The Priory of the Orange Tree
Thirty-Nine
by Shannon, SamanthaThe chapter follows Eadaz uq-Nāra as she journeys through the Burlah desert with a caravan of forty travelers. Clad in a white pargh and riding a camel, Ead reflects on her return to the South, which initially felt like a rebirth but soon became a harsh reminder of the desert’s unforgiving nature. The caravan encounters Nuram tribesmen, who warn of wyrms venturing beyond the mountains, possibly emboldened by rumors of a High Western’s sighting. Ead’s thoughts drift to her visit to the Buried City near the Dreadmount, where she searched for clues about the Long-Haired Star but found only a collapsed tunnel.
Ead’s journey is marked by a sense of displacement, as she struggles to reconcile her past life in the Western court with her current identity as a dusty traveler. The desert’s relentless winds and scorching sun strip away her illusions, leaving her feeling like a wandering spirit. A scorpion scurries past her camel as the travelers sing in Ersyri, a language that evokes distant memories. The caravan-master announces an impending sandstorm, forcing the group to seek shelter at a Nuram camp, much to Ead’s frustration, as she feels time slipping away.
Ead’s solitude is briefly interrupted by Ragab, a grizzled postrider with a tragic past, who becomes her companion. The other travelers view both Ead and Ragab with pity, but Ragab’s stories and resilience offer a rare connection. He shares his love for the Desert of the Unquiet Dream, prompting Ead to ask him to recount its origin tale. Ragab begins the story of the Melancholy King, a ruler who, grieving his lost queen, follows her apparition into the desert, believing it to be a dream.
The tale of the Melancholy King serves as a poignant metaphor for Ead’s own journey—a blend of longing, loss, and the relentless pursuit of something just out of reach. As Ragab narrates, Ead shivers, recalling the story’s tragic end. The chapter closes with the caravan bracing for the storm, leaving Ead suspended between her past and present, much like the king in the tale, caught between reality and the mirage of what once was.
FAQs
1. How does the setting of the Burlah desert contribute to the atmosphere and themes of the chapter?
Answer:
The Burlah desert serves as a harsh, unforgiving landscape that mirrors Ead’s internal journey and the broader themes of isolation and transformation. The “bitter nights” and deadly sun create a sense of danger and desolation, paralleling Ead’s emotional state as she grapples with her identity between her past in the West and her Southern roots. Ragab’s observation that the desert’s desolation holds beauty suggests a theme of finding meaning in hardship. The encroaching sandstorm and mentions of wyrms venturing beyond their territory also establish tension, hinting at larger threats looming in the world.2. Analyze the significance of the “Desert of the Unquiet Dream” and its associated folktale. How does it reflect Ead’s character arc?
Answer:
The folktale of the Melancholy King—who pursues his dead queen’s mirage into the desert—mirrors Ead’s own struggle with memory and loss. Like the king, Ead is caught between worlds: her royal past as “Ead Duryan” feels like a mirage, while her return to the South brings both rebirth and disorientation. Ragab’s interpretation of the tale as “beautiful” (focusing on love) versus Ead’s view of it as “sad” reveals their differing perspectives on longing. This parallels Ead’s conflicted emotions about her journey and foreshadows her continued pursuit of truths (like the Long-Haired Star) despite potential peril.3. What role does Ragab play in the chapter, and how does his character contrast with Ead’s?
Answer:
Ragab serves as both a foil and a mirror to Ead. As a seasoned traveler scarred by tragedy (his basilisk attack), he embodies resilience and acceptance, finding beauty in the harsh desert—a contrast to Ead’s frustration with delays and her sense of displacement. Yet both are outsiders: Ragab is pitied for his scars, while Ead is seen as a “wandering spirit.” Their camaraderie highlights Ead’s isolation while offering her a connection to Ersyri culture through stories. His folktale also subtly challenges Ead to reframe her own narrative, much as he has done with his trauma.4. How does the chapter use sensory details to immerse the reader in Ead’s journey? Provide specific examples.
Answer:
The chapter employs vivid sensory imagery to ground Ead’s physical and emotional experience. Visual details like the “sand glitter[ing]” at sundown and the “distant flicker of wings” at the Dreadmount create a stark, cinematic backdrop. Tactile elements—Ead’s “tanned” skin, the “bitter nights” of the Burlah—emphasize the desert’s harshness. Sound is notably used through the travelers’ song in Ersyri, which underscores Ead’s cultural reawakening, and Ragab’s “deep, weary voice” during storytelling. Even taste/smell emerge via the shared saddle flask, a small but intimate ritual that deepens their bond.5. What clues does the chapter provide about larger conflicts in the world, and how might they impact Ead’s mission?
Answer:
Two key threats are hinted at: the wyrms “venturing beyond the mountains” due to rumors of a High Western’s return, and the mysterious Long-Haired Star comet tied to Jannart utt Zeedeur’s research. These suggest escalating dangers that could disrupt the balance of power in the world. Ead’s aborted exploration of Gulthaga’s ruins (due to the rockfall) implies she may need to uncover these secrets later. The diplomatic tensions mentioned—her departure from Inys potentially affecting the Ersyr—also foreshadow political repercussions, forcing Ead to navigate both supernatural and human conflicts.
Quotes
1. “Having left Valour safe in the Harmur Pass, she trekked alone through the sands to Rauca. Seeing the city again restored her strength, but it was soon lashed away by the winds that blazed off the Burlah.”
This quote captures Ead’s emotional journey as she returns to her homeland, where fleeting moments of familiarity are quickly overshadowed by the harsh realities of the desert. It reflects the theme of displacement and the struggle to reconnect with one’s roots.
2. “All she was now was another dusty traveler, and her memory was a mirage. Some days she almost believed that she had never worn fine silks and jewels in the court of the Western queen. That she had never been Ead Duryan.”
This powerful passage illustrates Ead’s identity crisis as she transitions between her past life in court and her current existence as a wanderer. The mirage metaphor beautifully conveys how memory and identity can feel unstable in unfamiliar terrain.
3. “When you have made the crossing as many times as I have, you will see beauty in that desolation.”
Ragab’s wisdom to Ead represents a key theme of finding meaning in harsh circumstances. This quote suggests that perspective and experience can transform how we perceive challenging environments, offering hope amid adversity.
4. “He walked after his love, knowing he would reach her, and that he would spend one more night with her—just one more, in his dream, at least—before he woke in his bed alone.”
This poignant excerpt from the tale of the Melancholy King encapsulates the chapter’s exploration of love, loss, and the lengths people will go to recapture what they’ve lost. The story-within-the-story mirrors Ead’s own journey of longing and remembrance.
5. “The other travelers looked at him with pity. They looked at Ead with pity, too. She had heard them whisper that she was a wandering spirit in the body of a woman, trapped between worlds.”
This observation reveals how both Ead and Ragab are perceived as outsiders, connecting their shared experiences of trauma and displacement. It highlights the theme of being caught between different existences or identities.