Scales

Chapter Four and Five | Table of Contents | Chapter Ten

NRSG: Welcome back to BattleAxe, everyone! Scales told me I did not have to do chapters 6, 7, 8, so here I am for chapter 9. To give a quick recap of what happened in-between:

1) There was a war council, where we learned that Gorkenfort was ravaged, “Rivkah’s body” was stolen, Magariz was severely wounded, and all but two of the brothers of the brotherhood died. The creatures are described like this:

“Large creatures, as large as the wraiths but far more substantial. Taller than a man, but man-shaped. They appeared to be made of old bones held together by yellowish ice; with very little actual flesh. Each had a skull of a strange tusked beast for a head, their eyes silvery orbs, beaks instead of mouths. Leathery wings tipped with talons. Frightening creatures. Huge raking claws for hands. And odd bits of white fur stuck over their bodies.”

2) Borneheld attacks Axis because the latter whispered “It’s all right” without knowing what was going on. Axis then says: “At least Rivkah loved and respected my father enough not to betray him. […] Would that your father had received such love and respect from our mother.” After this, Duke Roland tells them both off, and also smacks Borneheld in the face.

3) Earl Jorge tells everyone off for not focussing on Magariz, and we are totally supposed to dislike Borneheld and Priam.

4) Everyone puts together a plan: Borneheld’s soldiers will be sent via sea to Gorkenfort, while Axis and his Axe-Wielders will first go to the keep in the “Silent Woman Woods” (the last remaining forest in Achar), then to Smyrton, and then to Gorkenfort. Once there, Axis is to surrender control of the Axe-Wielders to Borneheld.

5) Axis is furious with Jayme for suggesting this, and confronts him over it. Jayme refuses to back down, saying that Achar needs to be united against the threat, and that he “[does] not want to sacrifice Achar to save [Axis’s] cursed pride”.

6) Axis finally accepts. We are told that the brother in charge of the keep is called “Ogden”, and that Gilbert will go along with Axis. Axis counts up travel times and somehow adds an entire month, which no one notices.

7) When Moryson and Jayme are alone, we learn that the body in Gorkenfort was not actually Rivkah’s body, which we could have guessed from the prologue already. There is also a white cat with “bright blue eyes” who is very partial to Axis, and who will be plot-relevant later on.

8) Faraday gets betrothed to Borneheld on the 11^th of September. She is uncertain about this, as he is “so large, so overbearing, and his manners [are] so gruff.” When we see him, he mostly looks uncertain about how to deal with Faraday, though. He gives her “a large ring of twisted dark gold with a massive round ruby”.

9) Faraday is also supposed to go along with Axis, and her final destination ought to be Earl Burdel’s household in Arcen (the capital of Arcness), as that is safer. Embeth will also go along.

By the way, I have decided to drop most of the counts, given that I have not done these chapters. I will only keep A Better Commando Name for the time being.

Well, those were chapters 6, 7, and 8. On to chapter 9, then!

Chapter Nine: Leavetakings at Dawn

We open on Axis walking about the palace courtyard “in the predawn darkness”, impatient to be moving and “irritated beyond measure that he [is] to be saddled with a group of women.” Again, why does Douglass think we would like Axis? Because he has more charm than Borneheld? For me, that certainly does not make up for what a misogynistic bastard he is. He says that the fact that Embeth goes along “[does] not diminish his displeasure one whit.”

Now he calls out for his lieutenant, who is called “Belial”. Ummm… From this link: “Belial is a Hebrew word "used to characterize the wicked or worthless".” So why in the world is Axis’ lieutenant named like that? I might see it if he is supposed to be the Traitor from the Prophecy, but I know that is not the case, so… I do not know.

A Better Commando Name: 19

Regardless, Belial appears, “a tall, well-built man with deeply set hazel eyes and a thick line of fine sandy hair over his tanned and beardless face.” He is wearing “a plain, grey woollen tunic over a white shirt and grey leather trousers”, which is the usual uniform of the Axe-Wielders. He is “some seven or eight years older than Axis” (so around 36-37), but he has never aspired to be BattleAxe, as he rather wants someone else to have ultimate responsibility and he serves happily under Axis.

Axis asks why everyone is not in formation, because it is later. Belial takes no offense “at [Axis’s] short temper”, as he is always “tense and irritable” before they move out. He patiently explains that this is the last cohort, and the others are all fit and ready to go. He uses a lot of fragments here, which does not fit the tone of the book at all.

Axis then asks where “these cursed women” are. Oh, stop talking, Axis! A voice from behind him says that “[t]hese cursed women” are “geared up, fed, watered, ah… packed, and ready to go.” Axis turns around, and sees it was Embeth. There is another reason for me to love her, it seems. Axis’s attention, however, is caught by “the huddle of female shapes behind her.” He thinks “Artor’s arse!”, and only just manages not to swear out loud.

He “curtly” tells he that he had not expected her to bring her “seamstresses, laundresses and chambermaids” with her (then maybe you could have asked her not to?), and he asks if she plans to teach his men “needlework”.

Embeth says that Merlion, Faraday, and herself brought their maids along, as they do not travel without attendants. At this, Axis snarls that he hopes they can ride, “because you’ll have to travel without them if they fall off their cursed horses crossing the first overflowing gutter they come to!” And then he disappears into the crowd. How has he not been reprimanded time and time again if this is how he behaves?

Belial gives them a sympathetic shrug, and then goes to fetch their horses. Embeth turns to the others, saying that she has heard Axis’s temper improves as the sun rises, and she hopes that is the case. Merlion mutters it is little wonder Priam does not receive him. She mentally wishes that Isend had given them a “more gracious escort” and one with a better parentage. Faraday “wriggle[s] in embarrassment” at those words (I do not know why, since he is very rude), and then abruptly giggles at the image of one of their maids falling into a gutter.

Merlion is horrified at this, but Embeth soon breaks into laughter, too. And I do like that they laugh about such a mean-spirited comment. Belial and several servants come with the horses, and everyone mounts up.

Faraday has just done so when she feels “a rough hand” touching her knee. It is Borneheld! The sun has just risen, and “a shaft of light” shines directly into his face as he looks at Faraday, in a scene that would work considerably better in a visual medium. He says he had to see her off (notably in the same paragraph as Faraday). She is too high for him to kiss her, so he awkwardly pats her leg instead.

She says she will count the days until she sees him again, “embarrassed by his attention in case Axis reappear[s].” She moves her leg slightly, hoping that Borneheld will remove his hand. He does stop patting her, but keeps his hand in place as he looks around the courtyard.

Axis then comes into view, “mounted on his dappled-grey stallion, Belaguez.” He rides over to Borneheld. Faraday is so mortified she wishes Artor would “reach down and snatch her from this life.” Well, I hope he does not, as she is one of the characters I actually like. She looks away. Cut to Axis’s POV, as he notes he recognises her from the banquet, and he knows who she is, as Isend spent the better part of an hour getting him as an escort.

Then comes the inevitable confrontation between the two:

-          Axis says Bornheld’s name, and looks at his hand on Faraday’s knee. He feels “a moment’s sympathy” for her (not any longer than that, though; that would consume resources.)

-          Borneheld sneers, and tells Axis not to lose too many of his Axe-Wielders.

-          Axis tightens his hands on Belaguez’s reins, “causing the stallion to half rear.” (Because he does not care who he may hurt during his rivalry with Borneheld.) He says that if Borneheld cannot drag away from his coming marriage, he doubts Borneheld will “survive long enough to lead even [his] horse to water.”

-          Borneheld “pat[s] [Faraday] patronisingly on the arm” (so why could she not lean down enough for him to kiss her earlier?). He “speaks without thinking, wanting only to irritate Axis.” And that is different from what Axis just did why? Do not think I do not see your double standards, Douglass.

-          Borneheld says that Isend gave him “the reins to the finest mare in the stable”, and that Axis could never hope to “own anything this well-bred”. He laughs at his own joke and pats Faraday’s leg again. And why does the misogyny from Axis get a pass, Douglass? And no, the answer cannot be “because it is Axis”.

Faraday gets angry at this remark, so she startles her horse, which causes Borneheld to lose his footing. He “wave[s] his arms and stumble[s] alarmingly, almost falling to his knees on the slippery cobbles”. She quickly covers up for this by calling out his name anxiously. Borneheld regains his balance, and assumes she just momentarily lost control.

She “splay[s] her hands in a display of helplessness” and he smiles to reassure her, saying that he will teach her to ride properly when they are married. How evil! Axis has noticed this and says that “[t]he girl has spirit”. He says that maybe Faraday could “teach [him his] dance steps”, because the way he just moved was not impressive. Oh, how very wise and mature Axis is.

Borneheld wants to give a snappy retort, but he can only come up with telling Axis not to take too long. He pats Faraday for the last time, and then goes back into the palace. Faraday is cheered by Axis’s remark, but she shakes her head at what she just did. She wonders at “the antagonism between the two brothers.”

Jayme comes out, and Axis salutes him. Jayme tells him to ride well and fast, to get answers, and to remember his promise. Axis nods, and we are told that the tension between them has not cleared yet. He edges Belaguez away from Jayme.

Jayme gives Axis his blessing, and then Axis turns Belaguez around and addresses the Axe-Wielders. He asks if they are ready, and they respond they are read and “follow [his] voice”. He then tells them to ride, and some 5000 people ride out of Carlon, scaring the eagles and hawks on the city walls. End chapter.

In the end, this chapter is rather useless. We do not exactly need to see everyone getting ready to prepare each other, and the only reason I can think of for this to be here is to compare Axis and Borneheld again. And that comparison certainly makes Borneheld seem like the better brother, no matter what Douglass meant. If one of them is irritated by “being saddled with a group of women”, and the other does not show this, I am quite certain who I favour.

Regardless, it seems like the plot is leaving Carlon at least, so that might be something to look out for.