 she would be accompanying Greymane.” This is poignant for me after Devaleth has basically outlined the fact that it is unlikely anyone will be coming back from this mission.
I found it a little incomprehensible how gutted Suth et al are about staying behind—right until I read the bit where Suth is distraught that he won’t be able to help his fellow soldiers. Quite a change from the Suth we first met.
This book is definitely looking at themes of invasion, foreigners, conquerors—what with the two Malazan armies, both of whom are invaders here, and the Stormriders, who are trying to push into Korel. I like how Bakune is being used by Esslemont as a form of examining the way that invaders can change over time as well. “It was all cautiously encouraging—but then, no doubt the Sixth had also been similarly professional. In the beginning.”
Heh—what must Bakune think to hear that Karien’el is now a general, and someone with whom he must possibly negotiate. It’s nice to see that Bakune is still trying to maintain his morals in this difficult situation: “Play both sides. How distasteful. Was he to betray his vows to uphold the laws of the land?”
Hmm, I wonder if we’re to read anything into the fact that Yeull is constantly feeling cold right now, despite the wall of heat emanating from within his tent? It doesn’t seem right. Is Ussu perhaps the cause? Or the Lady? Plus, he does seem pretty highly strung, where Ussu is forced to ease him back in his seat.
I really don’t like the idea of Ussu going to talk with Iron Bars, with the potential for what he might do. I hope Iron Bars kills him, I really do. (Yes, my dislike for this character still remains strong!)
Here again some rather prejudiced mention of foreigners: “Yes! The Moranth. Exactly! They cannot be trusted. They are foreign. You cannot trust these foreigners.” This may just be an example of Yeull being all odd and paranoid, but it is also echoing some of the thoughts other people have through this book.
With the whole Ivanr/Martal battle section of the chapter, I liked one bit and disliked one bit, in terms of the way it was written. I liked that the Priestess died—somehow I was expecting a last ditch rescue effort and it defied my expectations (although Ivanr does think: “The woman—the Priestess, Ivanr could only assume from this distance—was dragged out.” So perhaps it was a decoy Priestess?) I did not like that Ivanr is still questioning Martal’s methods and battle experience—after all, she has now shown herself to be pretty damn capable, and yet he’s still thinking that she is making errors and not seeing what he sees. This grates on me—especially (and I hate to say, but it’s true) because she is a woman and he is a man.
I do also like the way that Ivanr is so determined to not be the spiritual leader his force requires, and yet he keeps saying things that show he has the mettle for the job: “She was just a woman who carried a message. And that message hasn’t died, has it?”
Aannd to finish on a negative nelly note—I didn’t like the whole Sister Esa/Totsin/Sister Gosh scene. It just doesn’t read that well, and had me falling out of the narrative because I felt incredulous at events.
Bill’s Reaction
It’s interesting reading this opening scene and Devaleth’s fear in the real world geopolitical context—this idea of invasion leading to a responsibility that the invaders might find themselves unable to easily extract themselves from. Could the Malazans destabilize this land and leave it unable to defend itself against the Riders? If there is indifference there toward such a result, is it just indifference? Is it that they know something more about the Riders? Is it the dislike of the Lady? Or of the Stormguard’s methods?
So what is Greymane’s motive here in leaving Rillish and Kyle behind? Is it dislike/mistrust of Rillish? Is it looking out for them? Esslemont certainly keeps us guessing here.
Last chapter I mentioned how Suth was being presented as maturing before our very eyes, and quoted these lines: “he could hardly remember the brash youth who’d joined up so many months ago. Then his goal had been to challenge everyone he met… Now the last thing he wanted was to draw his sword in anger. He’d be happy if he saw no more action.” That maturation is shown again here in somewhat ironic fashion in that he is now angry that he isn’t (seemingly) going to see any action, since his group is being left in Banith. But he desires action not for action’s sake, but because he feels the need to be there for his fellow soldiers: “He no longer needed to clash swords to see who was stronger… he wanted to go to be there for everyone else—they’d all be needed for this ugly set-to.” Suth’s growth is one of the better aspects of the novel I think.
We see continued insight from Bakune as well, another character who has grown. Here we see his perceptiveness when it comes to the effect a long-term occupation can have on the occupiers, as he watches the Malazans leave: “I imagine this is what they [the Sixth] must have looked like then too: disciplined, hardened, the veterans of invasions on five continents. But after a few decades of occupation, now look at them…” This is the same insight into the Sixth we’ve seen from Ussü. Besides showing us Bakune’s perceptiveness, it also makes one wonder how the Sixth will fare when we see (if we see) a Malazan on Malazan battle.
Good old Karien’el. You just have to hope he and Bakune meet again, don’t you?
Here’s a little bite added to the rescue storyline with regard to the Crimson Guard. Up to this point, I’d argue there has been little suspense in that storyline. I think it unlikely any reader would worry that Bars will be taken by a Rider or killed by a Stormguard. But the idea that Ussü might get hold of him for his rites, now that has a lot more downside and edginess to it. Especially with what we’ve seen of the Lady with regard to these rites lately.
No Moranth. Not a good sign for the Sixth it would seem.
So Hiam is making plans for the next decade: “We will keep him [Yeull] here for ten thousand men a year for the next ten years.” Hmm, hands of those who think that long-range plan will happen? Anyone? You in the back? Oh, just scratching your head. Anyone?
This sort of arrogance also is rarely a good omen: “Let him cripple his forces in some disastrous attempt at a landing… It will be all that much easier to sweep them away come the spring.” Or this sort of dismissal: “He is only one man, Shool. One man cannot undo the wall.”
It would seem Sister Gosh doesn’t have a lot of choices with regard to who the betrayer among them might be. Not a lot of the Synod left, as she herself notes.
You’d think if for such a big symbolism moment the Jourilans might have executed the Priestess a bit closer so as to make it clear that’s who it actually was. As it is, our first description of it via Ivanr is a bit muddy, as he can only “assume” it is her. I do like the whole fire-not-lighting-have-to-use-the-sword aspect though.
I’ve not much to say about the battle. I think it’s all pretty clear and all, and I am more than sure that Esslemont knows much more than I about all this, but like the earlier one, I just have this nagging sense that it doesn’t quite hold right for me. But mine was obviously a minority opinion on the last one and probably is here as well. And in any case, it doesn’t do much to detract for me.
It doesn’t look good for Martal, does it? And her “I have to be seen!” line would seem a pretty clear bit of foreshadowing.
It’s too bad Sister Esa didn’t do a better job with Totsin, but it does seem to me that Ivanr was a bit slow in this one. And this did detract a bit more for me. It seems that leaping for your sword and slashing might have been better done when Totsin was engaged, as opposed to watching the two fight for at least some amount of time before actually trying to do anything.
So if Sister Gosh told Ivanr they’d likely not meet again, but they just did, and now she’s “even more sure” they won’t meet again, does that mean they’ll meet again in a few hours?4O! wind of the west, we wait for you.
7But never a favour you bestow.
9But scorn to notice my white lateen.
12My paddle will lull you into rest.
16Or down where the prairie grasses sweep