In which Senior Commander Higdon does not approve of papers.
The intensity of Val Con’s negative reaction to Polesta’s effrontery gains an extra level in the light of Liad’s traditions and taboos, which have not been mentioned yet this novel but have been covered in some depth in the prequels we’ve already been through in this re-read. By Liaden standards, what Polesta does would have been an astonishing liberty even in private and with a receptive partner; to do it in public, and after Val Con has made it clear he’s not at all interested, qualifies as a major assault.
I have a feeling the authors might have known that already, even if they hadn’t seen fit to mention it yet; on the other hand, I’m not so sure about another thing we know from the prequels that hasn’t been mentioned yet this novel. Lytaxin, the world to which the Gyrfalks are headed, is the homeworld of Clan Erob, Miri’s grandmother’s family. Miri doesn’t know that yet, of course, but Val Con must, and yet he doesn’t show any sign of thinking it might be a good idea to head in that direction. Come to think of it, though, if one learns that a friend’s home is the destination of a troop of mercenaries anticipating “a job of work”, one wouldn’t want to head that direction, at least without an opportunity to approach slowly and sidelong and find out just what’s afoot…
@ Clan Erob
There are several reasons not to go to Lytaxin yet, beside the one you have mentioned.
If your fiend is already in trouble you don’t lead additional trouble there – especially if you don’t know the extent of the additional trouble.
Also Val Con isn’t wholly himself yet. He still has a long way to ahead before regaining himself. So his priorities are certainly not to help Korval allies at the moment – especially since he can’t reveal himself as Korval to Erob yet – which is one reason why the loop claims bad chances of survival.
But if the war at Lytaxin has already started – we have about 4,5 – 5 month before Val Con and Miri arrive at Lytaxin themselves.
Yes, Othin, my thanks again for your ability to analyze and articulate additional perspectives (Paul, yours are a given).
This second time through—in which I am precisely aware of the association of Erob with Lytaxin—I found myself rather surprised at how many references there are to Erob (earlier) and Lytaxin (in this chapter) with Val Con declining to acknowledge his connections with them. I suppose there’s just too big a tangle of coincidences, present circumstances, backgrounds, multiple purposes, emotions, and the loop for him to even think about untangling it yet.