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Following the text of a public notice from the Bird Keepers’ Guild, “Flight” begins with Heeby and Sintara circling over Kelsingra and its surroundings, along with Fente, for whom Tats is keeper. Tats confers with the dragon, who departs, and he surveys the status of the other keepers and their dragons as the latter work to gain the skies. Mercor’s efforts in that line receive attention, and Tats finds himself responding to Alise’s questions, rehearsing the confrontation that had occurred between her and Rapskal over rights to Kelsingra. The two confer about how to address the dragons as they grow stronger and more capable, and they watch as one dragon, Ranculos, falls into the river and nearly drowns. Ranculos achieves Kelsingra, however, and discussion between Tats and Alise resumes, with her encouraging him to join his comrades.

As Tats heads off, Alise considers herself and her situation as the only human among the keepers-becoming-Elderlings. Outcomes available to her are rehearsed, and she makes efforts to integrate into the society just outside Kelsingra.

The equanimity with which the dragons in the present chapter face the possible death of one of their own is of some interest. Hobb has been at pains at times to present the non-humanity of the dragons in ways that echo or highlight some observable human tendencies; Beloved in the Tawny Man novels remarks to the effect that the dragons hold up a collective mirror to humanity. Alise echoes some of that sentiment in the present chapter, pointing out to Tats that the work of the dragons through the Elderlings of old is “what humans have done for generations” and positing that “Maybe humans will lose some of their pettiness if they have dragons to contend with” (19). Admittedly, there is always peril in assigning to authors beliefs voiced by their characters; it is too much to assume, for instance, that a writer believes the same thing their villains do. That said, it is often the case that protagonists give voice to things their authors would see true in the world, and more than one of Hobb’s focal characters seems to share particular opinions regarding Homo sapien hubris. Whether the opinion can be ascribed to the author remains uncertain, but given that multiple characters voice it with whom readers are encouraged to sympathize, it seems clear the opinion is not one to which the author likely objects–at least at the time of composition.

Things do change across years, after all.

The present chapter is another short one, to be sure. I expect there will be more to say about others as the text continues. I look forward to finding some of it out.

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After Reyall replies with reservation to Erek’s offer, “Ending a Life” opens with Alise waking in discomfort and surveying the total of her scholarship, “all in one stack.” She muses bitterly on her situation and the assertion by Rapskal that nothing of Elderling make ought to be in the hands of a non-Elderling, but soon rebukes herself for her angsty melancholy and is joined in that rebuke by the touch of Sintara’s mind on her own. Sintara signals some approval of Alise’s response, and Alise heads out to forage and survey her surroundings. While out, she encounters a big cat, which she frightens off. That done, she purposes to return to the keepers’ encampment with a warning about the predator, thinking she has earned a cup of tea as part of her own life.

It is a brief chapter, the present one, and structurally simpler than many in the series, consisting of a single section focusing on a short time in one character’s life–a couple of hours, at most. In that length and simplicity, it serves to ease the reader into reading; even though the novel is but one in a series, and the last rather than the first, it is a new novel, thus a new reading experience, and so an easing-in rather than a dropping-in makes sense. (This is not to say that a novel ought not to start amid action and suddenly; many novels do so, and they do so well. But it is jarring to start such a novel, and jarring is not always the most desirable thing to do to a reader.)

The focus on Alise also calls attention to her ongoing character development. She has clearly had an existence of her own while the narrative has focused on other characters, rather than remaining a static figure against which the others can be measured. To my eye, it is another iteration of the kind of verisimilitude for which Hobb avowedly strives and which she in large measure delivers. (There are exceptions, of course, but, as the adage has it, “Even Homer nods.”) I have certainly had the experience in my life of not seeing someone for a time and being surprised at the ways in which they have changed; I do not think I am alone in it. Accordingly, it rings true for me that Alise has changed a bit since she last occupied Hobb’s pages, and I like even my fantasies to ring true.

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As was the case for the first, second, and third volumes of the Rain Wilds Chronicles, the fourth and final volume, Blood of Dragons, begins with a cast of characters. Keepers and their dragons, Bingtowners, the crew of the Tarman (including the ship’s cat), and a miscellaneous array are described, with reference to previous novels and series where appropriate.

A brief prologue, “Changes” opens with Tintaglia waking to some discomfort due to the ongoing effects of an injury incurred during an attack by Chalcedean forces. Parted from Icefyre, she realizes to her chagrin that she had been following the older dragon, and she considers the humanization of her behavior unhappily as she rehearses her purpose of reaching Malta and Reyn and the demands of travel to them. When she attempts to take off, she falters, aggravating the injury, and when she regains the air, she does so with hardened purpose.

This will not be the first time I have written about the novel, of course; I first read it soon after it was published, and I wrote about it swiftly thereafter. It has been a while, though, since I have reread the novel–not the more than ten years since the initial reading, but far longer than ought to have been the case. I am pleased to be addressing the issue now, however, not only as part of this reading series, but also because a piece of scholarship I have undertaken to do will ask me to revisit the text in some detail. (And, in support of that piece of scholarship, I think this rereading series will be useful, although I can already see places where I could wish my annotation had been better than it currently is. Perhaps some kind of reading guide can come about that will be of help to others who would focus their attentions on Hobb’s work.)

As is ever the case, I look forward to moving through the book again. I don’t have as much luxury of time to read now as I did in the past, for a number of reasons (although parenting is less of one now than previously; I am pleased to have a child who, at least for now, enjoys reading, so it’s something we can do together). Giving myself reason to read, and to read materials I enjoy, is a good thing.

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