Red Brick Commentary

[mara_dienne459]

Third plot line ahoy! Random information is introduced, and you really have to wonder how Elva would've turned out if someone had been the least bit kind to her. 

Chapter Fifty-Five: Child’s Play

 

And we’re back with Nasuada! Wow. How many chapters has it been since her last appearance? Too many. Anyway, we join her with Trianna and they’re discussing lace. You remember that Nasuada demanded Trianna create lace with magic and it’s going to be Nasuada’s wonderful plan to make money and save the Varden financially? Yeah... about that...

 

“And this,” said Trianna, “is the latest pattern we’ve invented.”

 

Nasuada took the black veil from the sorceress and ran it through her hands, marveling at its quality. No human could throw lace that fine. She gazed with satisfaction at the rows of boxes on her desk, which contained samples of the many designs Du Vrangr Gata now produced. “You’ve done well,” she said. “Far better than I had hoped. Tell your spellcasters how pleased I am with their work. It means much to the Varden.” 

 

You know, the thing I find funny about all of this is that it never comes up again in Book Three or Four. You still constantly hear how poor and underfed and under-armed the Varden are, despite whatever Nasuada says about them having bought 200 spears or whatever it is (from who is she buying this stuff from anyway? Surda?), and you have instances of the Varden looting people’s houses and stealing things. But yet, Nasuada’s idea of making cheap lace with magic is supposed to be raking in the dough, right? So where is all this money going? Where is it being used? Or is she hoarding it all for herself? Buying herself dresses and shit like that? Don’t get me wrong - I like the idea of her figuring out a way to earn money for the Varden, but if she’s going to do so, then show that it’s working. Show that they have money coming in and that she’s using it to buy food and equipment and giving her soldiers hope. Because in a coming scene, Orrin complains to Nasuada that the weaver’s guild is complaining to him that nobody is buying their lace because a cheaper one is on the market, and she gleefully explains to him that since he refused to lend her any more money, she figured out a way to make some. But that’s the end of that conversation. We don’t actually know if they’re making money, if they’re splitting the profits, if they’re buying supplies, or if they’re paying down all the debts they now owe. 

 

Trianna’s happy with Nasuada’s praise and says she’ll do just what Nas asks. Nasuada starts asking something else but a disturbance in the Force stops her. Outside her chamber door she can hear her guards cussing and yelling and then a cry of pain. There seems to be an attack going on outside, so Nasuada backs away from the door and draws her dagger. Trianna yells at her to run and places herself in front of Nas as a meat shield and gets ready to do some magic. Before Nasuada can do anything the chamber door bursts open and Nasuada is tackled by a small person. As she falls she can see some silver flash where her head had been and it hits the far wall. The guards finally enter and grab Nasuada’s assailant off her. It’s Elva. Nasuada’s like what the fuck. Elva smiles then pukes all over the carpet. Once she’s done there, she tells Nasuada to have Trianna examine the wall and see if she’s fulfilled her promise. Why Elva couldn’t just tell Trianna herself, considering she’s standing right there I don't know, so Nasuada does so and Trianna goes and pulls a metal dart out of the wall. Nasuada is like where did it come from and Trianna gestures to the open window and says somewhere out there.

 

Thank you, Captain Obvious.

 

Nasuada then looks to Elva and is like what the fuck, so Elva helpfully says it was an assassin. Of course it was. It’s not like someone was playing badminton and had an errant shot. Nas asks who sent him and of course it was an assassin trained by Galbatorix himself. The assassin hates Nas, why we don’t know. But he’s coming for her. He would’ve killed her if not for Elva. She pukes again and Nasuada looks about to puke herself. Elva says the assassin is about to suffer great pain. Nasuada asks why. Elva says because she’s going to reveal his location, so she does, and tells them they’d better hurry or he’ll get away. She grabs her belly and is in clear pain, and says they need to hurry because Eragon’s spell is going to make her stop them. Trianna starts heading out and Nasuada tells her to tell Jordy about what happened, take her strongest magic users and hunt down the assassin. Capture him if she can, kill him if she can’t. She then dismisses her guards, whose legs are bleeding because Elva scratched them to bits, to find a healer. The captain says no fucking way, we’re staying here until we’re sure you’re safe. Nasuada says fine, be that way.

 

So the guards barricade the windows, and Nasuada complains about how hot it makes her room, and then everyone retreats to the inner chamber for more protection. Nasuada paces the room and thinks to herself how close she came to being killed. She wonders what would become of the Varden if she died. She wonders who would succeed her. She has no living will. She decides that it’s a monumental failing on her part that she hasn’t made arrangements in the event of her early demise. She tells Elva that she’s in her debt. Elva’s like yeah you are. Nasuada is disconcerted by Elva’s response but bulls ahead and apologizes for not telling her guards to let Elva by, night or day. She should’ve anticipated an assassination attempt. Elva says yeah, you should have. Nasuada continues pacing and asks how Elva got out. Elva says she told her caretaker what she wanted to hear. Nasuada is shocked. Elva says it made her very happy. Nasuada asks about Angela, and is told she’s out. Nasuada says that she’s grateful to Elva for saving her life, and she can ask for anything she wants. If it’s within Nasuada’s power she’ll grant it. Elva asks if Nasuada has any food, and the chapter ends on that light note.