Tag Archives: Chonselta Port

Scout’s Progress – Chapter 10

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In which Aelliana gains her pilot’s license.

One thing this chapter underscores is that Aelliana is not merely good at mathematics; she’s phenomenal. Another, less cheering, thing is the way her interactions with the examination officer illuminate her experiences, in how she fears that any deviation from normal behavior will bring down punishment.

The backstory for how she’s ready to take her piloting examination, when she’d never expected to own a ship, is nicely balanced. Of course there would be a Scout in one of her classes who insisted on her getting hands-on experience. And of course she would draw the line at anything that required her family to find out what she was up to.

…I seem to keep circling around to the less happy sides of the situation, so let’s just focus on the most important thing about this chapter: Pilot’s license! Woo!

Scout’s Progress – Chapter 8

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In which Vin Sin chel’Mara’s delm has news to share.

I believe this is the only time we meet Delm Aragon. He seems a smart man, and well-equipped with that ironic sense of humor all the best Liadens have. I think I like him — from a safe distance. I should be considerably more wary if I had ever to deal with him in person.

Several chapters in, the authors have finally got around to telling us Var Mon’s family: he is of Line pin’Aker in Clan Midys. Since Trade Secret was published, his friendship with Rema ven’Deelin has retroactively become a nice callback to the friendship between Jethri Gobelyn ven’Deelin and Samay pin’Aker.

Scout’s Progress – Chapter 4

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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.