The Priory of the Orange Tree
Fifty
by Shannon, SamanthaThe chapter opens with Ead, a skilled and stealthy operative, navigating the palace after killing a guard. She instructs Loth to hide with Margret while she scouts the area, noting his shock at her lethal actions. Ead moves through the palace undetected, neutralizing two knights-errant outside the Sanctuary Royal. Inside, she observes the courtiers’ divided loyalties, symbolized by their livery, and hears a prayer for Queen Sabran, who is supposedly in seclusion. Ead deduces that the Duchess of Justice is consolidating power, leaving the sanctuary with a grim understanding of the political turmoil.
Meanwhile, Loth reunites with his sister Margret after months of absence. Their emotional reunion is tinged with urgency as Loth reveals Ead’s presence and the dire situation surrounding Queen Sabran. Margret shares that Sabran is confined in the royal apartments, guarded by Crest retainers, with only Roslain permitted to attend her. The absence of light in Sabran’s quarters—a stark deviation from her usual habits—hints at her distress. Loth discloses the devastating truth that Sabran is not pregnant, her womb having been injured by the White Wyrm, which explains Crest’s power grab.
Margret processes the revelation, realizing Crest aims to seize the throne before Sabran’s natural death. The trio recognizes the impending threat of the Nameless One’s return and the need for unity in Inys. Ead arrives, reuniting with Margret, and they quickly shift focus to rescuing Sabran. Margret reiterates the queen’s isolation and the suspicious absence of key figures like Combe and the Knights of the Body. Ead, determined to reach Sabran, acknowledges the challenge of bypassing Crest’s forces with only three of them.
The chapter underscores the tension between loyalty and survival as Ead, Loth, and Margret strategize to free Sabran from Crest’s control. The political machinations, emotional reunions, and looming supernatural threat converge, setting the stage for a high-stakes rescue mission. The absence of trusted allies and the manipulation of Sabran’s supposed pregnancy highlight the fragility of power in Inys. The chapter ends with a sense of urgency as the trio prepares to confront the forces arrayed against them, united by their devotion to Sabran and their homeland.
FAQs
1. What are the key signs that suggest Queen Sabran is being held against her will in the Queen Tower?
Answer:
Several clues indicate Sabran is being forcibly confined. First, her usual sleeping habits are violated—Loth notes “there is no light up there,” despite Sabran’s known inability to sleep in darkness (page 521). Second, only Roslain Crest and her retainers (wearing black-and-murrey livery) have access to Sabran, with Crest’s guards blocking the doors (page 520-521). Third, the Arch Sanctarian’s prayer mentions Crest “tending vigilantly” to Sabran, implying control (page 520). Finally, Margret reveals the fabricated pregnancy is a pretext for confinement, as Sabran’s womb was injured during the White Wyrm’s attack (page 521), suggesting Crest aims to seize power prematurely.2. How does Ead demonstrate her tactical expertise in this chapter?
Answer:
Ead employs multiple strategic maneuvers. She kills a guard efficiently but regrets the necessity, preferring non-lethal “candling” (rendering unconscious) for the knights-errant (page 519-520). Her reconnaissance reveals critical intel: she observes the Crest faction’s dominance in the Sanctuary Royal through their coordinated livery (page 520) and notes Sabran’s absence from public prayers. She also directs Loth to hide with Margret while scouting separately, minimizing exposure (page 519). Later, she bolts doors before discussions (page 522), showing operational security awareness. These actions highlight her adaptability, from stealth to analysis of political factions.3. Analyze the significance of Margret’s emotional reaction to Loth’s return. What does it reveal about Inys’s current state?
Answer:
Margret’s tearful embrace and threats to “cut out [Loth’s] heart” (page 521) underscore the profound stress Inys’s court endures. Her immediate shift from joy to dread upon hearing Ead is present reflects the dangerous political climate—loyalists like Margret are isolated, as Combe and other dukes have disappeared (page 521). The siblings’ reunion also serves as exposition: Margret’s shock at Sabran’s infertility revelation (page 521) mirrors the kingdom’s impending crisis, as the royal succession is both biologically and politically compromised. Their private exchange highlights how ordinary relationships are strained by covert power struggles.4. What thematic role does the “false pregnancy” narrative play in the chapter’s political conflict?
Answer:
The fabricated pregnancy symbolizes the erosion of truth under Crest’s faction. It serves as a pretext to isolate Sabran (“confinement”) while manipulating public perception through the Arch Sanctarian’s prayers (page 520). This deception parallels real-world historical coups where female rulers’ reproductive status was politicized. The lie also underscores Sabran’s vulnerability—her actual injury (page 521) becomes a weapon against her. By controlling the narrative of a future heir, Crest consolidates power, exploiting Inys’s patriarchal succession laws. The motif reinforces themes of bodily autonomy and propaganda in governance.5. How does the chapter use religious imagery to foreshadow impending conflict?
Answer:
Religious language ominously frames the power struggle. The Arch Sanctarian’s prayer for “the Knight of Generosity” (page 520) contrasts with Crest’s ruthless actions, suggesting institutional hypocrisy. The focus on Sabran’s seclusion during “this most sacred time” (page 520) ironically mirrors her captivity. Meanwhile, Margret’s reference to “the Nameless One” (page 522)—the draconic antagonist—links the political coup to the broader supernatural threat. The Sanctuary Royal, traditionally a space of unity, now hosts factional divides (page 520), symbolizing how faith is being weaponized. These elements foreshadow both civil war and the dragon’s return.
Quotes
1. “She had hoped not to kill anyone in the palace. If there had been more time, Ead might have candled the man.”
This opening line establishes Ead’s moral conflict and preferred non-lethal methods (“candling” implies rendering unconscious). It sets the tense, high-stakes tone of the chapter as she navigates the palace covertly.
2. “Now we pray to the Knight of Generosity for Her Majesty, who prefers to pray in seclusion at this most sacred time… And we give thanks to Her Grace, the Duchess of Justice, who tends so vigilantly on them both.”
The Arch Sanctarian’s prayer reveals the political manipulation at play - framing Sabran’s forced isolation as voluntary devotion while highlighting Crest’s growing power. It exposes the religious facade masking a coup.
3. “There will be no Princess Glorian… Sab is not with child. And will not be with child again.”
Loth’s revelation to Margret about Sabran’s infertility is a pivotal plot point. This truth explains Crest’s urgency to seize power and fundamentally changes the succession crisis facing Inys.
4. “The Nameless One will return… I suppose all we can do now is prepare for it.”
Margret’s sober acknowledgment of the looming apocalyptic threat (the Nameless One) contrasts with the immediate political crisis. This quote bridges the personal stakes with the larger mythological danger approaching.
5. “And we cannot do that if Inys is divided.”
Ead’s entrance line underscores the chapter’s central tension - the need for unity against existential threats while the kingdom fractures politically. It encapsulates the story’s broader theme of solidarity versus division.