Tag Archives: Marilla

Mouse and Dragon – Chapter 36

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In which Korval welcomes Nova yos’Galan.

There are some lovely little character details in this chapter; nearly everybody who appears gets at least one.

There’s also one big thing, the demonstration of Pat Rin’s ability to influence dice, which is particularly striking because, as far as I can remember, it’s not so much as hinted at anywhere else in the series. Of course, the series is still growing, and Pat Rin hasn’t appeared for more than a cameo in anything written since Mouse and Dragon, so perhaps this will be followed up some time in future; I look forward to that with interest. I also look forward with interest to re-reading his appearances that were written before this, to see if there were hints I didn’t pick up on or events that might now be seen in a different light. In particular, on thinking back over the scenes I can remember of Pat Rin as an adult, I seemed to find something which I look forward to seeing verified: that for all the time Pat Rin spends gaming, it’s rarely or even never in games that involve him handling dice. In the light of this scene it might be that he actively avoids games where his knack would give him a unique advantage, which actually fits with my understanding of his character.

Tomorrow is the short story “Guaranteed Delivery”, because chronological order, with Mouse and Dragon resuming the day after.

Local Custom – Chapter 16

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In which there are sparkles to touch, and sparkles not to touch.

The conversation with the shocked driver is an interesting illustration of mode. It’s not possible to directly express concern for a person’s well-being in Employer to Employee, but it may be possibly to express it indirectly. (There’s another similar demonstration of the restrictions of the mode, following a different kind of shock, in “Intelligent Design”, when we get there.)

It’s also an illustration of Er Thom’s melant’i: I bet it’s not every high-ranking Liaden would deal so gently with an employee who nearly ran his son over, even if it was the kid’s fault and nobody was actually harmed.

The epigraph for this chapter is interesting, since it relates to nothing that happens in the chapter. It does, however, help set the scene for chapters to come.

Local Custom – Chapter 12

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In which Er Thom sets his sights on an improbable goal.

There is an interesting demonstration of Daav’s melant’i in this chapter, in the way he sends Er Thom two separate messages, one formal one from Er Thom’s delm, and the other, less formal, from Er Thom’s cha’leket. And, later, how Er Thom plans to discuss strategy with Daav before taking his case to Delm Korval.

I am amused by Er Thom’s description of Solcintra society. “Prudent, if not particularly intelligent.”

Local Custom – Chapter 9

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In which Anne comes home to find Er Thom and Shan gone.

The dragon on Korval’s shield, so Er Thom tells Shan, is named Megelaar. I didn’t think anything of it the first time I read Local Custom (why shouldn’t the dragon have whatever name Korval chooses to give it?), but having read “Dragon Tide” it’s interesting that the name fits the pattern of the dragon family in that story. It’s not inappropriate – there are plenty of parallels that make it clear the Laar is a relative of Korval’s Tree – but I do wonder how Korval knew, when the only person who could have told them is the Tree, and the Tree isn’t one for generating vocal utterances. (I also wonder whether there was a real dragon named Megelaar, and if so why he was singled out for having his name immortalised. The first of the line, perhaps? …or the last?)

Another thing I wonder, speaking of having read other things first: I read the novels in more-or-less publication order, so when I reached Local Custom, I already knew how Er Thom and Anne’s story turned out. How does this chapter read to someone coming to it from the other direction, who knows Er Thom only from the eight preceding chapters? Does it seem more likely that Anne’s fears are justified?

Local Custom – Chapter 8

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In which Anne is given a reason to go to Liad.

More evidence of how well-matched Er Thom and Anne are, if they can bring themselves to think of a match as being possible.

And another example, with Marilla, of a character who appears briefly but in memorable detail.