Mark Reads “On Ordeal: Roshaun” – Chapter 2, Part III

In the third part of the second chapter of “On Ordeal: Roshaun,” Roshaun meets someone who may be his key to his Ordeal. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to read Young Wizards.

AHHHHH, IT’S HERE! I love stories that rely so heavily on audience expectation and knowledge. (Which is something I feel I’ve written a lot about lately here and on Mark Watches.) We know the end result of this story for Roshaun, but it’s the details that are surprising to us. Thus, each new piece of the puzzle provides excitement for the reader. AND THAT INCLUDES AVSEH. Oh my god, I desperately need to know more about her and her people because she’s already such a fascinating character.

Of course, it is a surprise to exactly no people ever that I would feel drawn to a character who is dealing with isolation and loneliness. And it makes sense that Avseh and Roshaun were inexplicably drawn to each other, even separate from the fact that Roshaun’s Ordeal is most likely with Avseh’s star. I say this because I have found that even I am drawn towards other folks who were loners. Outcasts. Bullied. Tormented. It’s like we have this weird magnet that pulls us together! 

I imagine we’ll get to see a bit of that as Roshaun interacts with Avseh, who was separated from her clone (!!!!) while fleeing the imminent destruction of her world. So yes, this is a rather intense introduction for her character. She’s in a remarkably vulnerable position for multiple reasons, and Roshaun is… well, he’s not exactly naturally talented in dealing with volatile emotions, is he? Certainly not at his age in this story, right??? Yet he meets her, learns of the peril she’s under, and he immediately leaps to action without making her feel any worse. I do think that his ability to relate to her loneliness plays a part in that. Empathy is a powerful thing, y’all, and he offers both his compassion and company to help her assuage that feeling. 

It’s a beautiful thing to watch, and then it’s followed up by MORE GREATNESS. Roshaun immediately concerns himself with helping Avseh after she tells him what’s happening at home. I don’t want to ignore that part of Roshaun’s exuberance comes from his newfound wizardry. He knows that his Ordeal is imminent, and that means he is immediately excited once he figures that Avseh is the next step he’s supposed to take. At the same time, he didn’t need to go get refreshments with her. He didn’t need to listen to her. He didn’t need to help her find her clone, Mevseh. He could have just left her there and gone after his Ordeal. BUT NO! ROSHAUN DOESN’T. In fact, he doesn’t leave the Crossings at all, not without seeking out the Stationmaster (whose grumpiness I truly adore) in order to find out where Mevseh is in the station. As he puts it:

“Wait, I’m sorry, that’s all wrong,” Rho said. “The star can wait a few minutes more! Who were you looking for?”

THE STAR CAN WAIT. Actually, I think this is my favorite exchange in the chapter:

“The word you’re looking for is ‘die,’” Avseh said. “And if one member of the clone dies the bond between the others is weakened, and—” 

Her voice was growing choked: she was seconds from weeping. “No,” Rho said. 

Avseh looked at him in sudden confusion. 

“There will be no dying,” Rho said. “I forbid it.”

KA;DJFA;LKSJFASLKJSDFAJKLSFD OKAY ROSHAUN. JUST FORBID DEATH. Oh… oh gods. You realize that this is probably what he commanded when he went up against the sun at the end of the Pullulus War, right? HE JUST COMMANDED HIMSELF NOT TO DIE. 

Anyway, there’s just so much I am looking forward to. I don’t know if we’ll see Avseh or Mevseh again, but I would absolutely enjoy it if they appeared again. At the very least, Roshaun would have someone by his side to help him with Phaleron and the Archanin worlds. I’m also DYING to see if we’ll get an on-the-page scene where Roshaun reveals that he’s now a wizard to his parents. I feel like that’s important enough that it will actually happen??? Because I am desperate for it, y’all. Desperate!

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