Scales

Chapter Two (Part II) | Table of Contents | Chapter Three (Part I)

NRSG: A good day, everyone, and welcome back to BattleAxe! Last time, we heard Axis’ backstory and we also saw him for the first time. Let us get into it!

There is a scene break after the story, and we cut to Axis’ POV.

Distinct POV’s: 11

He says he noticed “the young woman” staring at him when he went past her table, but he does not think much of it. He steps onto the dais, “keenly aware” of the tension this causes among many of the royals. He “clenche[s] his right hand into a fist above the golden axes on his left breast”, which is the “traditional salute” of the Axe-Wielders, and he bows before Priam. He says “may Artor hold you in his care.” Priam returns the blessing “tersely.”

Axis straightens and “look[s] Priam directly in the eye.” Well, that is quite rude. He tells us that “sheer courtesy” on Priam’s part ought to make him “offer Axis food and wine and a place at the royal table” by now, as being BattleAxe is a position of great honour. But Axis notes “with some grim humour” that Priam’s sense of courtesy “[is] noticeably absent when dealing with his sister’s bastard.”

Hmmm, I can feel for Axis’ predicament, but also because of later things, I cannot help but feel that he comes off as quite smug in this paragraph. I mean, why care about what Priam thinks of him? He does not need him to maintain his position, after all…

Anyway, Judith fidgets with “a tassel on her velvet sleeve”, staring across the chamber. We are told that “[h]er dead sister-in-law’s fecundity, whether in or out of marriage, was a continual reproach to her own barrenness.” Poor Judith. She cannot do anything about this, either, of course. At least Priam does care about her.

Priam says that Axis’ presence is unexpected while making a show of dabbing at his mouth with his napkin. Axis’ mouth twitches, and he says “[o]bviously”, as Priam has begun dinner without him. Well, what would you have him do, then? Wait every evening on the off chance that you might come there? Even without the surrounding circumstances, this is completely unreasonable. I do feel like Douglass meant this to be some kind of ~slick retort~ from Axis.

Priam stiffens at this, and puts down his napkin. He asks why Axis came home from “Coroleas” so quickly. At this, Axis mentally explains how that happened. Nice. More irrelevant exposition.

Well, “over two months earlier” (so in late June), he had taken “six cohorts” of Axe-Wielders to the “neighbouring empire of Coroleas”. That is the large country to the south of Tencendor (approximately twice Tencendor’s size, judging by the later maps, though half of it is desert). He was there to help with their continual problem of “vicious summer raiders from across the eastern seas.” Going by this map that Scales has so helpfully provided me with:

(Click the picture for a better resolution.)

I cannot exactly see where the raiders would come from. The only place I can think of is Deepend. Then again, maybe the later books will provide us with answers. I can say, though that the mention of eastern seas, plural, seems quite unlikely to me. After all, the coast of the Cornelian Sea is almost completely composed of mountains.

Anyway, the mission had a “dual purpose”, to both strengthen the bond between Achar and Coroleas, and to give the Axe-Wielders “vital combat experience.” He has taken his command there on “seven different occasions” to help the Coroleans with both raiders and “internal rebellions”. And these “successful forays” have helped him get a reputations as a “brilliant commander” in “just five short years.” Well, that is nice. On another note, we will not actually see Coroleas until halfway through The Serpent Bride, despite how much it will feature in the previous books. And when we get there… well, it is mostly pointless grimdark, and I am glad I will not have to be there.

Well, eight days ago, so on 28 August, Axis got an urgent message from Jayme to go back home along with his Axe-Wielders. The message did not say what was wrong, and he fretted over it for five days, as they sailed from Coroleas to “the port of Nordmuth in Achar.” And that is the mouth of the Nordra, I see. He left his “Axemen” at Nordmuth, and rode “virtually nonstop” to the Tower of the Seneschal, “exhausting himself in the effort”. He arrived “late this afternoon”, then found that Jayme was at Priam’s banket in Carlon, so he cursed the extra time it took to cut across Grail Lake. He sincerely hopes that Jayme did not call him just to have him congratulate Priam.

That over, Axis replies to why he came back so quickly by saying that he only follows Jayme’s orders. He tells us that “the remark [is] designed to irritate Priam”, because the “Acharite monarchs” have been peeved for centuries that the military falls under the Brother-Leader’s authority instead of that of the monarch. Well, I think we could have thought of that ourselves. Also, I am already beginning to hate Axis. Priam has done nothing to warrant this, after all.

Axis looks at Borneheld. He is furious to see Axis here, and he grips “the stem of this golden wine goblet” so hard that Axis thinks he might destroy it. “There was nothing but bitter enmity between the two brothers.” Well, how very considerate of him to go to the table at once, then, instead of waiting until Jayme was unoccupied.

Well, Axis looks back at Priam, “thinking that the man’s curls [make] him look effeminate and ineffectual.” … I officially hate Axis now. Are we actually supposed to like him when he see Priam’s curls and goes “ewwww, gay” (because that is what “effeminate” clearly means)? And he will only show more toxic masculinity going forward.

Regardless, he goes to talk to Priam. He says that the passing years only add “to [Priam’s] elegance and majesty”, that he gives his congratulations on Priam’s nameday, and that Priam must find it a great comfort to be surrounded by his “entire family” on this occasion. Why even bother, Axis? You would be better off just saying nothing at all. He pauses, looking Priam straight in the eyes, “calmly ignoring the white faces at his slight stress on the word “entire”.” Oh, really? You just had to remind him of that, too? I am not inclined to give him leeway here.

He asks Priam for leave to talk to Jayme. Priam stares angrily at Axis, and then dismisses him. Axis bows again, and gives the furrow formula. Priam gives it back stiffly as “Axis bow[s] again” (really?) and goes to speak with Jayme. Borneheld “let[s] out a furious breath” and turns to Priam. He asks “[w]hy in Artor’s name” Jayme had to recall Axis.

Priam puts a “restraining hand” on Borneheld’s arm, and speaks quietly, “repressing his own temper at the BattleAxe’s remarks”. So he restrains himself. How awful. He tells Borneheld it is no matter, and says that maybe it is good Axis it is here. The latest news from the north is not good, and they may have to use the expertise of both Axis and his Axe-Wielders.

We are told this is “not the most diplomatic thing to say to Borneheld”. But unlike with Axis, it was not said with a hateful intent, and that does matter. Well, time for another block of exposition, as we transit into Borneheld’s POV. Oh, we were also just in Priam’s, so:

Distinct POV’s: 13

Stick to a POV: 16

Control of Achar’s regular army is “theoretically in Priam’s hands”, but Borneheld is their actual commander. He has dedicated his life to it, and he is “a clever military theorist if a somewhat untested combat commander.” Recently, he was awarded the title of “WarLord of Achar”, though “many [say]” (citation needed) that that was more because he is the heir to the throne and less because he is so capable. I have to say that I really do not like the title “WarLord”. The camel case in here is quite out of place, especially since it is a feature of StarDrifter’s people, and also because “warlord” is one word to me, so it does not make sense to highlight the individual parts.

We are then told that suggesting that Borneheld might need Axis’ help is “to throw salt into a gaping wound.” And Axis did the same with his “entire family” line, and deliberately, too. You will really not convince me that Priam is worse than Axis, Douglass.

The Axe-Wielders follow Axis with “a loyalty, a devotion and a single-mindedness” that Borneheld “both resent[s] and covet[s]”. He wants the Axe-Wielders to be brought under his leadership, but he cannot do anything about that, and he watches the reputation of the Axe-Wielders grow under Axis’ leadership. Because of their time in Coroleas, “they [have] accumulated more real combat experience in five years than Borneheld [has] managed in fourteen years.” I sense an authorial thumb on the scales here. Little wonder Borneheld resents Axis so much. It also does not help that Axis got all the good looks, too.

The thing he hates Axis the most for, though, is that they share the some mother. Even though Rivkah “betrayed her husband”, he “still revere[s] her memory.” As he might. He hates Axis for “causing his mother’s death”. I mean, Axis could barely do anything about that, as he was a baby. Then again, I do not blame Borneheld for this. It may be irrational, but he should have had the chance to see his mother. Actually, StarDrifter is the one he has every reason to hate…

He thinks “viciously” that one day, they will meet in combat, “and then the world [will] see for once and for all who [is] the better man. Artor [will] judge who [has] the better right to live.” Well, I already know the outcome, and I think it is easy to guess. The stem of his goblet finally breaks, and it drops to the floor.

A servant comes in to replace the goblet and to clean up, and then Borneheld and Axis look at each other. “The hatred between them was naked enough for any to see.”

Now we cut to Axis and Jayme. Jayme draws Axis’ attention to him, and “[speaks] quietly so that no-one else [will] hear.” He says he is “pleased and relieved” that Axis managed to come back so soon. Axis smiles at Jayme, his hatred of Borneheld fading away. He calls Jayme “Father”, and says they were close to the Corolean Sound when they got the message. Ah, I see that that is the bay between Nor and Coroleas.

We are then told that the title “Father” is “one of deep respect tinged with some gratitude”, and that apart from his command, no one else accepts him like the Brotherhood does. I think that might just have something to do with Axis’ attitude. He says that it was “relatively easy” for them to get out and go onto the sea. We are told the Coroleans were (understandably) angry at Axis for leaving when the threat of the raiders was at its worst, “but Axis’ charm had smoothed diplomatic relations.” Hmmm, combined with the earlier bit about him charming every woman he comes across, I can only think that his “charm” is caused partially by latent magical abilities…

Jayme tells Axis that nothing can be accomplished that night, as they cannot talk at that table, and Axis is exhausted. He tells Axis to come to his rooms “in the eastern wing of the palace at sunrise tomorrow morning.” They can pray together, and then talk, and Jayme thinks they will both be called to Priam later on.

Axis asks if it is the news from the north. Jayme smiles at “his protégé”, and he notes that even in Coroleas, Axis manages to “keep his lines of information open.” He says yes, and again urges Axis to let it wait until morning. Axis puts on a “stage whisper”, and glances around with “amused eyes” as he says that he would “sour the cream in the trifle” if he stayed any longer. Jayme pinches Axis’ arm at that, but his eyes smile. He tells Axis to rest well, and concludes with the furrow greeting.

Axis says it back, he kisses Jayme’s ring, and then walks to the edge of the dais. He bows again to Priam, before walking away. As he goes, he passes Faraday, who “blushe[s] and turn[s] away.” A moment later, his eye catches that of the “Lady of Tare”, and she dips her head slightly, “a smile hovering about her lips.” I see that Tare is the capital of Tarantaise, by the way. And here, the chapter ends. Well, that was a lot of words, and almost no actual content. What a great way to start this book out. Maybe next chapter can bring us something more?