“Your grandfather was crazy.”
This is the opening line of the novel, spoke by the fifteen-year-old “brawny cousin” of the story’s protagonist, Vanyel Any time the opening line of novel references a crazy ancestor of the hero it is safe to assume that this is a very significant relationship. This is especially true for stories set within the world of aristocratic privilege where who you are is largely determined by your relatives. Of course, the word “crazy” gets thrown around pretty casually and without being tethered to any strictly observed definition. One thing is for certain, however: crazy means one thing for the average guy and something completely different for the Lord of Forst Reach and the family manor in which they live and enact those activities to which Radevel refers. The important thing to keep in mind is that while Vanyel admits his cousin has a point, he is also able to admit that his Grandfather’s sort of craziness was not entirely rationale and reason.
“There are, I’m sorry to say, several sects who hold that shay’a’chern are tainted. They’d be only to happy to ‘purify’ you for Withen and Withen’s gold. And under the laws of this kingdom, none of us could save you from them.”
One of the elements which separates this fantasy series from the crowd is its thematic focus upon the subject referred to within as shay’a’chern. This is one of those typical fantasy genre weird spellings for something that is typical to our own worldly realm: homosexuality. Or, as it is described earlier in the narrative, that condition among men in which they “don’t sleep with girls.” Vanyel discovers through court gossip that this description fits Tylendel. Because Vanyel himself creates an aura of foppish dandyism about himself, the story is already deeply embedded in exploring themes related to masculinity and expectations. The introduction of shay’a’chern into the plot greatly expands and enhances this theme.
“Gods!” he looked up from his plate with the expression of a stunned sheep. “Vanyel and Tylendel - lifebonded?”
This assertion of shock at the idea of Vanyel and Tylendel being lifebonded pretty much speaks for itself with the one big contextual exception: just what is lifebonded? Not so much this realm’s equivalent of marriage since that implies contractual business agreement, but rather the meeting of soulmates designed to find each other and be together for as long as they both shall live. Needless to say, it is not generally conceived in terms of same-sex connectivity. Thus, Andrel’s outburst of astonishment. It should be clear enough with these examples of quotes from the novel that this is not your typical fantasy quest series, but is concerned with something a bit more unusual than mere swords and sorcery.
