The Priory of the Orange Tree
Sixty-Two
by Shannon, SamanthaThe chapter opens with Niclays and a group of pirates gathered around a scholar who has been deciphering an ancient script on Komoridu Island. The scholar reveals the story of Neporo, a pearl-diver who gained immortality after eating fruit from a magical mulberry tree. Despite her eternal youth, Neporo faced isolation and despair, eventually returning to the island to live among outcasts. The Golden Empress listens intently, her focus on the scholar’s words as she sharpens her sword, creating an atmosphere of tension and anticipation.
The scholar continues, explaining how Neporo’s immortality was limited—she could still be killed, though not by age or illness. Centuries later, during the eruption of the Dreadmount, Neporo received two celestial jewels from a dragon, which she used to seal the Nameless One, a powerful beast, for a thousand years. She was aided by Cleolind, a princess from the South who also possessed eternal life. Together, they wielded the jewels, but Cleolind perished in the process, leaving Neporo to return her body and one jewel to the South.
Niclays and his companion Laya react with shock, realizing the implications of the story: the founding legend of the House of Berethnet, which claims a lineage of queens keeps the Nameless One imprisoned, is false. Instead, the jewels are the true source of the beast’s confinement. The scholar then reveals that the second jewel, the rising jewel, was hidden within a descendant of Neporo, passed down through generations. The tree’s death raises questions about the jewel’s current whereabouts and its significance.
The chapter concludes with the Golden Empress questioning the scholar about the tree’s death and the missing jewel. Niclays, torn between fear and fascination, hesitates to flee, captivated by the revelations. The scholar’s tale upends long-held beliefs, setting the stage for further conflict and discovery. The chapter leaves readers with a sense of impending upheaval as the characters grapple with the truth and its consequences.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of the mulberry tree in Neporo’s story, and what consequences did its fruit have for her?
Answer:
The mulberry tree on Komoridu granted Neporo immortality after she ate its fruit, described poetically as being “drunk on the thousand-flower wine.” This elixir of life prevented her from aging or falling ill, but it did not make her invulnerable to physical harm or suicide. The immortality became a burden, isolating her from society as people either revered or feared her. This forced her to return to Komoridu, where she became a figure of refuge for outcasts. The tree’s power is central to the chapter’s themes of sacrifice and the double-edged nature of eternal life.2. How does the revelation about Cleolind and the celestial jewels challenge the established beliefs of Sabran and the House of Berethnet?
Answer:
The chapter reveals that the Nameless One was imprisoned not by the Berethnet bloodline, but by two celestial jewels wielded jointly by Neporo and Cleolind. This directly contradicts the foundational myth of Sabran’s lineage, which claims their queens’ succession maintains the seal. Niclays realizes this undermines Sabran’s legitimacy and power, hinting at political and religious upheaval. The jewels’ existence suggests the Berethnet doctrine is either a deliberate fabrication or a misinterpretation of history, with profound implications for the world’s power structures.3. Analyze the symbolic contrast between the Golden Empress’s actions (sharpening her sword) and the scholar’s revelations throughout the scene.
Answer:
The Golden Empress’s relentless sword-sharpening serves as a violent counterpoint to the scholar’s unfolding historical narrative. While he delicately interprets ancient texts about unity (Neporo and Cleolind’s cooperation) and protection (the jewels), the rasp of her whetstone underscores her predatory intent to exploit the tree’s power. This juxtaposition highlights the tension between knowledge as preservation versus power as domination. Her indifference to the story’s moral dimensions—focusing only on the jewel’s utility—foreshadows potential violence to obtain it, contrasting with Neporo’s original sacrificial use of immortality.4. What critical insight does Niclays gain about historical narratives by the end of the chapter, and how might this affect his character arc?
Answer:
Niclays recognizes that history is often manipulated or incomplete, as shown by the erased portion of the tree’s text and the Berethnet myth’s inaccuracy. His earlier dismissal of history as “miserable” evolves into stunned realization (“unable to shut his jaw”) as he witnesses firsthand how narratives shape power. This epiphany may catalyze his transformation from a disillusioned scholar to an active participant in uncovering truths, especially given his sarcastic observation about Sabran’s impending dismay—hinting at his potential role in challenging established dogmas.5. How does the chapter reframe the concept of legacy through Neporo’s descendant carrying the rising jewel?
Answer:
The jewel’s transmission—stitched into each descendant’s body—redefines legacy as both a biological and literal burden. Unlike traditional inheritance, this is a visceral, hidden responsibility (“taken from his body and placed into his daughter”). It suggests legacy is not just honor or memory but physical sacrifice, echoing Neporo’s original suffering. The missing text implies this lineage may be threatened, raising questions about who destroyed the records and why. This theme resonates with Niclays’ own fraught legacy as a failed alchemist and Laya’s whispered urgency to leave.
Quotes
1. “Neporo was drunk on the thousand-flower wine. In ancient times, this was a poetic description for the elixir of life.”
This quote marks the pivotal moment when Neporo gains immortality from the mulberry tree, introducing the central theme of eternal life and its burdens. The poetic phrasing captures the mystical nature of the elixir.
2. “The burden of immortality was so great that she considered taking her own life, but for her son, she chose to live.”
This reveals the dark side of immortality—Neporo’s suffering contrasts with the typical desire for eternal life. It underscores the chapter’s exploration of sacrifice and the human cost of power.
3. “Together, they sealed the Nameless One in the Abyss—binding him for a thousand years, but not one sunrise more.”
This quote unveils the shocking truth that the House of Berethnet’s founding legend is false. It represents a major plot revelation about the true nature of the world’s magical protections.
4. “Because if this tale was true, then the founding legend of the House of Berethnet was nonsense. It was not a line of daughters that kept the Nameless One chained, but two jewels.”
Niclays’ realization challenges the fundamental beliefs of the world’s power structure. This quote highlights the chapter’s theme of historical truth versus established mythology.
5. “The jewel lives in a descendant of Neporo.”
This concise statement carries immense implications for the story’s future, introducing a quest-like element as characters will presumably search for this living vessel of power. It represents both a conclusion and a new beginning.