Tag Archives: Quenpalt’s Casino

Scout’s Progress – Chapter 17

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In which Ran Eld enquires into Aelliana’s progress.

Ugh. Ran Eld is a really nasty piece of work.

Aelliana is still hiding behind her hair around him, but what she’s hiding has changed.

Clonak is frequently described as “pudgy”, or other words of similar import, but we’re also told he follows a full exercise routine and his comrades have no doubt of his physical fitness. That’s a combination that, although it exists in life, is rarely found in fiction; honor to the authors for giving it some representation.

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 7

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In which Aelliana takes possession of her ship.

I’ve noticed several people referring to Aelliana’s late opponent as “the chel’Mara”. In some places such a distinction might indicate that he was the head of his family Line, but I don’t think I recall any such usage ever being explicitly noted among Liadens, and it seems unlikely in the case of Vin Sin chel’Mara. More likely it is simply an indication that he’s achieved notoriety in a field where no other chel’Mara is to be found.

Come to think of it, I’m pretty sure there’s at least one point in this novel where Aelliana is referred to as “the Caylon”, and that’s definitely in tribute to her distinction as a mathematician and definitely not because of any exalted position in Line Caylon.

Speaking of Aelliana’s distinction as a mathematician, there’s probably something insightful to be said about that, and about Aelliana’s unease at being accorded distinction of any kind, but apparently I’m not the person to say it. (At least not at this time of night and with this head cold.)

Scout’s Progress – Chapter 6

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In which Daav and Aelliana each turn their steps toward Binjali Repair Shop.

The game of pikit or piket was mentioned in Balance of Trade, where the twins taught Jethri to play it. I said then that the name was reminiscent of the Regency game of piquet, but what little we were told of the gameplay wasn’t. We see more of the gameplay here, and it reminds me rather of poker. (Though it must be said that my experience of card games is not broad, so many games remind me of poker.)

Var Mon denies having set Aelliana on Vin Sin chel’Mara, and it’s true that she chose to challenge the chel’Mara on her own initiative; but it’s also true that the opportunity and the impulse wouldn’t have arisen had not Var Mon invited her to tour the casino in search of practical applications of her mathematics, so Rema’s accusation may be basically correct.

Master dea’Cort was mentioned in “Pilot of Korval” as one of Daav’s instructors at the Scout Academy. There’s also a Scout named Jon dea’Cort back in “Phoenix”; if this Jon is the same man, he must be well into a hale old age by now — that was nearly seventy years ago, and he was already a full Scout then.

Scout’s Progress – Chapter 5

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In which Daav and Aelliana each get something to eat and gain some measure of comfort.

Daav’s little self-analysis session is interesting. It speaks well of him that he is able to be honest with himself about his failings and potential failings and about what may be necessary to address them.

It places him in contrast to Ran Eld Caylon, who is driven by jealousy of his power and position within the clan. Daav, as this scene shows, is also strongly beset by jealousy, but he doesn’t let it poison his relationships or steer him into dishonor.

That scene is also interesting in the light of what “Dragon Tide” says about how, back in the day, the Tree’s ancestors would each have a special branch where the dragons would sleep to commune with the tree. I wonder how much influence Tree had on Daav and Er Thom’s choice of location for their sanctuary platform?

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.