The Priory of the Orange Tree
Seven
by Shannon, SamanthaThe chapter opens with Ead Duryan entering the grand Council Chamber in Ascalon Palace, dressed formally for an audience with the Virtues Council. The chamber is adorned with a portrait of Sir Galian Berethnet, the revered ancestor of Queen Sabran, though Ead privately dismisses him as a “dolt.” The council is composed of three hierarchical groups: the powerful Dukes Spiritual, the Earls Provincial, and the commoner-born Knights Bachelor. Only four members are present today, including the formidable Lord Seyton Combe, the Principal Secretary known for his ruthless efficiency in rooting out conspiracies against the queen.
Ead is introduced as an Ordinary Servant of the Privy Chamber, and the queen, Sabran, greets her with a scrutinizing gaze. The tension is palpable as Combe questions Ead about her health, hinting at his suspicion. The conversation quickly shifts to the recent murder of a would-be assassin found outside the queen’s bedchamber, holding an Yscali dagger. Lady Nelda Stillwater reveals that this is the ninth such attempt in the past year, with five assassins mysteriously killed before they could strike. The council is determined to uncover the identity of the unseen protector who has been eliminating these threats.
Lady Igrain Crest, the Duchess of Justice, argues that the protector’s actions, while seemingly noble, are still unlawful and must be investigated. She emphasizes the need for transparency, fearing the unknown intentions of this shadowy figure. Combe presses Ead for information, warning that silence equates to treason. Ead maintains her composure, denying any knowledge of the assassin or sympathizers to the Draconic Kingdom of Yscalin. Throughout the interrogation, Queen Sabran watches Ead intently, adding to the atmosphere of unease.
The chapter highlights the political intrigue and danger surrounding Queen Sabran’s court, with Ead caught in the middle. The council’s suspicion of her, coupled with the queen’s enigmatic gaze, suggests deeper layers of mystery and potential conflict. Ead’s calm demeanor under pressure hints at her hidden resilience, while the unresolved question of the protector’s identity leaves the reader anticipating further revelations. The scene sets the stage for future tensions between loyalty, secrecy, and the pursuit of justice in the royal court.
FAQs
1. What is the structure and significance of the Virtues Council in Inys?
Answer:
The Virtues Council is the governing body of Inys, composed of three hierarchical groups. The most powerful are the Dukes Spiritual, who descend from the Holy Retinue—the six knights of Galian Berethnet—and guard the Virtues of Knighthood. Next are the Earls Provincial, heads of noble families governing Inys’s six counties, and finally the Knights Bachelor, commoners elevated to knighthood. This structure reflects Inys’s feudal and religious foundations, with lineage and virtue central to authority. The council’s limited attendance (only four members in this session) hints at either selective involvement or underlying political tensions, particularly given the ongoing threat to Queen Sabran.
2. How does Ead Duryan’s perspective on the Saint and the court’s power dynamics reveal her outsider status?
Answer:
Ead privately dismisses Sir Galian Berethnet, the revered Saint and ancestor to Queen Sabran, as “a thorough dolt,” contrasting sharply with the court’s veneration of him. This irreverence, coupled with her keen observations of political players like Seyton Combe (the “master of cutthroats”) and Igrain Crest, positions her as a critical outsider. While she performs courtly decorum, her internal commentary exposes the hypocrisy and performative virtue of the nobility. Her outsider perspective is further emphasized by her foreign origins (as an ambassador’s appointee) and her subtle defiance during questioning about the cutthroat attacks.
3. Analyze the tension between justice and secrecy in the council’s investigation of the cutthroat killings.
Answer:
The council is torn between gratitude for the unknown protector who killed the assassins and outrage at their secrecy. Igrain Crest, representing the Knight of Justice, condemns the killings as unlawful, arguing that the protector’s refusal to come forward suggests “sinister intent.” However, Ead counters that the intent was likely to save the queen, highlighting a moral dilemma: is it just to punish someone for preventing regicide? The debate underscores the council’s rigid adherence to protocol versus the pragmatic need for protection, reflecting broader themes of power, surveillance, and trust in the monarchy.
4. How does Samantha Shannon use physical descriptions to characterize key figures like Seyton Combe and Igrain Crest?
Answer:
Shannon employs vivid, almost grotesque imagery to depict the council members. Seyton Combe has “eyes like storms,” a “near-lipless mouth,” and expressions “like wine tempered with water,” painting him as calculating and emotionally controlled. Igrain Crest’s “frizzled” silver hair and “pale” lips mirror her rigid, austere morality. These descriptions serve as visual metaphors for their roles: Combe as a spymaster who masks his ruthlessness, and Crest as an unyielding enforcer of virtue. Such details deepen the reader’s understanding of the court’s oppressive atmosphere and the power dynamics Ead navigates.
5. What broader political conflicts are hinted at through the cutthroat attacks and the Yscali dagger?
Answer:
The Yscali-made dagger links the assassins to the Draconic Kingdom of Yscalin, suggesting external threats to Inys’s stability. The repeated attacks (nine in a year) imply either a systemic security failure or internal collusion, as noted by Combe’s inability to catch the “master of cutthroats.” The council’s focus on rooting out Yscalin sympathizers points to paranoia about foreign influence, while the protector’s anonymity hints at distrust within the palace itself. These elements foreshadow larger geopolitical strife, possibly involving religious or ideological warfare, given Inys’s devotion to the Saint and its opposition to draconic powers.
Quotes
1. “Ead thought he looked a thorough dolt.”
This private observation about the portrait of Saint Galian Berethnet reveals Ead’s irreverent attitude toward the revered founder of the Berethnet lineage, subtly establishing her outsider perspective at court.
2. “It was said that if a plot was hatched against Queen Sabran in the morning, he would have the accomplices on the rack by noon. A pity the master of cutthroats still eluded him.”
This description of Lord Seyton Combe’s ruthless efficiency highlights both the constant threat to the queen and the mysterious nature of the assassin’s protector who continues to evade detection.
3. “Like the cutthroat, this person entered the royal apartments unseen, somehow eluding the Knights of the Body. They then committed a murder and left the corpse for Her Majesty to find. Did they intend to frighten our queen to death?”
Lady Crest’s frustrated explanation captures the central mystery of the chapter - the unknown protector who kills would-be assassins but refuses to reveal themselves, creating tension between protection and threat.
4. “I imagine they intended to stop our queen being stabbed to death, Your Grace.”
Ead’s bold retort to Lady Crest demonstrates her willingness to challenge authority and her practical perspective on the mysterious protector’s actions, contrasting with the council’s more legalistic concerns.