A Devious Plan
The Fenni, part two
Having been driven out of the Fenni village with no horses and no supplies, the Company debate what they are going to do next. Wira demands that they go back and rescue Farr, which I can understand since he is his brother and all but on the other you can also well understand Kurr and Perdu rejecting that idea out of hand. After all this is all his fault.
Wira argues that Farr can't be blamed for loosing his temper, and the author continues to beat down upon Farr even when he isn't on the page:
"'"Are you sure, cousin?" Perdu's voice was redolent with bitterness. "Farr has always been a hothead. You remember when he got you into trouble with the Vatnoyans over the business of the eggs? Did he ever tell you that his cloak was found up near Vinbrenna and that it was covered with chicken feathers? You took the punishment for him then. How many times since? Isn't it time he faced up to his wrongdoing and took his own punishment?"'
This would be fine, except that we've seen no evidence that Farr is a thief except for this anecdote, just like there's no evidence that Perdu was a bully except for the anecdote Farr told us, and so until we're actually shown some thieving we're under no obligation to beleive he actually stole anything. Besides, as Wira points out, you can hardly condemn a man to death for nicking eggs and starting a fight.
Eventually Wira, combined with the fact that they're all royally screwed if they don't get their stuff back, persuades them to go back for Farr and the gear. Turns out, as the POV abruptly switches to the Fenni Chief, that this is what the Chief and his Priest planned for all along. Apparently the starts say that the Company's mission is important, but they don't usually give hospitality and so when Farr started the fight they had to give a harsh punishment or the people would loose faith in them and unseat the Chief. I can't help thinking that if the Chief and Priest had been honest with the people and said 'These people are on a mission from the heavens' nobody would have really cared about a little scuffle in a tent. Then again, if they knew that these people were good guys by reading it in the stars then why did they accuse them of the murders? And why do I get the feeling this is a last minute copout to enable the Company to continue without suffering any real consequences of their actions?
Farr is released by the suddenly helpful Fenni, and they are given thier gear back. The Fenni however keep the horses, saying they are no good for the next stage of their journey, and give them an Aurochs instead. His name is Wisent and he is the Chief's Aurochs and very special. To be given him is a mark of the high favour in which they are regarded. I still don't see why they couldn't have shown the high favour in which the regard the Company by going easy on them after the fight but that's just me.
Perdu is ordered to guide the Company, and may not return to the Fenni for a year and a day, or until he returns with the cloak and sword of one of the Bhrudwan riders. So our Losian character for tolerance is the only one of the Fenni who isn't an actual Losian. Huh. Farr isn't happy about this, and orders him to repent his sins and return to the path of the Most High. So Christianity encourages Racism now?
Perdu distributes some ointment for their eyes, which he says will prevent snowblindness out on the moors. In an important plot point foreshadowing, Farr refuses to have any of that foreign muck smeared on his eyes. The Company moves off. Next time: Maelstrom!