Red Brick Commentary

[mara_dienne459]

Short reveal chapter is short. Seriously this could've been combined with the next chapter, and it wouldn't have been a problem.

 

Chapter Fifty-Two: Jeod Longshanks

 

So now they’re in Jeod’s study, and Roran says if he’d known how to read, he’d probably be more impressed with the fine array of books that are in the study. Since he can’t read, he’s not amazed and focuses his attention on Jeod. Roran describes him for us, and Jeod bades them to sit and offers them refreshments. So the butler goes to get them some snacks, and everyone plays a round of the Fake Name Game. After this, Jeod is like what do you want from me, because as you can see I’m pretty much ruined. Roran thinks to himself that a slip of the tongue could be the death of them all, so he says aloud that they came for supplies and they need to purchase a lot with very little money. He says they want to put in an offer now instead of at the auction because they don’t have time to waste. Jeod wants to know what kind of supplies they need, so Roran says food and whatever else is needed to outfit a ship for a long voyage at sea. Jeod is now interested and asks if they have a certain ship in mind. Roran’s like no, we don’t. Jeod doesn’t press the issue. Instead he says he understands why they thought to come to him, but they’re mistaken. Nothing here belongs to him anymore and he can’t sell it without leave from his creditors. The butler comes in with snacks and serves everyone, then leaves. Jeod says he might be of no use to Roran but he knows plenty of people who can, so give him some details about what he wants to buy and he’ll see if he can really help.

 

Roran saw no harm in that, so he began to recite a list of items the villagers had to have, things they might need, and things they wanted but would never be able to afford unless fortune smiled greatly upon them. Now and then Birgit or Loring mentioned something Roran had forgotten—like lamp oil—and Jeod would glance at them for a moment before returning his hooded gaze to Roran, where it remained with growing intensity. Jeod’s interest concerned Roran; it was as if the merchant knew, or suspected, what he was hiding. 

 

Uh, is Roran just recounting a Christmas wish list or is he listing actual supplies people need? Food, clothing, the essentials? Because all of this is some kind of bullshit if he’s asking for stuff people “wanted but would never be able to afford”. What does that mean? Someone asked for a fucking pony for their birthday? You’re on the run, which means you have to travel light, and with only what you can carry. But you’re asking for fucking lamp oil? Why? When did you lot have lamps? Why would you need them? Are torches too plebeian for you? I don’t understand this at all, I really don’t. What was Paolini’s thought process when he was writing this? Because none of this seems real. None of this seems like it should be happening but it is and it’s stupid! Not only that, it’s basically telling Jeod “recognize us!” They aren’t being subtle, they aren’t being cautious! They’re being greedy assholes, which is hilarious to me, because every single peasant in this land lives in fucking two story houses and is able to hide bags of coins under their floorboards. They can afford things like real glass windows, stone gargoyles, waterspouts, gutters, and their own village butcher! Like that’s all Sloan does! He butchers animals that the villagers already know how to butcher! It says so back when Roran’s telling the barge owner to put ashore! The villagers have slaughtered their remaining animals by this point. They don’t need Sloan to do it for them! They’re completely capable! None of this makes any sense.

 

Jeod mentions that what Roran’s asking for would be enough to transport several hundred people to a distant city like Feinster or Aroughs, and phishes for some information by saying that though he’s had his head in the sand these past few weeks, he hasn’t heard of such a grand host, nor could he imagine where one could come from. Roran realizes he done fucked up.

 

His face blank, Roran met Jeod’s stare and said nothing. On the inside, he seethed with self-contempt for allowing Jeod to amass enough information to reach that conclusion. 

 

Idiot, your goddamned list of stuff told him that much! Didn't you have the thought earlier that "a slip of the tongue" could give you all away? You’re fucking greedy as shit! If you’d just pared it down to food, clothing, and medicine, you likely would’ve been fine. But noooooo. We have to get the sparkle pony that farts rainbows because somebody wants it but can’t afford it ever so let’s just see if we can get our hands on one because why not? What bullshit is this?! I don’t understand how Roran can be so smart sometimes - like when he figures out how to use speed and gravity to break down a siege gate - but is so stupid otherwise! Does that run in the family? Where they just know things that they shouldn’t know, but do without any explanation as to how they know? Why can’t these people act like real people? That’s all I’m asking.

 

Jeod is like yeah, well, whatever, go see this guy about food and that guy about everything else. He grabs himself a snack and then asks Nolfy how he’s enjoying his stay in Teirm. Because Jeod’s a sly fox like that. Nolfy is understandably excited to be able to talk because he’s a little kid and little kids like talking about things. Roran, however, feels like this is dangerous territory so he stops the conversation and asks about the weird shop beside Jeod’s house. Jeod launches into a tale about Angela the herbalist, how she lived there but suddenly closed up shop and disappeared a “few months ago”. Nolfy pipes up and is like hey! That’s the lady Gertrude wanted to meet! Roran glares at the kid and thinks the name will mean nothing to Jeod, but Nolfy had better watch his tongue or else. He then decides it’s time to go. Unfortunately the name does mean something to Jeod and Jeod is like “Holy shit, you’re Roran. Roran Garrowsson!” And that’s how the chapter ends.

Comments

Siege gate ?

[kris_norge]

"when he figures out how to use speed and gravity to break down a siege gate" is this a reference to the siege of Aroughs? Because if it is, we could have a lot to talk about how "smart" this plan is.