Hugh d’Ambray’s theme song

Hugh d’Ambray, Preceptor of the Iron Dogs, is, as you may know, the protagonist of Ilona Andrews’ latest: Iron and Magic.

As you definitely know if you’ve been following the Kate Daniels series, Hugh d’Ambray is very much a bad guy; second in command after Roland himself. He’s Roland’s warlord — or he was, until he failed one big mission. As he notes in Iron and Magic, he hadn’t realized he only got to fail one time. Now, ditched by Roland, he’s in pretty bad shape.

But now the Iron Dogs are being hunted down and killed — his own small army, men who depend on him — so he has no choice but to pull himself together and defend himself and them, whatever it takes.

It’s interesting how the authors rehabilitate Hugh. They do it three steps:

a) They reveal the magic Roland always used to keep Hugh in line;

b) They take one particularly horrible thing Hugh did in an earlier book and reinterpret that scene in order to make Hugh less awful; and

c) They have him reconsider his priorities and reject Roland.

I knew the confrontation with Roland would have to happen at some point in Hugh’s trilogy, but I was a little surprised it happened in the first book. I hope that’s not too much of a spoiler, but if I’m going to comment on Hugh’s theme song, I’d give that away anyway. Because there’s no question about it: Cruxshadows’ “Quicksilver” expresses the exact theme of this book.

Here are part of the lyrics (click through and listen to the whole thing if you like. Or click here for the full lyrics). As you see, nothing could more perfectly express Hugh’s character arc in this book.

I should be ashamed for what you’ve done to me

It’s only happened because I let it be

But no more

You are not wrong, you who believe

Your will defines your destiny

But if you act in selfish fear

Then truth means nothing

You are not wrong if you perceive

The message veiled in mystery

But if we bury what we dream

We’re left with what remains…

I’m taking back my love, taking back my pride

Taking back my dreams and my life

This is the ground I will defend

On rage of angels bears the end

I’m taking back my hope, taking back my goals

Taking back my memories and my soul

This brand is forged to my crusade

Quicksilver, the future belongs to the brave

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