MT - Chapter Twenty Four - No Spoilers

[Lee, High Priest of Shadow]

Chapter Twenty Four discussion thread

[Paul]

Everything is coming to a head now! This chapter was really good! Talk of Rhulad ascending the throne at noon and Udinaas' wyval blood awakening! Can't wait to finish this book!

[Lori]

MPauli is gonna need his brain vacuumed again after reading the poem - .5 paths leading to the empty hold...

[Lori]

The Errant is impressed that the Crimson Guard escaped an Assail and the impression I got was he doesn't like the FA at all.

The descriptions of blood and gore are just awful as my internal movie focuses on brains seeping out a skull crushed beneath a heel. How frail our bodies are, how vicious people are. It makes me so sad.

[David Sven, Mortal Sword..Meow]

The Edur come riding up the river into Letheras. The landing is accomplished without resistance. The Edur had expected to encounter the Ceda – but he is nowhere to be seen. Little do they know that the Ceda has succeeded in hijacking the Edur’s demon god driving their ships. While Kuru Qan may have appeared to be out of his mind, in a catatonic state he has actually been very busy, luring the demon god into a trap – freeing it from its Edur chains and bringing it under control.

From the Ceda, two more words, uttered low and clear, ‘Got you.’
A lie! Illusion! Deceit! The demon raged...

Rhulad faces off against Moroch who is looking to redeem himself after being unable to save the queen and crown prince. Both men kill each other – of course Rhulad immediately comes back and calls for Udinaas – But Udinaas has turned wyval

Head spinning, it was a moment before he realized what was happening. Then horror flooded through Udinaas.
The Wyval.
It was coming to life within him.

And it looks like he has turned soletaken as he takes down Jheck wolves with talons.

...his hands now talons, the thumb-long claws tearing into wolf-flesh, curling round ribs and ripping them loose.

Gerun Ebberict decides its time to abandon the domicile, taking his guards with him. He makes it clear to Brys that he is heading for Tehol. Brys is forced between defending his brother or defending the king

Blood or honour. I have no choice in this, Tehol. I’m sorry.

He chooses honour, to defend the king.


Meanwhile Bugg and the Errant team up to handle The Pack – the Jheck god. Moroch – who was originally intended to take on the Divers is busy getting himself killed in the duel with Rhulad – so Bugg commissions the help of The Crimson Guard – who just so happen to have joined Shurq’s pirate crew – temporarily anyway. I like how Bugg organizes the introductions

‘First, how about some introductions, Shand?’
She rolled her eyes. ‘Iron Bars—’
‘An Avowed of the Crimson Guard,’ Bugg cut in, smiling. ‘Forgive me. Go on, please.’
‘Corlo—’
‘His High Mage. Again, forgive me, but that will have to do. I have very little time. I need these Guardsmen.’

So much for introductions.


The Crimson Guard suffer some casualties taking down the Divers but the job gets done. Iron Bars makes short work of the Jheck leader B’nagga as well. It seems the Jheck were planning on making their Divers god Emperor instead of Rhulad or whoever else

Momentary allies of convenience. What would rise here in Letheras was the ascension of the Jheck. An empire of Soletaken, with a god-emperor upon the throne. Rhulad torn to pieces, every Edur sundered into bloody, sweet-tasting meat, rich marrow from split bones, skulls broken open, brains devoured.

So much for that plan.

Iron Bars also agrees to help deal with the things that are starting to crawl out of the Azath barrows – The five Toblakai gods

The five killers were almost free. Their barrow was breaking apart, thick fissures welling in the dark, wet earth, submerged rocks grinding and snapping together. The muted sounds of five voices joined in a chant as heavy as drums ... rising, coming ever closer to the surface.

Kettle scrambles to get Silchas his two swords so he can cut himself free – it’s not looking good

‘Kettle – take them – give them—’
A wet gasp, and she spun back, to see the bared arms of another figure, clawing up to wrap about her friend – a woman’s arms...

Sheltatha is still trying to hitch a ride out with him
\

The other interesting things is we get to see something of the Errant’s aspect. The Errant can’t overtly intervene in events – but he can “nudge”- or rather he can manipulate “luck”

‘Why not act for yourself?’ Bugg asked.
‘I cannot. My aspect enforces certain ... prohibitions.’
‘Ah, the nudge, the pull or the push.’
‘Yes, only that.’
‘You have been about as direct as you can be.’
The Errant nodded.
‘Well, I see your dilemma,’ Bugg said.
‘Thus my query – do you have any suggestions?’

Again we have Bugg being asked for advice from a god. And what is more – The Ceda, having trapped the demon god calls on Bugg

And Brys heard Kuru Qan speak.
‘Now, friend Bugg.’


Whoever Bugg is I think being his friend is better than the alternative.

[Hanne]

'As swift as a charging wave, that's me,' Bugg said.

And then there was a big smile on my face.

[Silvio]

Hanne wrote: "'As swift as a charging wave, that's me,' Bugg said.

And then there was a big smile on my face."

And a well-deserved one. I don't think I'd have seen the significance even now if you hadn't had the idea.

Lori (Hellian) wrote: "The Errant is impressed that the Crimson Guard escaped an Assail and the impression I got was he doesn't like the FA at all."

I think what they escaped was the continent of Assail.

We have another painter. Anything like Ormulogun from MoI 21?

[Lori]

I've been catching many ocean references this read and they've delighted me.

Silvio was it the Assail continent? I got confused with the FA we met a few chapters ago, I thought it had run away from them.

[Hanne]

Lori (Hellian) wrote: "I've been catching many ocean references this read and they've delighted me."

Yes, i'm sure that ones you know there probably were plenty. I remembered vaguely the snoring like the tides one because i just thought that was a nice metaphor, and very true for some people.

[Lori]

I missed them all before, I'm so impressed with how much you get. :)

[David Sven, Mortal Sword..Meow]

Way to go Hanne! I missed all the bug references on my first read.

[Hanne]

there are bug references too :)
you can usually find an insect on tehol's shoulder, and it has been remarked that his manservant never has issues with fleas.


thanks guys, i almost want to re-reading the Bugg chapters just to see how many beautiful sea metaphors i missed!

[Mpauli]

Hanne wrote: thanks guys, i almost want to re-reading the Bugg chapters just to see how many beautiful sea metaphors i missed!

It's simply amazing what kind of things you're able to uncover on a re-read.

[Lee, High Priest of Shadow]

Nice work Hanne. Ms Observant one.

[Rob, Quick Ben]

I'd have no ideas about Bugg save for Hanne's close reading/speculation. Of course unless I'm completely missing something, who he is hasn't been spelled out yet either.

I still want to know his story. If he is an elder god, just why the hell has he been running around as Tehol's servant?

It seems like Moroch had the same idea I did, chopping Rhulad to pieces. Unfortunately, he never has the chance to test it out.

[Sumant]

I loved the crimson guard they are like special ops i guess ready to do whatever it takes and whenever you want them.Also errant looks like oppon.

[Dara]

Who is Sheltatha again?

[David Sven, Mortal Sword..Meow]

Sheltatha Lore is one of the "Three Daughters of Shadow" AKA Daughter Dusk - Sister to Menandore and Sukul. Her two sisters imprisoned her in the same Azath as Silchas Ruin - witnessed by Udinaas in one of his visions.

[Dara]

Oh, I remember her now. Thanks.