Blood & Honey
The Wisest Course of Action: Reid
by Mahurin, ShelbyThe chapter opens with a tense atmosphere as Lou questions how their enemy, Morgane, discovered their camp’s location. The group debates whether Morgane could have flown there or if she had been secretly observing them all along. Madame Labelle insists her protective enchantments should have prevented this, but doubts linger. Reid, lost in thought by the fire, recalls Morgane’s cryptic message about “green tears” and a “pall,” sensing a deeper, more ominous plan at work.
Lou concludes that they must leave immediately to evade Morgane, though Coco worries she will simply follow them. Reid remains silent, grappling with the realization that Morgane’s note hints at an attack during the Archbishop’s funeral. He understands her tactics better than anyone and recognizes the funeral as a trap. However, he struggles with the moral dilemma of risking Lou’s life to save countless others, knowing that her safety is intertwined with his own.
Reid’s internal conflict intensifies as he weighs the lives of unknown family members against Lou’s survival. He recalls a past moment where Lou nearly died, reinforcing his refusal to lose her. Yet, the thought of abandoning innocent people to Morgane’s schemes feels equally unbearable. The group remains unaware of his turmoil, with Beau dismissing his theories as overreach. Madame Labelle gently suggests his grief for the Archbishop may be clouding his judgment.
Despite the skepticism, Reid stands firm in his belief that Morgane will strike at the funeral. He argues that her message clearly signals her intentions, even if the others fail to see it. The chapter ends with Reid unresolved, torn between protecting Lou and preventing a massacre. His emotional detachment begins to crack as he acknowledges the weight of his decision, leaving the group—and the reader—in suspense about his next move.
FAQs
1. What key dilemma does Reid face in this chapter, and what are the conflicting factors he must weigh?
Answer:
Reid faces a moral dilemma between protecting Lou and preventing Morgane’s potential massacre at the Archbishop’s funeral. He recognizes that Morgane’s note hints at an attack during the funeral (“crying, tears, pall”), which would endanger many innocent lives. However, acting on this knowledge would require walking into a trap and putting Lou at risk. Reid struggles with the utilitarian calculation of “one for the sake of many” versus his personal devotion to Lou, compounded by the realization that the potential victims include his unknown blood-bound family members (pages 56-57).2. How does Reid’s understanding of Morgane differ from the other characters’ perspectives, and why is this significant?
Answer:
Reid has studied Morgane as a military strategist (“the enemy”), while others like Lou and Madame Labelle know her as a mother or friend. This gives him unique insight into her patterns—he recognizes her funeral threat isn’t just poetic language but a tactical clue. His expertise allows him to interpret her movements as deliberate strategy rather than personal vendetta, making him the only character who grasps the full scale of her planned attack (page 57). This difference underscores the chapter’s tension between emotional bonds and strategic thinking.3. Analyze the significance of the line “She cries alone within her pall, her tears so green and bright.” How does Reid interpret this differently from others?
Answer:
While the group initially focuses on how Morgane found their camp, Reid recognizes the line as metaphorical bait pointing to the Archbishop’s funeral (“pall” meaning funeral cloth). Where others see vague poetic threats, Reid deciphers a specific time and place for Morgane’s attack. His interpretation shifts the chapter’s conflict from defensive survival to proactive intervention, though he hesitates because acting on this insight would require endangering Lou (pages 55-56). The green tears may additionally symbolize poison or witchcraft, hinting at the attack’s method.4. What does Reid’s internal struggle reveal about his character development in this chapter?
Answer:
Reid’s conflict marks a pivotal growth moment—he transitions from a detached strategist to someone emotionally invested in both Lou (“I wasn’t interested in a life without her”) and his newfound “family” (Beau, Ansel, etc.). His fortress-like emotional control begins cracking as he acknowledges these bonds, yet he still defaults to methodical analysis (“marshaled my thoughts back into order”). This tension between cold logic and human connection drives his dilemma, showing he’s no longer the unfeeling Chasseur from earlier in the story (pages 56-58).5. How does the chapter use dramatic irony regarding Morgane’s plans, and what effect does this create?
Answer:
Dramatic irony arises because readers (like Reid) suspect Morgane’s funeral plot long before Lou and others grasp it. This tension builds as characters ask “wrong questions” about bathwater and tracking spells while Reid silently pieces together the real threat. The effect is twofold: it heightens suspense (we anticipate disaster they don’t see) and emphasizes Reid’s isolation as the only one understanding the full danger. When he finally speaks (“It’s not invisible”), the delayed revelation underscores how perspective shapes survival strategies (pages 54-56).
Quotes
1. “It was a good question. It wasn’t the right one.”
This early observation by Reid sets the tone for the chapter’s tension, highlighting how the characters are asking surface-level questions while deeper dangers loom. It foreshadows Reid’s critical realization about Morgane’s true plans.
2. “Grief thundered against the door of my fortress, but I kept it at bay, ignored the shard of longing that threatened to cut me open.”
A powerful metaphor revealing Reid’s emotional struggle as he processes Morgane’s threat. This quote exemplifies the chapter’s theme of balancing duty against personal vulnerability.
3. “One for the sake of many. It was a wise sentiment, but wrong, somehow.”
This pivotal moment captures Reid’s moral dilemma - whether to sacrifice Lou to save others. The quote crystallizes the chapter’s central conflict between utilitarian logic and personal loyalty.
4. “No longer faceless strangers, Morgane’s targets were now the brothers and sisters I hadn’t yet met… My family.”
This realization marks a turning point where Reid’s sense of responsibility expands beyond Lou to include others connected through magic. It shows his evolving understanding of community and belonging.
5. “What I want is to stop whatever she’s planning… We do. She isn’t going to spell it out for us, but the threat is clear—”
This exchange demonstrates Reid’s authoritative understanding of Morgane’s tactics, contrasting with others’ skepticism. It underscores the chapter’s tension between intuition and concrete evidence.