Blood & Honey
Trial by Fire: Reid
by Mahurin, ShelbyReid and Lou, disguised to evade detection, prepare to infiltrate a convoy to escape their pursuers. Lou insists Reid target a poor farmer’s wagon, but he refuses to prey on the weak. She argues survival demands pragmatism, directing him to a different wagon while she targets a gilded carriage nearby. Reid is hesitant, overwhelmed by the risks, but Lou reassures him with a plan: pose as an injured traveler, gain entry, and use magic if necessary. Despite his moral reservations, Reid recognizes the urgency of their situation and the consequences of failure.
Lou coaches Reid on his disguise and backstory, emphasizing the need for quick, discreet action. She instructs him to enchant anyone who might recognize them, even a Chasseur, to ensure safe passage. Reid struggles with the idea of using magic, fearing detection, but Lou counters that the crowded road will buy them time. His anxiety peaks at the thought of Lou being hunted if he fails, forcing him to consider magic as a last resort. Lou’s unwavering confidence and swift kiss on his cheek offer fleeting comfort before she departs to execute her part of the plan.
Reid grapples with his internal conflict, torn between his aversion to magic and the dire need to protect Lou. Lou’s advice to embrace his magic rather than resist it lingers in his mind, but self-doubt persists. As the wagons approach, Lou delivers an emotional declaration of love, leaving Reid stunned and unable to respond before she vanishes into the crowd. The weight of her words and the impending danger leave Reid emotionally raw, yet determined to proceed despite his fears.
Alone, Reid steels himself and approaches the farmer’s wagon, adopting his injured persona. The convoy’s standstill provides cover, but his knocks go unanswered at first. The chapter ends with Reid poised on the brink of action, his fate uncertain, as the tension between his principles and survival reaches its peak. The emotional and physical stakes are laid bare, underscoring the high-risk nature of their escape plan.
FAQs
1. What is Reid’s moral conflict regarding their plan to infiltrate the wagon, and how does Lou justify their actions?
Answer:
Reid experiences significant moral conflict about preying on a weak, poor farmer to gain access to his wagon, stating “I won’t prey on the weak.” Lou justifies this by emphasizing survival—”You will if you want to live”—and frames it as a necessary evil. She reassures Reid by positioning herself nearby to assist and argues that desperate times call for desperate measures, including potential violence or enchantment. Lou prioritizes their survival over ethics, showing her pragmatic approach to life-or-death situations, while Reid struggles with compromising his principles.2. How does Lou prepare Reid for their deception, and what does this reveal about their dynamic?
Answer:
Lou meticulously prepares Reid by disguising him as an injured aristocrat with a broken nose (bloody bandage) and leg (crutch), crafting a backstory about bandit attacks. She instructs him to manipulate the farmer’s wife through pity or force, even suggesting enchantment if needed. This reveals Lou’s strategic, survival-oriented mindset contrasting with Reid’s hesitation. Their dynamic shows Lou as the decisive leader guiding Reid through morally gray areas, while Reid relies on her direction but resists ethically. Her final kiss and declaration of love also reveal their deep emotional bond beneath the tension.3. Analyze the significance of magic in this chapter—how does Reid’s relationship with it evolve, and what internal conflict does this create?
Answer:
Magic represents Reid’s central internal conflict. Though he insists “I can’t” use it—fearing detection and loathing its association with witchcraft—Lou counters that he must “open yourself up to your magic” and accept it as a tool. The chapter shows his reluctant evolution: from absolute rejection (“It is not your enemy”) to considering enchantment as a last resort. This mirrors his broader struggle between Chasseur dogma and survival needs. The whispered “Seek us” suggests magic’s persistent pull on him, creating tension between his identity and newfound reality.4. What does Lou’s contingency plan reveal about the risks they face and the themes of the chapter?
Answer:
Lou’s backup plan—”punch the Chasseur in the nose and run like hell”—underscores the high stakes: discovery means death. This highlights themes of sacrifice and adaptability. Her reference to Coco and Ansel’s success contrasts with Reid’s pessimism, emphasizing luck’s role in survival. The plan also reflects the chapter’s tension between control and chaos; despite meticulous preparation (disguises, backstories), everything hinges on improvisation. Thematically, it reinforces that in their world, principles must sometimes yield to pragmatism, a lesson Reid struggles to accept.5. How does the chapter use physical and emotional contrasts to deepen character development?
Answer:
Physical contrasts abound: Lou’s aristocratic disguise vs. Reid’s wounded beggar persona; the farmer’s “gaunt face” vs. the “gilded carriage” Lou targets. These mirror emotional contrasts—Lou’s ruthless pragmatism vs. Reid’s moral anguish; her confident “I love you” vs. his choked, unspoken reply. Reid’s nausea and “numb lips” physically manifest his inner turmoil, while Lou’s strained chuckle masks her fear. The abrupt ending—Reid knocking as Lou’s voice fades—heightens tension between their united goal and divergent emotional states, deepening their complexity.
Quotes
1. “I won’t prey on the weak.” […] “You will if you want to live.”
This exchange between Reid and Lou captures the central moral conflict of the chapter - Reid’s principled resistance versus Lou’s pragmatic survival instincts. It sets up the tension between ethics and necessity that drives their actions throughout the scene.
2. “This isn’t the time for a principled stand, Reid. We can’t risk magic out in the open, but within the confines of her wagon, do whatever is necessary.”
Lou’s blunt advice represents the chapter’s key theme of moral compromise for survival. This moment marks a turning point where Reid must confront the reality that his old principles may not serve him in their desperate circumstances.
3. “Open yourself up to your magic. Accept it, welcome it, and it’ll come to you.”
Lou’s instruction about magic use reveals the chapter’s exploration of Reid’s internal struggle with his magical abilities. This quote encapsulates the transformative mindset shift Reid must make to survive, contrasting sharply with his previous rejection of magic.
4. “I know things have changed between us. But I want you to know that I love you. Nothing can ever change that.”
This emotional declaration serves as both a relationship milestone and a moment of vulnerability amidst the tension. It provides emotional weight to the dangerous mission they’re about to undertake together.
5. “I didn’t get to say it back.”
Reid’s final thought creates poignant dramatic irony, leaving readers with a sense of unfinished business and heightened stakes as he embarks on his dangerous mission. This simple line underscores the emotional tension beneath the action.