In which the Master Trader negotiates with the thodelm.
It’s interesting that Petrella is so dismissive of Terrans, when she was a Trader and presumably had to deal with them on their own turf. But perhaps dealing with them in the line of business is one thing and having one show up on one’s own doorstep is another.
And, to be fair to her, I think she’d have taken it better before the disaster. That, I judge, has affected her thinking both personally, in that coping with her illness has left her with fewer reserves to spare for being well-disposed to others, and in her melant’i as the head of the line, being less free to tolerate eccentric behaviour from Er Thom when the entire future of the line depends on him.
I wish we’d seen more of Petrella before the disaster, so we could appreciate better how much was lost.
Before she was gravely wounded at Ganjir, Petrella got some kindly screen time in Pilot of Korval and Due Diligence. Maybe others.
Yes, but only glimpses, really. Nothing of her childhood, or the agreement she and Chi made about childcare, or even her presence at the attack that killed Chi.
True. There is a letter Chi wrote to Petrella, explaining how Er Thom broke his arm when the boys were climbing tree. It’s a chapter preface, I think, but where??
Chapter 35 of Local Custom.
(The Liaden Wiki has a page — http://liaden.wikia.com/wiki/Quotes — that’s useful for tracking down chapter prefaces.)
There is so much at that site. I’ve yet to plumb the depths…?
Okay, went there. Found this. Local custom
The dramliz want young Tor An’s genes. Farseers predict twins from the match and offer the girl-child to us—to Clan Korval—as settlement.
Jela would say that a wizard on board tips the scale to survival—which remains sound reasoning, though we’re planet-bound now and in honorable estate, or so the boy will tell me . . . As it transpires, Tor An met his proposed wife several days ago, through Dramliza Rool Tiazan’s good graces, I make no doubt! The boy’s smitten, of course, so the marriage is made. Perhaps the girl-child will fail of being dramliz . . .
Found the letter from Chi to Petrella, at that Fandom site. Local Custom header. I see I misremembered…not a broken arm, but ribs…
Er Thom fell from the Tree this morning. I hasten to add that all is well, though of course he took damage. A matter of broken ribs and dislocated shoulder—that’s the worst of it. Nothing beyond the auto-doc’s capabilities. I cannot for certain say how far he fell, for all Daav can tell me is that the pair of them had “never been so high.” Er Thom was craning for a better sight of the Port when an end-branch broke under his weight. He was caught, twig-lashed and unconscious, by the big by-branch about seven meters up—you know the one, sister. The luck is in the business twice: The child doesn’t remember falling. Daav saw the whole, and kept a cool head—far cooler than I should have kept at eight Standards, and so I swear! ‘Twas he climbed down, fetched me out of a meeting with dea’Gauss, and showed me where Er Thom lay. Nor would he be parted from his cha’leket, but kept vigil at ‘doc-side and bed. I at last persuaded him to lie down whilst I kept watch, and he fell instantly asleep—to wake a quarter-hour later shrieking for Er Thom to come back, “Come back! The branch is breaking!” I await the Healer as I write this . . .
I had read much further when I posted, so this was included in my reference to “glimpses.” We do get many glimpses, but no ongoing story. I’d love for her to get her own short story.
maybe you’ll get your wish some day. I am interested in hearing more about old dea’Gauss, who stayed on Liad after the DOI kidnapped and drugged him. I have wondered how he’s doing over there, and why he stayed.
You think he survived that experience? I’d like to hear more also!
We know he survived, because it says at the end of I Dare that he did, but also that he decided to retire and let somebody younger and more resilient run the store. (Which might also be why he stayed on Liad — it’s his home, after all, and he never did like travel; perhaps he felt at his time of life it was too late to be starting a new home on the frontier. On the other hand, the impression I get is that his daughter is still based on Liad, too, even though one of her major clients has moved to Surebleak, so it might not just be him.) I hope he’s having a peaceful and boring retirement; he earned it.
Me too! Want to hear from old dea’Gaus and what he is up to.
But retirement? Where did you find that bit of info? I thought he was at least involved up to his elbows – so to speak – in guild work. But I don’t remember were I got that from. I Dare, Plan B or one of the short storries?
Oh, he certainly has earned his retirement, but has retirment earned him? That is I just can’t imagine him not beeing involved in things. He is much to much a caring person.
I’m extrapolating a bit from the introduction of his daughter at the end of I Dare. She’s introduced as “the new dea’Gauss”, which I take to mean that she’s inherited her father’s position permanently and not just standing in until his health recovers.
I think Ms. dea’Gauss actually must live on Surebleak. In Ghost Ship, Miri told Pat Rin that one of her kids needed a job to do — and could help him sort his Boss-office work. (Ch 11, I think — at that family meeting, after the special all-clan family dinner).
And I think old dea’Gauss might possibly still be working, not fully retired, in Solcintra, but this statement by Ms. dea’Gauss doesn’t make that certain:
“First, I will send this information to our office on Liad. It may be possible that one of the elders dea’Gauss who remained with their clients on-world will be able to take this to the Council in proxy.” (Dragon in Exile, chapter 13)
She and Miri were discussing the Liaden woman who tried to kill Quin, seeking her own personal balance.
Not conclusive, I know…and based on Conflict of Honors, Theopholis– he doesn’t like to travel, as Paul said.