Ok, seeing no takers
......... here's the summary for:
Chapter 8 – Various Encounters
Gerdan expresses his belief that Terisa is the augered champion because of he apparent ability to cause a mirror to change Images. Terisa, however, feels that because the mirror that translated her shows things that are not real, she herself is not real. As they discuss, it becomes apparent that Master Eremis has been listening.
Terisa is again entranced by the way Eremis looks at her, comparing his presence to that of her father. Eremis attempts to convince Geraden that he is concerned for Geraden’s safety, and values Geraden’s intelligence, all while making his interest in Terisa quite clear. Forced to be polite, Geraden formally introduces the two, while Eremis discusses his interest in the impossibilities which surround Terisa. Throughout the conversation, Eremis makes his intentions toward Terisa clear, and while Geraden becomes increasingly exasperated by Eremis’ advances, Terisa feels mesmerized by Eremis’ attention, despite his short fuse with Geraden.
Struggling, Geraden raises the point that although Terisa claims not to be an Imager, and that there are no Imagers in her world, she may possibly be one in Mordant, and this could provide an explanation for all of the apparent impossibilities that have been occurring. Deflecting his argument, Eremis again reveals himself to be considerably more flattering towards Terisa than Gerdaen is.
Terisa notices that the Image that had been changed in the glass has reverted to it’s normal state, and is now showing a band of riders attempting to gain Orison’s safety, while several of the are attacked by creatures which Eremis identifies as products of Imagery. Geraden identifies one of the riders as the Perdon, who does gain the castle. Eremis, puzzled as to the Perdon’s arrival, goes to seek information, bringing Geraden and Terisa with him.
Eremis and Lebbick have a brief confrontation outside of Joyse’s chambers while they are waiting for the Perdon to return from speaking with the king. Eremis reasons that the Perdon has come in anger, to demand assistance from Joyse, and further, that the Perdon’s demand will be denied. This is supported as the Perdon, followed by the king’s daughter, Elega, storm from the audience chamber. As Elega and the Perdon argue, the Perdon vows to send all of his wounded and dead to Orison to remind the king of his lack of assistance.
Eremis, Geraden and Terisa overhear this portion of the argument, and Eremis encourages the Perdon to explain his concerns. The Perdon discusses his dislike of Imagery and goes on to describe the attacks on his territory. He had apparently been suffering at the hands of unorganized bands of raiders from Cadwal. However, his scouts recently discovered that these varying bands of men were from the same camp, an official camp of the king of Cadwal, estimated to be 15,000 men. This force is in position to start a major offense when the winter ends. The Perdon has only 3,000 men, and Joyse has repeatedly denied him the help of his force of 8,000 which is currently at Orison.
Eremis comments that the Perdon’s plight and his own are very similar, and invites the Perdon to discuss it in private, a suggestion which clearly suprises the Perdon, but one to which he agrees. The two of them leave, leaving Geraden, Terisa and Elega in the hall. Neither Geraden or Elega understand what occurred between Eremis and the Perdon. Elega recoveres herself, formally introduces herself to Tersia and chides Geraden in the process. Elega then invites Tersia to visit her and Myste, her sister, in their rooms. Elega indicates that since Mordant is a “man’s world” a female of importance, such as Terisa, is of great interest. Tersia is quite disturbed by the fact that she is being asked to make a decision, and agrees, blurting out that she wasn’t doing anything important anyway, thereby totally dissing Geraden, who leaves, obviously somewhat hurt.
As Elega and Terisa walk towards Elega’s rooms, Elega indicates that she and Geraden were once betrothed, until Elega broke the engagement, because she sees Geraden as a failure. Terisa disagrees, but doesn’t voice this thought. When they arrive at Elega’s rooms, Tersia notices that they are plainer in decoration than the king’s. Elega explains that this was originally due to the need between public and private faces of the king’s family.
Myste arrives, and Terisa notices the differences and similarities between the two women. Myste is incredibly eager to meet Terisa and through the conversation Elega makes it clear that she feels very affectionate about her younger sister, but does not think too highly of her intelligence. Elega informs Myste of Joyse’s latest inaction, expressing her disbelief, but Myste, though confused by Joyse’s actions, tries to be supportive of them. Elega leaves to get lunch, and Terisa notes that Myste seems to see through her, again reinforcing her own belief in her unreality. Myste informs Terisa that her sister Torrent, is living with their mother, Queen Madin, in Fayle. Myste describes her mother as a “woman who knows her own mind” and indicates that this is rare, though Myste sees this as lack of courage in other women.
Myste tells the story of how Joyse and Madin married, stating that Madin, though she loved him, declined his first proposal becuae of his “marriage” to his war. After his initial anger at the rejection, Joyse became even more enamored of Madin for it. He eventually won the wars, then turned his attention to the formation of the Congery, when Madin rode to meet him on a field of battle, stated that he was taking to long, and demanded to marry him on the spot, to which he agreed. They had a happy marriage until recently, when he became, as Myste describes, passive. Finally fed up with his apparent apathy about all things not hop-board, Madin left, and Torrent accompanied her. Joyse was stricken, but did not explain. Elega returns, and indicates that she remained with Joyse because something must be done, and it will happen in Orison. Elega further opines that Myste remained because she believes that Joyse will return to his old self, if he is given time and trust. She then apologizes and asserts that maybe Myste remained so that Joyse will still have the company of one woman who loves him. Teresia feels that Myste might have stayed to be a witness to Joyse’s actions.
The ladies question Terisa, who again denies all knowledge or power of Imagery. Myste responds as though she has heard a marvelous revelation, but Elega is infuriated with Terisa’s description of the “accident”. Myste appears to take this news as confirmation of a deeply held belief. Elega attempts to get Terisa to tell the truth, saying that no defense is needed, but Terisa again apologizes and states that she is telling the truth.
....and I'm spent.
) romance is so different than most other things that SRD writes, it just makes me even more impressed.
