The Bedel
In which the kompani prepares for departure.
Udari defers to Droi as the luthia, which suggests she’s been accepted as the one who will serve that role for the kompani staying on Surebleak. It doesn’t appear that Udari has been chosen as the headman for the kompani; Droi tells him that a decision is the headman’s, not his. The way she says it suggests that the headman is somebody who has not yet had a chance to think and speak on the issue — which I rather think means that it’s Rys.
It also seemed significant to me that just before that, Droi says We will change, yes. Three of us have seen it. At first read, I assumed this was referring to 3 luthia, which would have to be Silain, Droi, and Kezzi, right? But maybe she means that the two adult luthia and the (new) headman are the three?
I have to say, I didn’t expect this “change” of the Bedel contingency. I figured if the ship ever came, they’d all —all— take off on a new Bedel adventure, and Korval would hook up with them again some day, on some distant planet. This sudden domesticity doesn’t quite feel right. It’s nice to keep these characters close, but it feels a little off, based on prior books.
Is that just me?
I think I understand what you mean, but the authors have also shown us change happening in Korval and even in the Tree itself.
The Delm has been talking about how to increase the clan, even going so far as to not outright reject the offer from the Juntavas. The Tree deliberately dropped a branch that became seedlings that were planted at Yulie Shaper’s place and at Shan and Priscilla’s island. The Tree has begun dropping pods to all kinds of people, including Emissary Twelve. I think we’re watching a huge change—perhaps not possible before the Old Universe was completely destroyed—and the Bedel are just part of it.
Point taken. Yes, it makes total sense vis-a-vis Korval — but perhaps not so much as viewed through Bedel needs and culture. As a reader, I feel we’ve lost that culture /mystery while gaining some enduring and endearing characters. So I’m not unhappy about it 😀
I was also puzzled by this development — as I think I mentioned somewhere, there’s a lot of emphasis in “Necessity’s Child” on the kompani being the same size at the end of the chafurma, which nobody even mentions in this book — but pleased that the characters would be sticking around.
I think “three of us have Seen it” is more likely to refer to the three luthia than to two luthia and Rys. For one thing, the capital indicates that it has been Seen by people with the Sight, which I don’t think includes Rys. For another, Rys hasn’t had a chance to tell anybody what he thinks about the consequences of the kompani splitting and staying on Surebleak, because the question didn’t arise until after he left on his mission.
Paul, yes, that’s it. NC introduced the Bedel, and with some focus on their unique needs and ways of life. Fact is, apart from learning that Uncle created them (NEOGENESIS) we really never learned much about WHO they are and WHY he made them, why they live like this, travel so much, etc. I hope we do learn this, before they become fully assimilated into Surebleak culture.
@Three of us have seen it.
I also read this as indicating Droi and Kezzi having taken the Luthia test. Especially since there is another mention of three Luthia – “That he is not, nor will he be soon, if the Eyes of three Luthia are clear.”
@Uncle created them (NEOGENESIS)
Skip, didn’t Neogenesis say that “Uncle set the Bedel in motion”. That doesn’t necessarily mean creation. It could mean helping them, giving them means and information to fulfill something they had already chosen to do.
Thanks, Othin. That sounds correct. Still, I’d like to know more about them, their goals, purpose, etc.
Othin and Skip: Neogenesis say that “Uncle set the Bedel in motion”. That doesn’t necessarily mean creation. It could mean helping them, giving them means and information to fulfill something they had already chosen to do.
True, but “creation” could also be taken to mean “organized into a group with a single purpose.” Knowing what we know from Crystal Soldier, it could mean that he took a bunch of the freed Batchers and gave them the purpose of searching for Old Tech. Or, alternatively, it could mean that he created clones of himself with special abilities enhanced (like Jethri, but different) and sent them among the worlds to find Old Tech and either destroy it or draw its teeth.
Thanks Ed8r for pointing that meaning of creation out to me. Something to learn 🙂
@this “change” of the Bedel contingency
I’m afraid this is a point of view thing.
To me – at least in hindsight – some of the Bedel staying seems to fit.
In Necessities Child I see the starting point of change within the Bedel. First there is the Luthia and the Headman discussing their future and options for survival if the Ship doesn’t come and then Udari, a man of heart brings a wounded Rys. Certainly one motive for the Luthia to grasp the opportunity that rescuing Rys could present was the need of finding an alternative for her apprentice Droi, who would never fit in with the Ship. And then the Luthia supervises Kezzis dreaming, letting their youngest take point of finding that alternative. The Luthia never says so, but her actions answer the headman’s questions.
And then there are those changes that come
– with Kezzi having a brother.
– with Droi getting pregnant and choosing Rys as father to keep the numbers.
– with the Luthia and then Droi working with Lady Kareen and professor Waitley.
– with the few Bedel working for Mr. Sharper.
The Circle of change, around the Luthia and Rys added first the Luthias apprentices and the close friends of Rys and then it is no wonder that more and more Bedel would grasp it.
One more change is that Rys was accepted into the Bedel. We were not informed of another Bedel death, so I assume that accepting Rys was increasing the Bedel number. That in itself was a major change, I believe.
Also with a Luthia and a Headman for them to stay with, there was more reason for any Bedel to stay on Surebleak. The ones staying wouldn’t feel being left behind.
Another thing worth considering is that talk between the Luthia and Droi about Droi’s fitness of becoming Luthia herself. The Luthia told Droi, that she would be a fine Luthia for another Kompani, just not this Kompani that would go onto the ship. It may be that the Luthia realised then, that in order for Droi to be happy (and healed of that wound and doubt of being unfit) she would have to give her a kompani that would accept her as Luthia. Maybe she also felt of owing Droi a Kompani of her own, because she accepted her as apprentice in the first place.
All true, Othin! Yes, indeed! And I’m glad they stayed on planet.
But it doesn’t quite satisfy the issue for me. I’d still like to know more about the Bedel. They’ve been a mystery from the beginning, with little clues dropped along to tease my interest. Hopefully we will get the rest of the breadcrumbs…,
All true, Othin! Yes, indeed! And I’m glad they stayed on planet.
But it doesn’t quite satisfy.
It’s prolly just me. A perspective thing, as you said.