ahhh... Page 524... Be warned people... I may suck at this... This is my first time...
We start off with the raped to be, Nyle, and that loser with a moustache Kragen. Oh crap. I lost my page. Heh. Hang on... lemme find it again…
So Nyle and "My Lord Prince" are having a meeting... Kragen and Nyle (Geraden's brother) start talking... While Terisa, Geraden, Argus, and Ribuld are hidden, listening…
First Nyle tells Kragen that Elega is in trouble, because Geraden convinced The Tor that Elega is part of the treacherous trio. And Nyle informs Kragen that the Tor has spoken to Elega:
‘He told her he knows what she’s doing. Then he went off on a long lecture about the loyalty children owe their parents.’ Nyle shrugged. ‘She says it wasn’t much. She gave him a piece of her mind and left him looking – she says he looked “cowed”. And she says he won’t be able to interfere with her part of your plan’.
So far, we do not know what Elega's plan is, and neither does Nyle. Nyle is understandably angry at the fact that he does not know what part Elega has to play in Kragen’s plans. But Kragen says that her success is dependant on secrecy.
Kragen wants Nyle to go to the Perdon and offer him the Kingship of Mordant. To prove his, Kragen’s, good faith. Kragen then tells Nyle that the Alend army is marching to Orison.
Nyle is angered when he receives this piece of information.‘I was pleased because much hinges on her role. While you and I spoke together – while we chose the day and place for this meeting – my father and his armies were already crossing the Pestil into Armigite.’
We learn that Kragen is using carrier pigeon . Terisa recognizes it. Kragen explains that his mission of peace was sincere. But, because of the way the jerk of a King behaved towards him, it is now one of war. Because of the breach of Orison’s wall, (caused by the Champion) Kragen has an opportunity that cannot be ignored. Kragen does not want the Congery to fall into the hands of the shrimp that is High King Festten. Kragen asks Nyle if he’ll still go to the Perdon. Nyle agrees.Nyle articulated softly, ‘You never wanted peace. You never meant King Joyse to take your mission seriously. You just came here looking for people to help you betray him.’ Both arms leaped outward in a gesture full of violence, fiercely truncated. ‘This is what you call “good faith”?’
Geraden orders Argus to follow the Prince Kragen, and then orders Ribuld to go back to Orison to tell Lebbick what he has heard. Geraden wants to capture Kragen.
Meanwhile, Our friend Geraden goes to deal with Nyle. While Nyle is on a horse, Geraden jumps him.
She figured out what was happening just in time to control her surprise as Geraden sprang out of the brush at his brother.
His elevation and proximity gave him an advantage: he could hardly have missed. And he jumped hard =. His momentum carried Nyle out of the saddle and plunged both of them into the snow on the far side of the horse with a sound that made Terisa think of snapped arms and broken backs.
Geraden asks Nyle is he is alright. In response Nyle says if Geraden thinks what he is doing a joke, then it is not funny. Nyle asks what Gerade's problem is; then Geraden tells Nyle that he and Terisa know what Nyle is planning on doing, and that he heard all that was said between the Prince and Nyle. And knows that Nyle is planning on offering the Kingship to the Perdon; and therefore will stop him. Nyle says in response:
‘So you’ve decided to stop me. Full of moral superiority, you’ve decided to stop me because you cling to the astonishing belief that King Joyse and chaos and terrible imagery and a fresh start to the wars that crippled Mordant for generations are somehow preferable to putting the Perdon on the throne and saving the entire kingdom. You-.’
Geraden interrupts him. Saying that the Perdon would never accept Prince Kragen’s offer, and that the Prince is just sending Nyle there so that the Perdon won’t bring his armies against Alends. But Terisa disagrees. She says that the Perdon is desperate, and will therefore accept the Prince’s offer.
Nyle thinks what he is doing is right. And says that the worst thing that can happen to them is King Festten getting his midget hands on the Congery. Nyle’s argument that he is doing the right thing follows thus:
Geraden gets angry with this. And Geraden shouts after Nyle. And talks about how his and Nyle’s father is King Joyse’s friend. And asks how is Nyle going to go through life without loyalty or self-respect.Nyle didn’t glance away from his brother. ‘Even if that’s not true,’ he resumed, ‘you’re acting like a child. Prince Kragen is right. The Alend Monarch is right. The worst thing that can happen to us is for High King Festten to get his hands on the Congery.
‘We’re already being torn apart by an Imager no one can find or stop. Cadwal will be able to decimate everything west of the Vertigon if the Congery falls. On our mother’s grave, Geraden, we ought to beg Margonal to invade us.
‘Instead of interfering, why don’t you figure out what you’re going to say to all the families who are going to be butchered – all the children who are going to be bereaved – all the men and women who are going to be maimed and massacred when King Joyse finally collapses and no power strong enough to hold the realm together takes his place?
‘In the meantime, get out of my way.’
Nyle also gets angry, and points out, like the self-pitying loser he is, that King Joyse never noticed him. But always gave Geraden his approval. And therefore Nyle doesn’t see why he should be loyal to King Joyse. Nyle also says that King Joyse is going to get them all killed. Just because he can’t be bothered to protect his realm.
Geraden then asks why is his bother getting so uptight about it.
Nyle replies that Elega will never love him because she loves Kragen. Geraden then asks for Nyle to give it up, and not to throw himself away for a woman who wants to betray her own father.Geraden caught up with Nyle and grabbed his arm. Nyle flung off Geraden’s grip. The two brothers faced each other, their breath steaming furiously.
‘Then why,’ Geraden repeated, ‘are you so angry about it?’ He was no longer shouting. His voice sank to a whisper. ‘You’re doing what you know is right. Doesn’t that make you feel good? And you’re doing what Elega wants. She’ll love you for it. She won’t be able to help herself. Doesn’t that make you feel good?’
Nyle gets angry with this and walks off. Intending to get his horse. But Geraden says that he won’t let Nyle go. In reply, Nyle slam kicks his brother unconscious, then says to Terisa:
He rides off.‘Take care of him. If you let him die out here, I’ll come back and throttle you with my bare hands.’
After Geraden wakes up, some weird creatures attack him and Terisa.
So they are attacked. They fight, and would have died. But Nyle comes back. After seeing the riders heading this way, he follows them, and arrives just in time to save Geraden and Terisa.They weren’t men at all.
They had eyes in the wrong places. Long whiskers sprouted around the orbs. Snouts hid their mouths, but not their tusks. She was able to see their heads because the hoods of their riding capes had been swept back. Their heads were covered with mottled red fur.
They seemed to have more limbs than they needed. Each of them seemed to be waving two swords
Geraden thanks him for coming back. And at the same time picks up a branch and knocks Nyle unconscious.
And there my friends… ends chapter 21. I’m sorry if it’s not very good… But it’s my first time… *Shrug*
I have some questions on this chapter… One is, do you think the reasons Nyle gives for betrayal are true? Or is he just doing it for Elega? Do you think he is in any way right to betray King Joyse? I mean… I think he might be. I mean someone should take it into their hands and do something, while Kind Joyse is screwing up his realm. Might as well be Nyle. And do you think Nyle should have been stopped?
If this sucks, don’t blame me… blame danlo… heh… He foolishly trusted me enough to do this… heh. And I don’t think this is a great chapter to dissect… Too much talking.