The Priory of the Orange Tree
Seventy-Six
by Shannon, SamanthaThe chapter opens with the ship *Rose Eternal* sailing along the western coast of Yscalin, a land recovering from the devastation of the Draconic Years. Fields are being replanted with lavender, and prayer houses are being rebuilt, signaling hope and renewal. Ead, now the Prioress of the Orange Tree, reflects on her new role as a leader rather than a handmaiden. She embraces her duty to protect the balance of the world, vowing to hunt down the dragon Fýredel and restore harmony when the Long-Haired Star returns. The setting is serene, with mereswine leaping in the waves and the salt wind invigorating Ead.
Ead contemplates the weight of leadership, contrasting her position with that of queens and empresses. Unlike Sabran, she does not bear a crown but serves as one among many guardians of the Priory. Her resolve is unwavering: she will ensure the orange tree’s fire is the only one that ascends, symbolizing her commitment to her sacred duty. The peaceful scene on the ship is interrupted by Gian Harlowe, who joins her at the stern. Their conversation shifts to Queen Marosa’s plans to reopen Yscalin to foreign sovereigns, hinting at diplomatic efforts to maintain peace in the region.
The tone becomes more introspective as Ead broaches a sensitive topic with Harlowe: rumors of his past relationship with Queen Rosarian and the mythical Milk Lagoon. Harlowe dismisses the lagoon as a fable, but Ead challenges him, suggesting legends often hold truths. Their exchange reveals Harlowe’s guarded emotions and his reluctance to revisit the past. He speaks cryptically of secrets and shadows, implying that some truths are better left unspoken. His words resonate with Ead, who understands the weight of hidden histories and unshared stories.
The chapter closes with a moment of quiet reflection between Ead and Harlowe under the stars. Harlowe’s cryptic remark about Ead’s future as a song hints at her destined legacy, while her faint smile suggests acceptance of her path. The scene underscores the themes of secrecy, legacy, and the interplay between myth and reality. Ead’s final words, “But not today,” leave the reader with a sense of anticipation, as her journey and the untold stories of the world remain unfolding.
FAQs
1. How is Yscalin recovering after Fýredel’s disappearance, and what does this suggest about the broader state of the world?
Answer:
The chapter shows Yscalin in a period of rebuilding after the devastation of the Draconic Years. Prayer houses and sanctuaries are being reconstructed, lavender is being replanted in burned fields, and red pear trees are expected to sweeten Cárscaro’s streets again. This recovery suggests a tentative return to peace and normalcy in the world after the threat posed by Fýredel. The mention of Queen Marosa planning to invite foreign sovereigns to her court in spring further indicates diplomatic reopening and a desire to reestablish international connections, hinting at a fragile but hopeful post-conflict era.2. How does Ead’s perspective on leadership differ from traditional monarchical rule, based on her thoughts about becoming Prioress?
Answer:
Ead contrasts her new role as Prioress with traditional monarchical rule by emphasizing that the Priory “does not possess a crown.” While acknowledging that Sabran’s queenship was a “heavy weight to bear,” she views herself as “one cloak among many” rather than an absolute ruler. This reflects the Priory’s more collective leadership structure compared to Inys’s monarchy. Ead’s background as a handmaiden also shapes her humble perspective on power, focusing on service (being a “guardian of the orange tree”) rather than dominion, while still recognizing her responsibility to hunt Fýredel and maintain balance.3. Analyze the symbolic significance of the conversation between Ead and Gian Harlowe about the Milk Lagoon and buried truths.
Answer:
The exchange about the Milk Lagoon serves as a metaphor for the novel’s broader themes of hidden histories and selective remembrance. Harlowe dismisses it as “a fable” for “lovers without hope,” yet his emotional reaction when discussing Queen Rosarian reveals how personal memories become intertwined with legend. Ead’s counterpoint that “all legends grow from a seed of truth” underscores the book’s exploration of how myths encode real events. Harlowe’s conclusion that “some truths are safest buried” reflects the political tensions between revelation and secrecy, mirroring Ead’s own position as a keeper of dangerous knowledge that isn’t yet ready to be shared.4. How does the chapter use natural imagery to convey thematic elements, particularly in describing Ead’s state of mind?
Answer:
Natural imagery underscores themes of renewal and Ead’s personal transformation. The mereswine leaping from waves and salt wind in her hair reflect her energized, awakened state after accepting her new role. Lavender fields and pear trees symbolize Yscalin’s rebirth, paralleling Ead’s own growth into leadership. The “wreath of blue-tinged smoke” from Harlowe’s pipe dissolves like transient concerns, while Ead’s final gaze toward the stars connects to the cosmic scale of her destiny (“the Long-Haired Star” reference). These elements collectively paint a world—and a protagonist—in transition between destruction and renewal.
Quotes
1. “She had never known what it was to rule. She had also spent enough time with Sabran to know that a crown was a heavy weight to bear—but the Priory of the Orange Tree did not possess a crown. She was not an empress or a queen, but one cloak among many.”
This quote captures Ead’s reflection on her new role as Prioress, contrasting traditional rulership with the collective leadership of the Priory. It highlights the chapter’s theme of duty versus power.
2. “She would not rest until the only fire that ascended came through the orange tree, and the mages who ate of its fruit. And when the Long-Haired Star came once more, the balance would be restored.”
This vow represents Ead’s core mission and the chapter’s central conflict. It underscores her determination to maintain cosmic balance while hinting at future celestial events.
3. “A wise young woman told me once that all legends grow from a seed of truth.”
Ead’s repetition of this philosophical insight (likely from Sabran) becomes significant when discussing Harlowe’s past. It reflects the chapter’s exploration of how myths and histories intertwine.
4. “Some truths are safest buried. Some castles best kept in the sky. There’s promise in tales that are yet to be spoken.”
Harlowe’s cryptic wisdom encapsulates the chapter’s meditation on secrecy and the power of untold stories. This poetic line suggests some histories should remain mysteries.
5. “You whose secrets will one day be a song.”
Harlowe’s prophetic remark to Ead foreshadows her legacy while maintaining the chapter’s musical motif. It suggests her actions will become legendary, tying back to the theme of stories and their preservation.