The Priory of the Orange Tree
Forty-Four
by Shannon, SamanthaThe chapter opens with Ead’s shock at encountering Lord Arteloth (Loth) in the Priory, a place where outsiders are forbidden. Both are stunned by the unexpected reunion, as Loth had been drugged and held captive for months. Despite his confusion, he recognizes Ead as his old friend and resolves to reconnect with her before his memories fade entirely. Ead, however, reacts with betrayal and anger, especially when she learns that Chassar, her mentor, deliberately kept Loth’s presence from her.
Ead confronts Chassar, demanding answers about Loth’s arrival. Chassar reveals that Loth brought a crucial riddlebox from the Donmata Marosa, an unexpected ally. He explains that Loth cannot leave the Priory, as their secrets must remain protected. Ead argues for his release, citing his family and loyalty, but Chassar dismisses her concerns, emphasizing the Priory’s greater mission. Their argument escalates as Ead admits her emotional ties to Sabran and the Inysh court, which Chassar views as blasphemous.
The tension shifts when Chassar discloses the Prioress’s new task for Ead: a dangerous mission beyond the Gate of Ungulus to destroy a rumored dragon egg in the uncharted Eria. Ead is horrified at the prospect of years in exile, interpreting the assignment as punishment for her divided loyalties. Chassar suggests an alternative—bearing a child for the Priory—but Ead rejects this outright, seeing it as no choice at all.
The chapter ends with Ead storming out, determined to confront the Prioress directly. Chassar tries to stop her, but she refuses to listen, highlighting her growing defiance and internal conflict between duty and personal connections. The unresolved tension sets the stage for further confrontation and underscores Ead’s struggle to reconcile her past allegiances with the Priory’s demands.
FAQs
1. How does Ead react to seeing Loth at the Priory, and what does this reveal about their relationship?
Answer:
Ead is initially shocked to see Loth, staring at him “as if at a ghost,” indicating she believed him lost or dead after his mission to Cárscaro. Their mutual surprise suggests neither expected this reunion. Despite her initial reaction, Ead quickly recognizes that Loth remains her friend, as she notes his familiar kindness and resolves to reach out to him before his memories fade further. This moment underscores their deep bond, forged during their time apart, and highlights Ead’s loyalty even within the rigid structure of the Priory.2. What dilemma does Chassar present to Ead regarding her future, and how does she respond?
Answer:
Chassar reveals the Prioress plans to send Ead on a perilous mission beyond the Gate of Ungulus to destroy a rumored dragon egg, which could take years. Alternatively, she could bear a child for the Priory, as her offspring might inherit her strong connection to the orange tree. Ead rejects this outright, calling it “no choice,” reflecting her defiance and unwillingness to be manipulated. Her reaction shows her growing resistance to the Priory’s control and hints at her internal conflict between duty and personal autonomy.3. Analyze the Prioress’s motivations for sending Ead on the mission to the Eria. What ulterior motives might be at play?
Answer:
While the mission is framed as urgent (to prevent a dragon egg from hatching), the Prioress likely has political motives. Chassar suggests she wants to distance Ead from Virtudom, where Ead has formed attachments, and “cleanse” her of perceived impurities—likely her ties to Sabran and Loth. By isolating Ead in the uncharted Eria, the Prioress ensures Ead’s loyalty shifts back to the South. This reveals the Priory’s authoritarian control and fear of outside influence, even on valued members like Ead.4. How does the chapter portray the tension between Ead’s loyalty to the Priory and her personal connections?
Answer:
The chapter highlights this tension through Ead’s emotional reactions. She is furious at Chassar for hiding Loth’s presence, showing her lingering care for him. Similarly, her defense of Sabran (“What if I did [care for her]?”) challenges Chassar’s disdain for Virtudom. Yet, Ead still obeys Priory rules, like attending ceremonies. This conflict peaks when she rejects the Prioress’s “choices,” signaling her struggle to reconcile duty with her own moral compass. The Priory’s rigid ideology clashes with Ead’s nuanced relationships.5. What symbolic significance does the Gate of Ungulus hold in the chapter, and how does it reflect Ead’s journey?
Answer:
The Gate of Ungulus represents the unknown and exile—both literal and metaphorical. For Ead, the mission beyond it mirrors her emotional displacement: she is caught between worlds (South and Virtudom) and faces isolation again. The barren Eria, with its “brutal sun” and no water, parallels her current desolation. Yet, the journey could also symbolize purification or rebirth, as Chassar suggests. The gate thus embodies Ead’s crossroads: will she submit to the Priory’s will, or forge her own path?
Quotes
1. “Now there she was, cloaked in red, hair thickset with flowers. And she looked … whole, and full, and fire-new. As if she had gone for too long without water, and now she was in bloom.”
This vivid description captures Loth’s emotional reunion with Ead after months of separation and memory manipulation. The “fire-new” imagery contrasts with his half-sleep state, emphasizing how Ead represents vitality and truth in his compromised world.
2. “You know that when outsiders find the Priory, they can never leave.”
Chassar’s chilling statement reveals the Priory’s secretive, uncompromising nature. This institutional ruthlessness creates immediate tension around Loth’s fate and sets up Ead’s moral dilemma about her friend’s imprisonment.
3. “The Prioress means to take advantage of it. She intends to send you to the lands beyond the Gate of Ungulus.”
This revelation marks a major turning point, as Ead learns she’s being exiled again - this time to a mythical wasteland. The quote underscores how her unique abilities make her both valuable and expendable to the Priory’s agenda.
4. “You could offer her a child. […] Do this, and she may send Nairuj south instead, once she has given birth.”
Chassar’s disturbing proposition highlights the Priory’s utilitarian view of its members. The reproductive ultimatum forces Ead to confront the organization’s dehumanizing demands versus her personal autonomy.
5. “For me, that is no choice.”
Ead’s terse rejection encapsulates her defiance and moral clarity. This decisive moment shows her prioritizing personal ethics over institutional obedience, foreshadowing her growing resistance to the Priory’s control.