and Kytraan says, "It is clear enough to me. [...] Her Majesty says fight, and so I fight." and Tazendra murmurs, "I believe I like this gentleman" -- that rather confirmed Tazendra/Kytraan for me as a ship (even though the revelation that Aerich was the only man Tazendra would consider marrying was itneresting). I also liked the description of Roanna, Ibronka, and Clari traveling with Khaavren (and prompting comments from passers by) and their crush on Aerich.
Zerika and Laszlo (Brimford), huh? I hadn't realized that Zerika's Easterner lover went that far back. And I guess Laszlo becomes a priest of Verra, and, like Arra, essentially immortal?
Reappearance of Illista was a neat surprise. One of the things that this installment drove home is how much I respect Brust's (and/or Paarfi's, I guess) female villains. The scene where Habil, Grita, and Illista are planning together was quite impressive. All three of them are "bad guys" (I'm not sure I can consider Habil a villain, at least), but Grita and Habil, at least, are supremely competent (I was pleased to learn that Pel admires Habil's planning), and have sound reasons for what they're doing. It's not just random insane evil for evil's sake, which seems to come up so much with Evil Queen types. I mean, revenge is not exactly a noble pursuit, but it is understandable, especially in Grita's case). Anyway, in the case of all three ladies, they are ruthless, formidable adversaries, ones I can respect, which is refreshing (compared to someone like Cersei, say).
Tukko gets ever more mysterious... addressing Sethra as "young one" and making reference to being bound (to Dzur Mountain, presumably?) I do wonder who/what he is... other than a Dzur, and whether there's any rhyme or reason to when Sethra refers to him as Tukko vs Chazz.
The plot at the end, with Piro suddenly deciding to become a bandit, was rather WTF. I... was with him up until that point, because Khaavren totally did behave like an ass, starting with assuming he knew the girl Piro was speaking about was Roaana, and I could see him going back to Southmoor and enlisting, but where did the bandit thing come from? And why would Ibronka (with Dzur heroism) and Roaana (who seemed pretty sane), go along with it, rather than suggest some less insane idea? I was glad Kytraan, at least, seemed to have some trouble adjusting to the idea of turning bandit, but then he went along with it too... I don't even know what is supposed to be the point of it.
I did enjoy Paarfi's grumpy synopsis at the beginning, with the conceit that his publisher forced him to summarize the events of the previous book. Also, hee, Dragaeran "I spy with my little I" games, and rhyming ones at that! And the thing, mentioned in passing, about the dispute of when life begins in the womb as measured by whether those who were not born yet before the Orb disappeared react to it. And Gaiman's afterword was charming, though with less point than I'd been anticipating.
14. Steven Brust, Sethra Lavode -- OK, we're back to long stretches of people who are not Morrolan in between glimpses of Morrolan, which means I enjoyed it less, though there were some aspects of it I found quite interesting. Spoilers ahoy! Including some VERY major ones.
One of my favorite parts was Khaavren coming to talk to Shant and Lewchin, and how bonds of friendship (even young friendship) are shown to be no less important than bonds of family. Khaavren was still being an ass, and I was glad he got some comeuppance for it. And, of course, Pel saving the day through his Yendi tricks was great, too. And the exchange with Khaavren over his planned dalliance with the pretty Teckla messenger ("I give you my word, I have no intention of marrying her.") Ah, Pel. He is a very refreshing character in a lot of ways. Especially when he says things like, "How could we not [agree], Aerich, when, for an inflexible, supercilious termagant, well, you are most agreeable. I should clink my cup with yours, if you had anything in it but water" [because Aerich will not partake of goods purchased with stolen funds].
I also liked the conflict between Khaavren and Zerika, especially as he explained it in his conversation with Aerich:
K: "Bah. This Phoenix annoys me."
A: "Does she?" said Aerich, with something of a smile. "More than the last one did?"
"Oh, the last one couldn't help it, so I didn't mind."
"You have unusual standards."
But also how he explained it to her:
Z: Tell me, Sir Khaavren; did you speak to your last master in this fashion?
K: His Majesty Tortaalik? No, Your Majesty. Never.
"And why do I receive such treatment when he did not?
"Because he was weak, and small, and mean. I do him honor for having done his best, but he could never become more than he was, so it was useless to treat him with respect.
and the whole thing with Pel. Khaavren "arresting" Pel to keep him at Whitecrest Manor was funny, Khaavren speaking with Zerika about it was great, ("cannot bend that far without breaking"), and I nearly teared up when Zerika said, "Your Discretion [...] My conscience stabs me; I have been unjust to a loyal servant." (I was a little sorry to see Zerika make Pel Prime Minster rather than Discreet, although he is certainly a good fit for the role.)
Also, Sethra telling off Khaavren was just beautiful:
S: "May I ask why [you resigned]?"
K: "Madam, I am--"
"Bide, my lord."
"Well?"
"I simply wish to observe that if the word 'old' is about to escape your lips, I will be forced to remind you to whom you are speaking."
"And excellent observation, madam. I should, above all, not care to weaken the sense of a perfectly good word."
And I'm glad Khaavren finally came out and admitted to her it was pride keeping him from Zerika's service at that point.
I was spoiled for all the big deaths towards the end, and I'm glad I was because... I would have liked it even less if I hadn't known they were coming. Tazendra's last stand felt fitting for her, and I appreciated the detail that Mica had come to rescue her and died for her. Aerich's death felt less poignant, except when Khaavren tells Piro later, "I have no more objections to make; my conscience is dead now." (because, yeah, conscience as another human being? apparently a huge kink of mine). About Kytraan's death I felt much as the following meta dialogue shows, especially since he was my favorite of Piro's friends:
"Kytraan..."
"Yes."
"We went through so much, and then, to have him killed so casually, so quickly, almost as if he were nothing."
At the end of things, I think my ranking of favorites from the original "four musketeers" stand as follows: Tazendra (she has such life!), Pel 9who might have been higher, but he is so obscure...), Khaavren, Aerich. The young gang it's Kytraan, Ibronka, Roaana, Piro. And, yeah, way to kill off both my favorites, SKZB. :P
Of course, Morrolan continues to be adorable. His behavior around the soiree at Castle Black, his reaction on hearing the god involved with Kana was Tri'nagore, his "homecoming" at Blackchapel, defilement of the icon, discovering time zones -- I loved all of those details. And, of course, I was tickled that Khaavren (and Aerich, presumably) felt he reminded them of Adron, though, personally, Morrolan seems A LOT more laid back. I was not sure how I would feel about the much-alluded incident of Morrolan putting whole villages, man, woman, and child to the sword, especially given how Paarfi writes about the soul-stealing effects of Morganti weapons, and... I don't know, I find it hard to censure him overmuch when he came alone (save for Blackwand, of course) against four villages and a god. And I found it neat that Arra and the Circle, who had originally fled from Tri'nagore's worshippers, were the ones to help Morrolan defeat him. Obligatori Morrolan quotes:
"Morrolan [...] smiled and laughed and greeted his guests through the night, at one time remarking to Teldra, 'This is very nearly as enjoyable a pastime as battle.'"
"Morrolan, though enjoying his reception in the event, had not expected to; that is, so much of his effort was directed at his study of the sorcerous arts that he had resented the interruption, though, indeed, he had agreed to it some months before when Teldra had proposed the idea. The result was that, with most of his attention absorbed by the ball, and the remainedr still running the comvinations for certain spells through his mind ("draw, twist, spread; draw, twist, send"), he had no attention left for matters of politics or economy"
"Morrolan set his book down and rose to his feet when the Enchantress entered, but, instead of welcoming her to his home, or even saying how happy he was to see her, the words that came from his lips were 'Is it true that all matter consists mostly of energy, and that to alter the form of this energy is to change the nature of the matter?'"
Morrolan and Sethra, when she tells him she wants him to lead one of the divisions in the Battle of Adrilanka:
M: Why have you chosen me? You must know a score, a hundred, a thousand officers with more experience and knowledge of the miliatry arts and sciences.
S: As to that, a thousand may be over-stating the case.
[...]
S: If you were to be called upon to make a complex attack [...] I should wish for a commander with experience. If the intention was to have an independent campaing to coincide with my own, then I should require a general with great knowledge of how to maintain lines of communication and retreat. But you are to hold a position, or, at most, lead a countercharge at some point. And I have no commander whose troops look at them, and speak about them, in the same way that yours do.
M: Madam, I confess that I do not understand what you do me the honor of telling me.
S: That does not startle me, good Morrolan. It may be because of your sword, or it may be an acciedent of magger that is inherent in your character, or it may have to do with your history. Perhaps is it something of all of these. But, although you may not be aware of it, you are the sort of commander that a soldier would follow over Deathgate Falls, or for whom he would defend a line made up of the demons of Se'hagonathu."
"How, I am?"
"You are, I promise you."
"I had not been aware of this fact."
"Perhaps I have erred in informing you of it. The knowledge may be of help to you, or it may hinder you. I believe it will do no harm, however, or I should not have told you."
"He was just considering whether he ought to clap, when [the door] opened before him. On observing that there was no one there to open it, he reflectd, 'I must have one of those doors,' and stepped into Dzur Mountain."
Morrolan on Tri'nagore:
"He is worshiped by barbarians near Blackchapel [...]"
"Barbarians?" said Sethra Lavode, as if unsure how he was using the term.
"Barbarians?" echoed Sethra the Younger, as if wondering how this could be true of some Easterners more than others.
"But have you an army?"
"Yes," said Morrolan. "Here, at my side." With this, he touched the hilt of his sword.
"My dear Teldra, you are turning into something that is halfway between a wife and a servant!"
Arra and Morrolan talking about his defeat of Tri'nagore:
"Well, perhaps I ought not to be astonished after all."
"Oh," said Morrolan, "not that I wish to congratulate myself overmuch, but, I believe a certain degree of astonishment is appropriate."
Arra and Morrolan climbing up the stairs to the tower to see Verra's window:
Arra: "But what is it?"
M: "You must see."
"My lord, I cannot; you perceive that you have not moved, and your-- and you are occupying the only entrance."
"For Morrolan, the county of Southmoor was raised to a duchy [...] The generosity on the part of Her Majesty astonished and delighted him far more than, in fact, he would have expected, although his principal reaction was to observe to himself that Lady Teldra would be delighted to be the senechal to a Duke. He bowed very low to Her Majesty and expressed the desire that he would have the opportunity to die in her defense as soon as possible."
I found the description of Zerika rebuilding her Empire -- where her support came from, and for what pedestrian and self-interested reasons -- quite interesting, and I wish there'd been more of it. It was also way neat to see the creation of telepathic messenger services, teleportation for hire, telepathic battlefield communication, and so on.
Also, it was neat to see Daro leading a charge in the Battle of Adrilankha -- it's been awhile since she properly kicked ass. And I liked Kana's last words, on the executioner's Star, "I believe that I should not have made a bad Emperor, if I'd had the chance."
Oh, and there was the incident with Aerich and the Teckla in the ruins of Tazendra's manor, only I don't feel like rereading Teckla to compare.
Random quotes:
"Have you never had anyone give you a note in which he admitted that he was indebted to you?
"Why, my neighbor once had use of my prize boar, and I received a note saying that , in exchange, I should have my choice of shoats [...]"
"Well, you see, the same thing can be done with money."
"How, can it? I had never known. And then, you get the choice of imperials when they have bred?"
"indeed [the Necromancer's] actions were so like those that are fancifully represented as the manipulations of the sorcerer, and so unlike the actual workings of the sorcerer, that one is tempted to inquire if these fancies have their origins in necromany, or if, to the left, the demon had spent some time attending the theater, and was making motions that she understood were expected of her."
Khaavren on Pel: "When you are making your plans and schemes, and watching them come together piece by piece, or when you have discovered a way to cross a street by manipulating a sorcerer into teleporting a crate there, after manipulating a warehouseman into concealing you within the crate, then you are enjoying life."
I must say that the afterword of this one, by John M. Ford, I didn't enjoy much at all, and kind of skimmed, in fact.
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