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

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A brief excerpt from Bee’s dream journals precedes “Confrontations.” The chapter opens with Bee exulting in the presence of her father and Perseverance, only to have her joy turn as Fitz bundles her up to take her to Vindeliar. She begins to persuade him that he is being ensorcelled and breaks form his grasp, taking his knife from his belt and, with the assistance of Perseverance, driving it into Vindeliar. Bee begins to succumb to Vindeliar’s magics, but Perseverance does not, and presses the attack on Vindeliar with particular vigor, killing him.

As Vindeliar dies, Fitz returns to himself and begins an assault on others of the Servants and their forces present in the room. Bee seizes on the opportunity to kill more of the Servants, joining the fight to some effect. Perseverance continues to protect her, and Fitz continues to fight, although he begins to incur injury. Capra and Fellowdy soon flee, their guards accompanying them, and Bee, Fitz, and the rest confer about events. Prilkop, who had been held near Vindeliar, is released, and Beloved attempts to make contact with Bee that she refuses. Both of the older White Prophets are taken aback by Bee’s actions, identifying her as the foretold Destroyer.

Plans for how to escape are discussed in haste, and Spark makes formal introduction of herself to Bee. Prilkop discusses the secret tunnel through which the Fool had been carried out of Clerres before, and Perseverance reports from reconnaissance that a search is ongoing. Fitz issues directives to the group and, setting his hand on Bee’s head, reflexively conveys to her his feelings about his life and hers. Nighteyes returns to Fitz from Bee and is changed by it in ways that Bee remarks, and Fitz sends the rest on ahead, although Per returns to him as the others flee.

The present chapter makes clear again that Perseverance is resistant to the Skill and to similar magics. I recall from long reading that Burrich was similarly resistant. I perceive in their common profession something of a subtle pun. Both of them work with horses, primarily (although both also find themselves devoted to Farseers)…as stablemen; insofar as both are resistant to the Skill and its uses, they are both stable men, as well. How intentional such a joke is, I cannot be sure, and intentionality is a poor judge of literary effect in any event; it is there, it amuses me, and that is enough of a reason for me to point it out.

Admittedly, the chapter itself does not admit of much humor. It does, however, follow up on some of the questions and implications of the previous chapter: Nighteyes as Wolf-Father is more than merely some echo that had lingered in Fitz from decades of a deep, magical bond. I am reminded of some old conference-work I’ve done, and I have to wonder if, like some of my other, more formal, work on Hobb, it might be worth revisiting the piece and expanding upon it with materials not available at the time I did the earlier writing. It might well be thought that I ought not to rack up many more scholarly somedays, given how many of them already wait for attention I do not know if I will ever offer, but, well, there are reasons I persisted in academe as long as I did. There are things about it I find congenial, even years away from it, even knowing that I have precious little if any place in it anymore.

Even if academe has no place for me (and, to be honest, if I have no real place for it in my life, however I might still dabble in paper-writing for myself and how much I can help others with their own work), I can still manage to come up with an idea or two and follow them out until they either make sense or get proven wrong. And I’m happy to help people do that with the works they love–because it really is love that got me into this and that has kept me doing it all this time.

I’m happy to help you get writing done at reasonable rates and without AI slop! Reach out through the form below to get me on board!

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