Chapter 13 begins immediatley following an attack on our herione, Terisa. We were introduced to Artagel, Geraden's brother, after he saves her life and causes her attacker to flee (ie. disappear!). Everyone nearby (Kragen, and The Perdon) are completely freaked out when Artagel discloses that the attackers wore sigils of Cadwal, and when Terisa suggests that her attacker is Gart (the high king's Monomach) who is in league with Vagel! Why Vagel? Because her attacker must have been translated to the dungeon via a flat glass, and Vagel is the only imager who can use flat glass without going mad. The Prince and The Perdon decide to high-tail it out of there so as not to be implicated in the bloodshed.
Terisa and Artagel make their way back to her quarters. Terisa convinces Artagel to leave her prior to reaching her room. The reason? She wants to protect Artagel from the Castellan. She doesn't want the guards to see her covered with blood with Artagel along side. So now Terisa is trying to protect Artagel, Geraden, and Eremis with no concern for herself! Geesh!
Next morning, she gets a visit from our charming Castellan Lebbick. He demands to know what went on last night in the dungeons of Orison. They found 2 dead bodies, but enough blood for 4 or 5, bloody footprints leading away from the bodies, and then that little thing about Terisa coming back to her rooms covered in blood. Terisa
So now we have a frustrating discussion where Terisa just denies that anything happened -- kind of like a 5 year old would do ie. "I'm not being coy." or "I am being honest." Blech! Anyway, we also learn a little about why Lebbick is so bitter -- ie. the rape/torture of his young wife. I won't quote that here because this is getting rather long and anyone who has read the book doesn't need reminded of it! The whole point is that Terisa just denies everything and Lebbick leaves frustrated and mad. What's interesting is that she is very pleased with herself for protecting Eremis. "Eremis was safe. Artagel was safe." she says to herself at one point. After Lebbick slams the door and leaves, she has an intense feeling of victory:... was determined to lie to him. It would have been better to face him squarely, but that great a display of courage was beyond her.
Of course, we have to remind ourselves that Terisa beleives that Eremis is the only person who is really, actively, trying to save Mordant. I still find it frustrating and annoying that she lies to Lebbick so much, but I think it is because we can all see that there is something not quite "on the level" about Eremis - which of course she is blind to.But she had kept her promises to herself. She had done it, done it: she had fended Lebbick away from the truth. There was still hope for Mordant. Because of what she had done. She, Terisa Morgan - a woman who had never learned how to believe in herself. She had made a difference.
Now I am only about half way through this chapter and I had no intention that it would be this LONG! I will take a break and post the second half later today. This chapter gets even better!
