In the tenth chapter of First Test, Kel is forced to face her fear of heights. A lot. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to read First Test.
Chapter Ten: The Royal Forest
Camping in the forest with sparrows and Kel? Sign me the fuck up. I’ve always loved being outdoors, and though I haven’t gone camping since 2010 (WHICH WAS AT YOSEMITE OH MY GOD IT’S SO PRETTY THERE), it’s something I did a lot of when I was very young. It was sort of the thing to do living in Idaho. Granted, it’s a little harder for me to do it these days. It isn’t exactly the cheapest thing to do, you know? STILL. I LIKE FORESTS. AND MOUNTAINS. AND SNOW. AND RAIN. Wait, this sounds so generic, like I’m saying that I enjoy weather. Anyway, that’s not the point! This chapter does a good job of lulling us into a sense of whimsy and excitement for camping, and then Lord Wyldon brutally reminds us why this is important for everyone. They’re not going out for a lovely summer vacation amidst the trees. He has taken these students out to teach them how to survive.
The complaining starts fairly early into this trip, and I’m thankful for Kel’s Yamani background. In this instance, we can see how it benefits her to be stoic and quiet. It sets her apart from all the boys who should know better than to whine to Lord Wyldon. Seriously, who has the guts to do such a thing? I was aghast that Joren and Vinson both asserted the need to go stop in some village. To Wyldon’s face. Surely you realize what a bad idea this is, right??? Right? Apparently not, though, and that made me curious about Joren and Vinson’s backgrounds. Is it possible they come from more affluent backgrounds? That would explain a lot about their behavior and what they deem acceptable, especially once you consider how entitled they sound in this chapter.
However, I’m going to choose to pay far more attention to the way Wyldon behaves around Kel in this chapter. As I said in the second video, I really hope I am being ~super prepared and insightful~ instead of massively projecting headcanon feelings all over my reviews. BUT I SWEAR, WYLDON IS ACTING STRANGE. Maybe not in general, but in the context of how he has acted in the past, his treatment of Kel is irregular. He’s shocked that she doesn’t want to stop in a village, that she is defaulting to his authority without a single complaint, and that her own mother was a badass warrior whose actions helped secure a treaty between the Yamani Islands and Tortall. Granted, he doesn’t say anything, BUT THAT IS A STEP UP FROM HIM INSULTING HER. Oh god, I really hope that I’m not imagining this, you know?
PS: Bless the sparrows. Well, and Daine, too, since the birds wouldn’t be behaving the way they do without her. Still, they saved her from embarrassment! Crown tried to motivate Kel to climb a tree! This is endlessly unfair. No magic whatsoever, and she still has animal friends. My life is a waste.
Anyway, I’d also like to think that the entire tree-climbing sequence (and the weeks of it that follow) is yet another sign that Wyldon is changing how he views Kel. Why would he invest so much time and effort in getting her to face her fear of heights if he just wanted her to fail? Neal insists that Wyldon is trying to get Kel to quit, but even if that is the case, he’s not doing a very good job of it. Why would he tell her that she must “learn to work despite it”? That sounds like he cares about her future in some small way.
OH GOD, I DON’T KNOW. And now they’re off to fight spidrens, who give me the willies, and Kel’s going to have to prove herself one last time. HOW IS THERE ONLY ONE CHAPTER LEFT, Y’ALL? Even if I’m right about Wyldon, that still leaves me viciously unprepared, damn it.
Part 1
Part 2
Mark Links Stuff
– I have been nominated for a Hugo in the Fan Writer category! If you’d like more information or to direct friends/family to vote for me, I have a very informational post about what I do that you can pass along and link folks to!
– I have announced what the next books I am reading on Mark Reads will be, as well as updated y’all on the events, cons, tour dates, GOING TO EUROPE OH MY GOD, and general shenaniganry going on in my life. I have a similar post up on Mark Watches, detailing the next two shows I’m doing as well as the return of Double Features, and I finally explain what happened with my Vimeo account. Check these posts out!
- Mark Reads Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is now published and available for purchase! It’s available in ebook AND physical book format, and you can also get a discount for buying the ENTIRE SET of digital books: $25 for 7 BOOKS!!!
-Â Video commissions are open, and you can commission a Mark Reads/Watches video for just $25!
