In which the pattern of the future becomes clear.
It is sometimes easy to forget just how rich and influential Clan Korval is. The authors generally do a good job of putting them up against problems that can’t be solved by throwing money and influence at them. And then there are moments like this, when Daav casually prevents a cruise liner from leaving port without fear of the consequences. (Though I’m not entirely sure I admire the way he shrugs off the problems he’s creating for the port master.)
Master Healer Kestra is an interesting viewpoint character, able to see under the surface of things and report details that might not have been visible from any other view.
I love each and every one of Shan’s interjections in this chapter.
Given the order that I read the books (where Local Custom was my first set on Liad and my first introduction to Korval), it seems really surprising to me that it was written after Agent of Change and Plan B, because to me it feels like Korval was established as this giant of power and influence in the interest of a world-building exercise, and then the Department of the Interior had to be created to give them a worthy adversary.
At some point I feel the need to reread them in publication order and contemplate them that way.