I Read What?!

So last time, we hung out with a druid that I forgot existed. I'm kind of assuming he'll die soon. Just because.



Ugh, back with heroes.

That sounds mean, because I actually do like Cadderly and Danica and company a lot. The problem is, I'm far more invested in Aballister vs. Barjin right now. They're both evil assholes, but the power struggle is actually interesting. Especially because both seem quite a bit smarter than the usual villain stereotype.

Cadderly and Danica, on the other hand, read like a high fantasy version of a high school teen sitcom. Cute. But not really to my taste. I do figure though that's going to change soon, though.

So we start with Cadderly visiting the dwarves. Pikul is stirring a cauldron. I'm still not sure what his deal is. Cadderly wants Ivan to finish the crossbow. Ivan warns that Cadderly's in trouble. The tapestry he'd brought belonged to Headmistress Pertelope, and she wasn't pleased to see it in the kitchen.

I completely forgot the deal with tapestry. I could probably go back and look but, eh. It does kind of emphasize my point though. We've got likable teenaged antics vs. politically scheming death cultists. Sorry, I'm almost thirty years out of high school.

But Cadderly's definitely in trouble, as we get a dramatic authority figures are right behind you moment. It's Avery AND Pertelope. Cadderly's in trouble indeed.

Oof. Actually:

“So you have elevated your mischief to theft,” Avery remarked. “I fear your time in the library may be drawing to an end, Brother Cadderly, though that unfortunate conclusion was not entirely unexpected, given your heri—”

Interesting place for Pertelope to interject. I think I can figure it out, but only because later appearances by the character include a surname. Anyway, Pertelope is both irked at Cadderly but defensive too, stating that he must be given the opportunity to defend herself.

It also does seem a little quick. Avery's been a disapproving authority figure all book, but he didn't seem to dislike Cadderly enough to go with immediate expulsion for childish antics. I get the impression that Cadderly's "heri-" might be a factor. But the shift does seem extreme.

Pertelope's interjection does seem to calm the situation though, as Avery goes from threatening expulsion to merely asking what Cadderly's doing here. Cadderly tries to claim he's there to make sure he didn't miss anything with his cleaning - a silly claim because the kitchen's ALWAYS disastrous.

Avery doesn't fall for it, and merely, sarcastically, orders him to go join Rufo in the wine cellar. He leaves. Pertelope sticks behind. She's definitely the more reasonable authority figure, but if anything, I think she might be a little soft on the kid.

I LIKE Cadderly as a character, but we've had eight chapters, most of which showed some kind of misbehavior. I think maybe the kid needs a bit stricter hand with discipline. Not expulsion, but not coddling either.

Pertelope states that she knows Cadderly meant to return it, but wants to know why he appropriated at all, when he might just have asked to see it. She admires the nearly-complete crossbow and accepts Cadderly's explanation that he thought the surprise would be better when completed.

She asks if it can be completed now without the tapestry, and when the answer is yes, she says she'll want to see it when done. She does scold again about asking, and reassures him that Avery will forgive soon as he likes Cadderly despite his bluster.

I mean probably, but I do kind of wish we got to see Cadderly experience consequences. He clearly doesn't give a shit about the punishments, so it's hard to be satisfied by that.

--

We switch scenes to Barjin. And OH. He's watching Rufo sorting bottles. THAT's interesting. He initially thinks that Rufo will be perfect to set off spell, but he's also not possessed of enough "innocence".

Why? I mean, I know Rufo's the rival. But what exactly makes Cadderly more "innocent" than Rufo? It doesn't sound like either have gotten up to anything more than bickering and mischief. (I'm sure Cadderly will be the one tricked into opening it. Danica is an outside possibility. But I can read a fictional room.)

There's also a weird bit where it seems like Barjin is calling the bottle a hypocrite? Why?

I mean, seriously, look:

Barjin’s delight diminished considerably when he worked his way far enough around the room to cast some detection spells on the man. The same spells had been ambiguous on the groundskeeper—Barjin had not known for certain whether the old wretch would suffice until the warding glyphs had blown him back from the bottle—but the spells were not so ambiguous concerning the newcomer. The man was not possessed of innocence and would have no more luck with the magic bottle than did the groundskeeper.

“Hypocrite,” Barjin grumbled silently.

Still don't understand why Rufo's so "not innocent" but fine, whatever. Because we see the one that is:

He was still contemplating things when a second priest unexpectedly came skipping down the stairwell. Barjin watched curiously as the smiling young man, hair bouncing around his shoulders under a wide-brimmed hat, moved to confer with the angular worker. Barjin’s detection spells had not yet expired and when he focused on the new arrival, his curiosity turned to delight.

There was his catalyst.

Called it.

But still, we've spent eight chapters of this book watching Cadderly lie, cheat and steal. Well-meaning, of course, and childish not malicious. But still, if he counts as innocent. Why doesn't Rufo? What's Rufo done that we don't know about?

--

So we switch viewpoints to Cadderly, who asks if they should work together, in a bubbly fake voice.

Kierkan Rufo glared at him. “Have you any tricks planned for me now?” he asked. “Any new baubles to show off at my expense?”

“Are you saying you didn’t deserve it?” Cadderly asked. “You started the battle when you brought Avery to my room.”

“Pity the mighty scribe,” came the sarcastic reply.

...see?

Cadderly though does sympathize with Rufo, we're told. Apparently, he'd been shunted aside when Cadderly had so much success with the wizard's spellbook. I don't really remember this either, but it's fine in context. I'm sure it was mentioned, I just paid more attention to the villain hijinx.

Rufo explains the system he's using for the inventory. Of COURSE Cadderly immediately sees ways to improvement, but decides to say nothing and compliments the system instead. I mean, I do like that he's trying to be less of a dick. But I definitely feel more for Rufo here.

There's a moment when Rufo spots a flash of light and discovers the door in the back of the wine cellar. Cadderly, of course, wants to explore it. Rufo wants to report to the headmaster. And I'll give Salvatore some credit here, because I am absolutely certain Rufo will be right. I'm also pretty sure the poor guy is going to meet an awful end.

Cadderly is really into the idea of exploring. Apparently, historically, the lowest levels are significant. The founders had thought they'd be more easily defended, but abandoned them when they became more able to deal with the environmental hazards.

So the Hardy Boys, one nervous and one excited, explore.

It does occur to me that, despite their ages, neither of these characters really read like college age students to me. Cadderly is very immature for twenty-one. They read about fourteen or fifteen at most. I wish I thought that was intentional.

--

Back to Barjin, watching the "two men" and yeah. No. They're kids. He's really hoping they'll decide to explore, and when Rufo decides to go back, he quickly ambushes him with a hypnotic enchantment. Oof, poor guy.

Still not sure how he counts as less innocent. But of course, Barjin's suggestions are "not contrary to the scholar's deepest desires".

Rather like Avery, it seems like a sudden shift from rival to secretly malicious rival, but okay fine.

There's a LOT of quick one page scene shifting here, and I'm not really a fan. It's cinematic, in a sense, and does build some tension/anticipation, but it's also chaotic.

Anyway the gist is, a mind controlled Rufo pushes Cadderly down the stairs then closes and blocks off the hidden door, before going up to bed. He vaguely remembers what happens, and even more vaguely remembers something else:

Try as he may, poor Rufo could not remember anything about the shadowy figure. In the back of his mind, Rufo retained the strange sensation that he had made a friend this night, one who understood his frustrations and who agreed that Cadderly was an unworthy upstart.

Again, this seems really abrupt. I mean, yes, mind control is involved. But there's a difference between a friendly rivalry and this sudden "he's an unworthy upstart" shit. For one thing, Cadderly's lived at the library for at least ten years and was a prodigy the whole time. "Upstart" implies a sudden arrival or sudden rise of status. Rufo should be long used to him.

I appreciate that Salvatore is trying to get the actual plot going, I just wish he had a lighter touch with it. Anyway, the chapter ends here.