Surebleak
In which a long day comes to an end.
Okay, credit where it’s due: that was an extremely satisfying conclusion to the subplot I’ve been griping about for the last couple of posts.
I still don’t like its beginning, though. And it might be significant that what made it so satisfying is that the mystical stuff is over and this chapter is all about the personal relationships and the emotions, which was the bit of it that was working for me.
I wonder if it’s going to turn out, once Ren Zel’s had a chance to recover and take stock, that saving the universe has taken it out of him to the extent that his powers have now dwindled to a more manageable level. I’ve seen that sort of thing happen in other books, but I’m not sure whether it’s the kind of thing these authors would do.
If the Enemy’s last Work has been vanquished, and the rift sealed, does that mean there won’t be any more stray objects popping up in Bechimo’s favourite hiding place?
When Ren Zel was saving the universe, it appeared that his soul was used to seal the rift. Presumably the Tree was able to save most of the soul, since he is alive again, but if none of it was needed, why did Miri need to shoot him? So he must have lost something. And bringing him back to life still addicted to the golden threads, which addiction will kill him, seems a bit pointless as well. So I’m guessing that he no longer has access to the golden threads.
This very point was another bit that required me to go back and read again. When it is made clear…well, maybe *indicated* would be a better word…I once again did not catch it and it wasn’t until I was reading comments (perhaps on reddit? I don’t recall) that I “understood” what happened.
Ren Zel is free of his burden, i feel sure. He sent that bolt of gold from his soul: “a bolt of perfect gold struck the rift, healing the wound with its own essence.”
And this interchange between Miri and RenZel is surely a play on words:
““Dying’s bound to take it out of you,” Miri said, “’specially after saving the universe.”
“Yes.” The smile widened as he turned to her. “Thank you, Miri.”
(Dying took the gold right out of him)
Yes, very satisfying conclusion, and unpredicted by me, even though it was hard to get emotionally involved in the mystical, nebulous zone / sub-ether. I was very happy with the scene in the garden, with a wearily victorious tree.
I think Ren Zel has given most, if not all, of his godly golden essence to patch the tear and save the universe. I sense he is free of that burden, but maybe he retained a little of his wizardly powers.
RN Zel used up all his golden gifts to seal the rift. He had just enough power, and no more:
“Some fey sense told him that there was enough—enough raw power on tap to complete the task—but no more than just enough. No. Extending his thought, he turned off the tap, the shield wall flaring with the force of his decision, while the Shadow—the shadow was drawing in on itself, coalescing into a lethal curve of black crystal, a scimitar, poised for the killing blow. He breathed in, gathering the vitality of the woven threads into his core…”
I took that to be referring to the power he was drawing from Anthora (“on tap”), and “no more than enough” meaning that if he kept drawing on it, Anthora would be used up. Which is why his “No” is so emphatic, and followed immediately by him cutting the link to Anthora.
Right, but I considered that he wouldn’t take any from Anthora until he’d used up all or most of his own.
I wonder – did the Tree’s children also take part in the battle? If so – Erob might be a bit disturbed. And it might take a little time before dishelved Trees on Bechimo, at Yulie Sharper’s and on the Island are discoverd. Might be fun if Korval receives worried Pin Beams form it’s allies asking what happend with their Trees.
Not sure there are any on the island yet? I suppose all that could be behind the scenes.
I love Val Con’s quiet teasing of the Tree: “What have you been about?” he murmured, gently chiding. “Chasing sheriekas at your time in life?” After which it gives Val Con a vision of what was accomplished by Ren Zel with help from Anthora and the Tree itself.
PA: If the Enemy’s last Work has been vanquished, and the rift sealed, does that mean there won’t be any more stray objects popping up in Bechimo’s favourite hiding place? Is this a rhetorical question? I ask because a few chapters ago (or maybe back in Gathering Edge) I commented about just this question, but I believe you—or perhaps you and Othin—thought not (while I have yet to be convinced).
[By the way, doesn’t it seem as if Liadens do a lot of murmuring? Presumably their culture must be advanced enough to heal age-related hearing impairment, but I would be at a total loss to function.]
It’s maybe semi-rhetorical. I intend toward a particular answer (it was me a few chapters ago who said I thought not), but I remain open to the possibility that it’s not the correct answer.
Ren Zel does say that “The sheriekas last work has been vanquished”, which suggests that he is not expecting any further trouble from that direction.