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

---

The fourteenth chapter of Shaman’s Crossing, “Cousin Epiny,” starts with Nevare rehearsing events from the day following those of the previous chapter. Both he and Gord suffer from the previous evening’s exertions, and rumors about Tiber spread, to Nevare’s dismay. A letter from Sefert Burvelle inviting him to his home for the coming leave-time, and plans for leave are discussed among Nevare’s cohort. Nate and Kort are saddened by their letters, and Gord enheartened by one of his own, from his fiancée, Cilima. Nevare realizes Gord is a more complex person than he had thought as members of his cohort depart for their leave-time.

Nevare and Spink confer about their respective plans as Nevare’s uncle and the titular cousin Epiny arrive to take Nevare to their estate. The uncle confers graciously with Spink as Nevare regards Epiny, and she takes a sudden interest in Spink. Introductions are made, and Epiny manages to secure an invitation for the leave-time to Spink as well as her cousin. Thus maneuvered, Sefert calls on Colonel Stiet to make the appropriate arrangements, and Nevare assists Spink in packing. They encounter Caluder along the way, to Nevare’s dismay, but are on their way in good time and order.

Along the way, conversation proceeds among the five. Epiny asks about Spink’s family, having read in her uncle’s journals about his father’s exploits. Arriving at the estate, arrangements are made for the cadets, and Spink relates some of his strained family history. Epiny conducts the pair to a light, informal meal, then to a walk to the stables. Nevare checks on his horse, and the three discuss mounts before continuing their walk into the gardens. Epiny and Spink talk together at length as the weather begins to worsen, and Nevare finds himself confused by his friend’s enthusiasm for the walk. They are joined briefly by Purissa, whom Epiny distracts and sends off.

Nevare finds himself offended at Epiny’s easy familiarity with Spink and attempts to intercede. As he does, he is seized by a sudden strangeness, rendering everything around him unfamiliar, to Epiny’s surprise and Spink’s shock. The latter removes Nevare’s hand from where it had been Epiny’s arm tightly, and Nevare reacts as if suddenly released from restraint. Epiny presses questions upon Nevare briefly before the worsening weather breaks above them and the flee for the home.

To address the chapter-length issue: the present chapter, in the edition of the novel I’m rereading, runs 14 pages in length, approximately 2.43% of the novel. It is the shortest chapter yet to occur in the novel, and a look back at the front matter indicates that it is the shortest in the novel, overall. So much makes it stand out, especially as contrasted with the previous chapter; juxtaposition always highlights, and extremes attract attention. So does the almost clichéd dramatic ending of the chapter; the lightning and sudden downpour smack of deus ex machina, about which I’ve commented before.

Also, for indexing purposes, the following: Bessom Jamis, Book of Punishment, Cadet Lieutenant Tiber, Carneston House, Caulder Stiet, Celeste, Cilima, Colonel Stiet, Dr. Amicas, Dutiful Wife, Epiny Burvelle, Garlic, Gord, Holy Writ, Keft Burvelle, Kellon Spinrek Kester, King’s Cavalla Academy, Kort Braxan, Lake Foror, Lallie, Lavender, Natred Verlaney, Nevare Burvelle, Old Thares, Otter, Plainsfolk, Purissa Burvelle, Sefert Burvlle, Sirlofty, Spinrek “Spink” Kester, Towsers, Trist Wissom. Being brief, there is only so much the chapter can bring forward.

I note with some interest the details about the religion in Gernia provided. It is not the first time details thereabouts have been offered; amont other examples, “Harbinger,” early in the novel, offers a fair bit, as does “Dewara,” and the previous chapter makes its own explication of a priestly title repeated in the present. More information about the contents of the Gernian holy text–namely the component books that comprise it–is welcome and seems to present the Gernian religion as more of a means of social control than might otherwise be thought. Again, I’ve not done as much reading on the topic as I might, nor yet have I been as regular an attendee of Sunday school as some might want, so I cannot be certain of it, but I have to wonder if there is not something of religious movements at work in the United States in the ninteenth century (and other times, although that may be more affective of a reading than is good for me) as an antecedent from which Hobb borrows for her ideas in the present chapter. Perhaps in that someday when I have more scholarly time, I might see about doing such readings.

I note also the mention of Towsers, a card game, in the chapter. As with comments about high- and lowbrow literature and songs made in my remarks on previous chapters, the presence of the game lends a bit of verisimilitude (which, as I’ve often noted, Hobb is on record as valuing); in the Soldier Son novels, as well as in their readers’ world, we are more than just our jobs, given to diversion and distraction in idle moments that we could well (and, as many would argue, should well) spend in some form of more concrete self-improvement. There have been other such things in Hobb’s writing, to be sure; the stone-game from the Six Duchies comes to mind as one example (and I am reminded that I ought to have indexed more thoroughly earlier on in my rereading). Too, even aside from the presence of the game in the milieu (at more risk of overly affective reading), the comment that Sefert had likely been besieged by rounds of the game (340) strikes me as particularly authentic; being a father and having been…obliged to engage in certain of my daughter’s enthusiasms, I have some understanding of the position. It’s a nice little humanizing touch. It’s also a grounded, possibly emblematic one. The term does have historical associations with cards, as Oxford reports; it also, per Merriam-Webster, speaks to rowdiness and tumult. Whether the latter holds true in the novel, I’ll have to remind myself as I continue rereading the novel.

Want something written well, and without AI theft-slop? Fill out the form below!

Or you can send your support along directly!