Read the previous entry in the series here.
Read the next entry in the series here.

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A fairly lengthy message from Hest’s mother, Sealia, to him prefaces “City of Elderlings.” The chapter opens with Alise being disturbed from her investigations and recalling earlier interruptions with some annoyance. Alise recognizes her present disturber as Sylvie, who reports the return of the Tarman. Alise is briefed on recent events, and she takes some care with her appearance before deciding it does not matter. Alise also muses over changes among the keepers and dragons in the wake of the relocation to Kelsingra proper and the dragons’ ability to fly. Broader social changes and acceptance are also attested, and Alise finds herself happily racing to the approaching liveship.

Aboard the Tarman, Leftrin considers the dragons’ interest in his pursuit and regards the struggles his ship faces in coming in to the new dockfront, which is described. The liveship comes into the docks, greeted by keepers, anchored, and tied up. Leftrin gives orders for the ship’s unloading, and he confers with the vessel as those orders are carried out. The ship notes that Phron remains in peril, something that unsettles Leftrin, but he lets it be.

Alise assists Malta in finding quarters for herself and her family and in getting them settled in. The Elderling city swiftly begins to have an effect on Phron, upsetting Malta, and the women confer about changes and developments. Malta continues to settle in, and Alise explains both what is known about the city and her frustrations with how the keepers themselves are despoiling it. Malta also becomes aware of the presence of others’ memories around her, and Alise advises Malta that she and Reyn are already figures of veneration in Kelsingra.

Alise leaves Malta to rest, considering Phron as she goes, and she manages to extricate Reyn from where the keepers ply him with questions. She considers changes to herself as she heads towards the docks, observing the work going on there, and her mind turns for a time to the logistics of refounding the city. But she is greeted warmly by Leftrin when she reaches the Tarman, and Leftrin dismisses his crew so that he and Alise can confer and reconnect.

The present chapter does, I note with some pleasure, speak directly to the promise of refounding for those who had previously been excluded or marginalized. The scandal Alise reflects on that would attend in Bingtown upon same-sex romances that are commonplace in and around Kelsingra and the easy acceptance if not outright privileging of those “marked” by the Rain Wilds attract my eye, and I cannot help but think that there is something of a utopian motion going on with it. Not fully, of course; it’s not in line with Hobb’s usual style for there to be no problems, and Rapskal’s burgeoning militancy is noted in the present chapter, as well. But it is still present, I think, and it is a fairly conventional move to make in a fantasy series.

The question of power is one that the present chapter raises, as well. It is noted in the chapter that Malta and Reyn are regarded as being leaders among the Elderlings–which is sensible, since for some years, they and the absent Selden were the only acknowledged to be of that people. That they come from previously prominent and already-wealthy families is something of a complicating factor; while it is made clear from the Liveship Traders novels that they did much to improve upon themselves and seize the opportunities available to them, it is also clear that many of those opportunities only presented themselves because Reyn and Malta started out in good positions. It becomes something of an open question, then, how much change they would be willing to permit, were they installed as rulers; even if they are “merely” firsts among equals, their influence could be considerable, and they would likely incline to replicating the structures that have empowered them. It has been demonstrated, after all, that the Elderlings are humans and all too human; it would not be out of line with such depictions.

I am aware that I am once again writing about a work of fiction and its characters as if it is real life and they are real people. I am aware, once again, of the strangeness of doing so, especially given all that is happening in the real world at this and at any given time. But I am also aware that stories are told and continue to be told, whatever else is happening in the world wherein they are told. And I am aware that looking at stories offers some possible insight into the world. What is not may yet in some ways be, and there is some hope to be found in that.

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