In which Daav wishes there were someone who might love him for himself.
It is good to have friends who care when one is in trouble, even if there seems to be nothing they can do to remedy the trouble.
The chapter epigraph reminds us of what Aelliana is risking by leaving the clan — to be outcast, never again to be able to ask the clan for the support and comfort due to a clan member — but it also underlines the fact that she’s already not being given the support and comfort due to a clan member. “Within the clan shall be found truth, kinship, affection and care,” says the Code. “Outside of the clan shall be found danger and despite.” Aelliana’s experience of clan life has contained no small measure of danger and despite, and less than she ought to be able to expect of truth, kinship, affection and care.
I found it most instructive of how far wrong a clan could go with a leader who is self-serving, corrupt, or just oblivious. With the exception of hearing about the mad delms, we’ve seen Korval only as wise and benevolent.
I enjoyed the authors’ contrast of warmth with the neologism coolth. At the same time, I confess I did not recognize the word Nonkin, seeing it more like “nonk-in” and wondering what it meant. Then—quite suddenly—not until I was writing this post, the compound separated itself neatly into its two parts for me.