The Priory of the Orange Tree
Thirty-Three
by Shannon, SamanthaThe chapter opens with Niclays and Jannart in Brygstad Palace, stealing moments of intimacy in a room reserved for royal births. Their relationship is clandestine, as Jannart is bound by an arranged marriage, and their love violates the laws of Virtudom. The narrative hints at the tension between their private lives and public duties, especially as Jannart is a close friend of High Prince Edvart, who may turn a blind eye to their affair. The setting is rich with symbolism, from the star-painted ceiling to the tapestries, reflecting the duality of their existence—both opulent and constrained.
Jannart is depicted as a man of intellectual passion, having shifted from art to historical research to fill gaps left by the Grief of Ages, a cataclysmic event that destroyed much of the world’s knowledge. Niclays, meanwhile, lounges in bed, his thoughts drifting to recent events—a wyvern’s awakening near the capital due to reckless hunters. This incident underscores the theme of human arrogance disrupting natural order, a recurring concern in their world. Their conversation reveals Niclays’ cynicism and Jannart’s optimism, as well as their deep emotional connection despite their differences.
The dialogue between the two lovers reveals layers of their relationship. Niclays’ dependence on wine to numb his pain—both from societal rejection and personal guilt—is a point of contention, though Jannart avoids confrontation. Their banter about the mythical Milk Lagoon, a haven for lovers, reflects their shared longing for escape and a life free from constraints. Jannart’s belief in the Lagoon’s existence contrasts with Niclays’ self-deprecating doubt, yet their affection remains palpable, even as they grapple with the realities of aging and mortality.
The chapter closes with a tender moment between the two, as Jannart reassures Niclays of their future together, whether or not they find the Milk Lagoon. Their physical and emotional intimacy is juxtaposed with the broader societal pressures they face, highlighting the fragility of their happiness. The narrative leaves readers with a sense of bittersweet hope, as the couple clings to their love in a world that threatens to tear them apart.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of the setting (Brygstad Palace vs. the Sun in Splendor inn) in revealing the nature of Jannart and Niclays’ relationship?
Answer:
The two settings highlight the duality and secrecy of their relationship. Brygstad Palace represents the privileged yet constrained world of nobility where they must hide their love when the High Prince is away. The Sun in Splendor inn, located in the Old Quarter, serves as a sanctuary for forbidden relationships in Virtudom, emphasizing the societal persecution they face. The palace’s starry birthing room contrasts with the inn’s discretion, mirroring the tension between their public duties and private desires (p. 344–345).2. Analyze how the wyvern incident reflects broader themes of power and consequence in the chapter.
Answer:
The wyvern attack symbolizes the dangers of human arrogance and the fragility of societal order. The drunk men’s attempt to kill the sleeping wyvern—against Mentendon’s laws—parallels Niclays and Jannart’s risky defiance of social norms. Both scenarios show how reckless actions (whether hunting beasts or loving forbidden partners) trigger violent consequences. The wyvern’s retaliation also foreshadows potential repercussions for the protagonists’ hidden relationship if discovered (p. 345–346).3. How does Niclays’ alcoholism function as both a coping mechanism and a source of conflict in his relationship with Jannart?
Answer:
Niclays uses black wine to numb the pain of living a lie (missing his love-knot ring and societal rejection), calling it his “comfort” (p. 347). However, this habit strains their relationship, as Jannart disapproves but avoids confrontation out of exhaustion. Their playful argument over the wine glass masks deeper remorse, revealing how addiction becomes a barrier to intimacy. The tension reflects Niclays’ internal struggle between self-destruction and preserving their bond (p. 346–347).4. Evaluate the symbolic importance of the Milk Lagoon in the characters’ dialogue. What does it reveal about their hopes and limitations?
Answer:
The Milk Lagoon represents an idealized escape from societal constraints—a place where they could live authentically without titles or persecution. Jannart’s belief in its existence contrasts with Niclays’ self-deprecating doubt (“That rules me out”), highlighting their differing capacities for hope. Their discussion underscores the tragedy of their situation: even fantasy havens require “worthiness,” which Niclays feels he lacks due to his flaws (p. 347).5. How does the chapter use historical context (the Grief of Ages, Jannart’s research) to deepen the narrative’s stakes?
Answer:
Jannart’s historical research on the Grief of Ages—a catastrophic loss of knowledge—mirrors the personal erasures faced by marginalized characters. His work to “knit holes in history” parallels his attempt to preserve his forbidden love story. The past’s fragility (burned libraries, ruined buildings) suggests that their relationship, too, could be erased if discovered, adding urgency to their desire for the Milk Lagoon as a historical sanctuary (p. 345, 347).
Quotes
1. “It sheltered many lovers who had fled from the laws of the Knight of Fellowship. Some, like Jannart, were locked in marriages they had not chosen. Others were unwed. Others had fallen for people who were far above or below their station. All loved in a way that would see them pay a price in Virtudom.”
This quote highlights the oppressive social structure of Virtudom, where love outside prescribed norms is punished. It establishes the central conflict of forbidden love between Niclays and Jannart against societal expectations.
2. “He had always been troubled by the calamitous loss of knowledge in the Grief of Ages—the burning of libraries, the destruction of archives, the irrevocable ruin of ancient buildings—and now that his son, Oscarde, was taking on some duties in the duchy, he could finally lose himself in knitting the holes in history together.”
This reveals Jannart’s intellectual passion and the world’s historical trauma from the Grief of Ages. It shows how characters grapple with lost knowledge while establishing the importance of history in the narrative.
3. “There was an ubiquitous fear that waking one could wake others—but these men had thought themselves above the law. Drunk on dreams of knighthood, they had drawn their swords and tried to kill the beast.”
This passage illustrates the dangerous consequences of human arrogance and the fragile balance with Draconic beings. The wyvern incident serves as both literal threat and metaphor for disturbing forces better left undisturbed.
4. “Black wine was his comfort. Its thick sweetness filled the hollow that opened whenever he looked at his finger, empty of a love-knot ring. It blunted the pain of living a lie.”
This poignant confession reveals Niclays’ inner turmoil and coping mechanisms. The love-knot ring imagery powerfully conveys the emotional cost of their secret relationship in a judgmental society.
5. “A place of lore and lullaby. The haven for lovers… ‘Even if we never find the Milk Lagoon, we can go elsewhere.’”
The Milk Lagoon represents the lovers’ yearning for freedom and acceptance. Jannart’s hopeful promise contrasts with their constrained reality, encapsulating the chapter’s themes of forbidden love and escapism.