Contents
Chapter 18
Overview
Amiel recounts a family gathering that collapses under Migaéd’s drunken bravado. Migaéd flaunts royal brandy, belittles art, and provokes Galva, who swiftly shames him after he strikes her. A letter from Duke Roderigu commands Migaéd to give their grandfather’s shield to Galva, but he refuses. The family fractures as the army and Amiel’s wizard prepare to depart for a threatened great city.
Summary
Amiel narrates Pol’s candlelit garden gathering amid Espalle’s stench of cremated goblins. Migaéd arrives already drunk and unveils a rare Gallardian brandy “gifted” by King Luvain, trying to impress and control the room. Galva declines the drink; Amiel samples it and is pressed into reciting a poem while Migaéd grandstands and wanders off mid-recital.
Migaéd urinates on a charred silhouette on a wall, further disgracing himself. Pol urges Amiel to finish, and Galva praises the poem and offers to walk Amiel home. As guests disperse, Pol attempts to retrieve Migaéd, who demands a spar, first with steel, then with sticks, claiming a vague offense tied to a letter.
Migaéd waves the letter, rants about their father’s wishes, and taunts Galva with their grandfather’s shield, the Mouth of the Storm. When Galva refuses to spar, Migaéd strikes her backside with a stick. Galva whirls, strips the stick from him, tosses it, and bisects it midair with her spadín, warning Migaéd never to touch her disrespectfully again. Humiliated, Migaéd curses Father and Galva and refuses to part with the shield.
Pol, conflicted, fails to enforce their father’s will. Amiel retrieves the dropped letter and escorts Galva home. The letter from Duke Roderigu condemns Migaéd’s gambling, declares him unworthy of the heirloom, and orders him to gift the shield to Galva on pain of losing even his fine armor. Despite this, Migaéd withholds the shield; Amiel keeps the letter as proof of Galva’s right.
In closing, Galva notes Amiel’s intent and the imminent movements ahead: the wizard will soon awaken and depart, and the army will march by separate routes toward a great city on the brink of falling to goblins, where their paths and the question of the shield will press forward.
Who Appears
- Galva dom BragaTarget of Migaéd’s provocation; refuses to drink or spar; humiliates him with a swift sword display; rightful heir to the shield.
- Amiel dom BragaNarrates the evening; recites a poem under pressure; retrieves and keeps their father’s letter asserting Galva’s claim to the shield.
- Migaéd dom BragaArrives drunk, flaunts rare brandy, goads Amiel, strikes Galva; refuses father’s order to give her the Mouth of the Storm.
- Pol dom BragaHost general; tries to manage Migaéd but fails to enforce their father’s command; witnesses the family rupture.
- Dom GatánMigaéd’s sycophantic officer; eager for brandy and spectacle; briefly pushes Amiel to perform.
- SolmónServing lad; handles the Faunsong brandy under Migaéd’s orders.
- EdrézYounger serving lad; ushers guests to the garden during the ill-fated gathering.
- Duke Roderigu Elegius dom BragaFather; author of the letter commanding Migaéd to give Galva their grandfather’s shield.