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

The present chapter continues to depict abusive relationships.

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The tenth chapter of Forest Mage, “Flight,” begins with Nevare glossing the process of his father’s recovery and that of his estate. The actions Nevare takes to keep the estate going are glossed, and news of outside events is rehearsed. Nevare takes some charge, acting in his father’s name to restore order and some sense of forward motion to the estate and the surrounding area that takes its direction therefrom, and he relates a number of difficulties in doing the same.

With some stability established, Nevare recalls Yaril from the Poronte estate, noting with some confusion that Cecile–whom he regards as duty-bound to return to her late husband’s home–is not coming. Yaril apologizes for her earlier disregard of her brother and returns to her childhood home. She soon proves adept at its management, and, with Nevare, does much to restore it to something resembling normal functioning, if with some changes made to suit her personal tastes.

As things progress back towards normalcy, Nevare takes the chance to relax one evening, going into town to drink a bit and surveying changes in the local situation. He does note that the drinking has less effect on him than he would have expected, but he makes little of it, and makes a habit of regular trips to town.

Correspondence resumes, and Nevare receives news of Spink and Epiny with some joy. Spink is being commissioned, Sefert purchasing the position, and Nevare fleetingly considers using his father’s funds to do the same, but sets the temptation aside. He also continues to try for rapprochement with his father, to no avail, and he learns from Yaril much of the state of Keft’s mind. Yaril also speaks of the social situation surrounding them, and she learns Nevare’s story of his enchantment.

Some days after, Keft returns to the dinner table, rebuking Nevare for his presumption and upbraiding Yaril for her part in it. Yaril flees the growing upset, and Keft disowns Nevare, casting him out. Calmly, Nevare goes to Yaril and confers with her before preparing to leave, promising to send for her when he can. He packs what he can and that he feels a right to, mounts Sirlofty, and bids Duril farewell as he departs.

To address the chapter-length issue: the present chapter, in the edition of the novel I’m rereading, runs 29 pages in length, approximately 3.97% of the novel. There is but one chapter longer, and one other of the same length; each other chapter or major division of the text is shorter than the present chapter. While it is the case that chapter length and narrative importance do not necessarily or even often correspond, the fact that the present chapter takes its time, relatively speaking, does invite readers to spend more time with the text in this portion of it. And a longer chapter does serve an expository purpose for what seems clearly to be a new narrative arc beginning in the present novel.

Also, for indexing purposes, the following: Bacon, Bitter Springs, Burvelle Landing, Car Stiet, Carsina Grenalter, Caulder Stiet, Cayton’s Horse, Cecile Burvelle, Coffee.Colonel Stiet, Croaker bird, Dancing Spindle, Dark Evening, Dewara, Doril’s Foot, Dr. Jakib Amicas, Dust Dance, Elisi Burvelle, Epiny Kester, Farleyton’s Horse, Franner’s Bend, Gettys, Kase Remwar, Keft Burvelle, King’s Road, Lady Poronte, Landing Inn, Lord Poronte, Mosquitoes, Nevare Burvelle, Nita, Plague, Rosse Burvelle, Sefert Burvelle, Selethe Burvelle, Sergeant Erib Duril, Sirlofty, Spinrek “Spink” Kester, Tree Woman, Vanze Burvelle, Widevale, Yaril Burvelle. As might be expected from a long chapter with much going on, there are many indexable items to be found.

Yet again, Hobb repeats chapter titles, this time from City of Dragons, Chapter 11, and Blood of Dragons, Chapter 2. In the present case, reading the chapters against one another is not apt to reveal much; the circumstances differ much more than usual. The earlier chapters, belonging to the Realm of the Elderlings novels and dealing with beings capable of aerial flight, do not address the same issues as the present chapter (although it may well be the case that the two earlier chapters, both in the Rain Wilds Chronicles, should be read against each other, despite my lack of comment to that effect earlier in my rereadings; some revision and update suggest themselves as worth doing at some later time when I have the time). Still, given how often the title-repetition happens and the propensity towards suggested cross-reading, I thought pointing out the present chapter’s repetition of title bore pointing out.

In a bit of affective reading, I note with some appreciation the comments about accounting made in the chapter. Nevare bemoans but accepts the necessity of bookkeeping as he attempts to stand in for his father during his recovery (206-07); I’ve written on more than one occasion* about my own involvement in that profession, and it’s always nice to see the work I do represented as a needed thing. I spent quite enough time dealing with the opposite, as might be imagined for someone who at one point wanted to profess literature; the experiences have stayed with me, prompting me to appreciate it when the work I do is valued even if noted as something challenging enough to want others to do.

In a similar bit of reading, I note with interest Nevare’s comment that “Boredom sounded so attractive to me now” (209). In my own experience, not least having to do with flooding in my hometown (not only in 2025 and 2026, but also in 2002), boredom is a good thing; it means that nothing is going wrong. Hobb’s character make some gestures towards sharing that notion, such as in Assassin’s Fate, Chapters 9 and 22. Nevare seems to be of the same opinion in the present chapter, and I’ll admit to some additional pleasure in seeing an author validate parts of my understanding and experience. It’s not the only reason to keep reading, of course, and I continue to know that reading affectively isn’t something I should do–but I still do it, and it does help me push ahead with texts I’ve studied across some time, now.

Less affectively, I find more feminist discourse in the present chapter. Yaril’s situation, as depicted in the present chapter, serves as a powerful commentary on patriarchal structures. It is clear that Yaril is an intelligent and capable young woman; her adept handling of the Burvelle household after her return from the Poronte estate is testimony to that. It is also clear that she has been constrained by her circumstances, as several of her comments to Nevare indicate; examples include Yaril’s expression of disdain for Cecile and her railing against Carsina (217-18), as well as her reactions to Keft’s emergence from his chambers (219-24) and what she says to Nevare as he makes ready to leave as an outcast (226-29). To his credit, Nevare recalls what Epiny told him of such constrainment (see Shaman’s Crossing‘s “Séance,” and “A Ride in the Park,” as well as Forest Mage‘s “Forest Dreams”) as Yaril bewails her imminent danger to him. That he does not take her with him as he departs is not a commendation, to be sure, but given his own uncertainties, it may well be the least-bad option available to them in the moment. Additionally, that it reinforces the problems of the kind of patriarchy that Gernia presents, and that of the United States that it reflects, is not to be disregarded.

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* As witness, in no particular order: my biography, a comment about one of my professional challenges, a direct address to my indulgent readership, one of my many holiday-centric musings, one of my several travel reports, a brief poem, one of many ramblings, another of my several travel reports, and one of the many reactions to professional pieces I’ve put out into the world.

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