Plan B – Chapter 17

Erob’s Hold
Practice Grounds

In which Nelirikk is introduced to his new compatriots.

It occurs to me I’d never given much thought to how old Nelirikk is. If he’s been shaving for 25 years, that would put him… about 40 years old? A few years older than Val Con and Miri, anyway. (Miri’s just turned 28 Standards, and Val Con’s in his early thirties. Nelirikk’s precise age remains uncertain, given lack of information regarding Yxtrang physical development and the exchange rate between Standards and Cycles.)

I don’t think I’d noticed quite so clearly in earlier readings how much leeway Nelirikk’s given in this chapter, what with being unlocked, unguarded, unescorted, and entrusted with weapons he could do a lot of damage with if he chose to. It makes sense, though; if Val Con’s right about him, he can be trusted to behave, and the only way to make progress with him is to show him that he is trusted. And if Val Con’s wrong, I suppose, better to find out as soon as possible.

The business with jin’Bardi is one of my favourite scenes in the novel.

6 thoughts on “Plan B – Chapter 17

  1. Ed8r

    *sigh* I find I have little memory for this book and its situations, so if you’re not going to give more info, I’ll be reading but not commenting. (Just as well, when I’ve showed up so late, I suppose.)

  2. Skip

    Val Con and Miri gave Beautiful their trust, probably knowing that trust would appeal to his sense of honor.

    I liked this book for its characterization of Nelirikk.

  3. Ed8r

    Yes, Skip, and I hope we see further developments as Korval interacts with the Yxtrang Theo found AND the Yxtrang ambassador. Will the Tree offer fruits to Yxtrang too?

  4. Skip

    Ed8r, I have been waiting (and waiting) for Tree to offer seed pods to Nelirikk and Diglon. Wonder why it’s not happened yet? But Ren Zel just got his first seed pod in Neogenesis, so…

    Also waiting for Val CON to let Nelirikk read some of Jela’s logbook entries, as he said he would in Plan B..

  5. Ed8r

    Right…I’d forgotten about that. Probably Nelirikk would have had to remind him (and it may take place all off-stage at that).

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