A Darker Shade of Magic
Chapter 10: White Throne I
by Schwab, V. E.The chapter opens with Prince Rhy and Kell engaged in a lesson on elemental magic, though Rhy is more preoccupied with planning a masquerade or costume ball. Despite his playful distractions, Kell insists on focusing their session. Rhy attempts to manipulate earth within a glass orb but struggles, only managing a slight movement after much effort. His frustration grows as he reflects on his inability to master magic despite his fluency in multiple languages. Kell explains that magic requires humility and respect, as the elements are indifferent to Rhy’s royal status.
Rhy’s frustration deepens as he compares his struggles to Kell’s natural affinity for magic. Kell, an Antari, can command elements effortlessly, even without speaking, though blood magic remains a unique challenge. Rhy envies Kell’s abilities, particularly his power to travel between worlds, and asks about the other Londons. Kell hesitates, knowing that sharing such knowledge might only burden Rhy, who can never visit those places himself. He dismisses the question, calling the other worlds “uneventful,” and redirects Rhy’s attention back to the lesson.
The dynamic between the two reveals Rhy’s underlying insecurity and Kell’s protective nature. Rhy jokes about using magic to attract romantic partners, but his humor masks a deeper sense of inadequacy. Kell teases him but also recognizes Rhy’s genuine frustration. When Rhy suggests abandoning the lesson to go out, Kell reluctantly agrees, though he suspects Rhy’s motives are more about distraction than finding a future spouse. Their banter underscores their close bond, even as Rhy struggles with his limitations.
The chapter concludes with Rhy’s playful insistence on seeking adventure in the city, framing their outing as a mission to find a mate. Kell, though skeptical, humors him, and their exchange highlights the contrast between Rhy’s carefree charm and Kell’s more disciplined demeanor. The unresolved tension around Rhy’s magical struggles and Kell’s secrets about the other Londons lingers, setting the stage for future developments. The scene captures their brotherly rapport while hinting at deeper emotional undercurrents.
FAQs
1. What is the fundamental difference between how Antari like Kell manipulate elements versus how they manipulate blood, according to the chapter?
Answer:
The key difference lies in the nature of control. For elements (earth, water, air, etc.), Antari like Kell can influence them through focused will and invocation—almost like a meditative chant that establishes synchronicity with the magic. The elements respond as extensions of the self, akin to moving a limb. Blood, however, operates differently. It possesses its own will and must be addressed as an equal or adversary. Blood commands are not requests but direct orders, requiring authoritative language to compel obedience. This distinction highlights why Antari are unique: they alone can command both elements and blood, though through fundamentally different approaches (Kell reflects on this while observing Rhy’s struggles with elemental magic).2. How does Rhy’s attitude toward learning magic contrast with Kell’s perspective on mastery, and what does this reveal about their characters?
Answer:
Rhy approaches magic with impatience and frustration, viewing it as a skill that should yield to his natural charm or status as a prince. His focus is superficial—he wants to use magic to impress others, lamenting that elements “disrespect” him. Kell, meanwhile, emphasizes humility and respect for magic’s inherent rules, telling Rhy the elements “do not care you will be king.” This contrast reveals Rhy’s privileged upbringing and tendency to seek quick rewards, while Kell embodies discipline and deeper understanding. Their dynamic also hints at Rhy’s insecurity about living in Kell’s shadow, as seen when he mutters, “we can’t all be … you.”3. Analyze the significance of the scrying table scene. Why does Kell choose not to show Rhy the other Londons, despite his initial temptation?
Answer:
The scrying table represents a moment of potential vulnerability and connection—Kell considers sharing his experiences of other Londons to alleviate his isolation. However, he decides against it, recognizing that such knowledge would only burden Rhy, who can never visit those worlds. This illustrates Kell’s protective instincts and a recurring theme: the weight of inaccessible knowledge. Kell’s final answer (“Uneventful”) is a deflection to spare Rhy existential frustration, mirroring how he often shields others from harsh truths. The scene underscores Kell’s loneliness as an Antari and the emotional toll of being the sole bridge between worlds.4. How does the chapter use physical objects (the glass orbs, the scrying table) to symbolize broader themes of power and limitation?
Answer:
The glass orbs—each containing an element—serve as metaphors for constrained potential. Rhy’s struggle to move the earth inside its orb mirrors his constrained magical ability despite his royal status, while Kell’s effortless control highlights his innate power. Similarly, the scrying table’s enchanted water embodies the tension between revelation and restraint; it can project visions but becomes a tool of suppression when Kell withholds truth. These objects physicalize the chapter’s exploration of power dynamics: Rhy’s frustration with his limits, Kell’s burden of knowledge, and the idea that true mastery requires respecting boundaries (whether magical or personal).5. Evaluate Rhy’s proposal to “go out” at the chapter’s end. What does this reveal about his coping mechanisms and relationship with Kell?
Answer:
Rhy’s abrupt shift from magic practice to seeking entertainment reflects his avoidance of failure and discomfort. Rather than persist, he deflects with humor and distraction (“let’s go out … we’re on a mission”). His quip about finding a mate underscores his tendency to mask insecurity with charm and revelry. This dynamic also reveals his reliance on Kell—both as a magical tutor and emotional anchor—while simultaneously resisting deeper engagement. Kell’s resigned compliance (“Moving on”) suggests familiarity with Rhy’s patterns, reinforcing their bond as brothers who navigate each other’s flaws with a mix of exasperation and care.
Quotes
1. “The earth beneath your feet does not care you will be king. Nor the water in your cup. Nor the air you breathe. You must speak to them as equal, or even better, as supplicant.”
This quote captures Kell’s lesson to Rhy about the humility required to wield magic. It underscores the chapter’s theme that magic cannot be commanded through status or charm but demands respect and alignment with natural elements.
2. “Whatever flowed through the water—and the sand, and the earth, and the rest—flowed through him, too, and he could will it, as he would a limb, to move for him.”
This insight reveals Kell’s innate connection to magic, contrasting his effortless mastery with Rhy’s struggles. It highlights the Antari’s unique relationship with elemental forces, a key concept in the chapter’s exploration of magic systems.
3. “The thing about people, Kell had discovered, is that they didn’t really want to know. They thought they did, but knowing only made them miserable.”
This philosophical observation reflects Kell’s internal conflict about sharing his knowledge of other Londons. It speaks to broader themes of isolation and the burden of unique perspective that runs through the narrative.
4. “Your problem, Rhy, is that you don’t want to learn magic to learn magic. You only want to learn it because you think it will help you lure people into your bed.”
This humorous yet pointed critique encapsulates the dynamic between the brothers and Rhy’s superficial motivations. It contrasts their approaches to power while revealing their playful relationship.
5. “The Antari blood commands were, as the term suggested, commands. The words Kell spoke to open doors or heal wounds with his blood were orders. And they had to be given in order to be obeyed.”
This explanation of Antari magic’s unique rules provides crucial worldbuilding detail. It distinguishes blood magic from elemental magic and establishes the hierarchy of magical systems in this universe.