Annotated 17-2
This scene was written well before “Woodreads.” We knew the general shape of Syr’Nj’s own childhood and adolescence, but not the specifics of her interval with Gr’Zl: it just seemed like hiding out from a Gaston-like suitor in the library would be something likely for Syr’Nj to do. The second frame shows her wearing her own varryn proudly, as if she was into the idea of a lifelong pair-bond before learning what wood elf boys were actually like.
I realize no one got it when we were trying to show Syr’Nj as crushing on Best in the early chapters, but even if we’re being hypothetical, Payet Best would be more attractive to Syr’Nj than her own people. He and Gr’Zl are both egomaniacs, but at least Payet pays attention to the art of pleasing a woman, has some experience as an outsider navigating anti-elf prejudice, has more intelligence than most give him credit for, and actually respects Syr’Nj for her brain. I mean, it’d still never work out, but at least she wouldn’t be actively fleeing him on their second meeting.
And while we’re doing callbacks, here’s Rachel singing happily, and once more annoying Frigg by imitating her.
Scipio’s the only one who gets clipped… and the only one who says nothing.
That’s classic Scipio.
Actually the arrow goes straight through his head, but, you know, Constitution check to shrug it off.
That is a massive arrow… Woodelves must be far stronger than they look to use bows like that…
I dunno. I don’t believe it’s bigger than a British longbow arrow, which humans taught themselves to shoot hundreds of years ago..
Consider a bow of living, animate wood. It would bend deliberately when drawn, then straighten when released.
Huh. I never got the impression that Best respected Syr’Ng for her brain. On the page linked above, Chapter 11 page 8, I interpreted that as Best paying her an empty compliment in a rather transparent attempt to get into her pants (later, not immediately; he is smart enough to know there’s a time for that sort of thing). Syr smiles and responds sarcastically, suggesting that she saw through him instantly. But, apparently that wasn’t the intended interpretation.
Agreed. I think Best’s comments to Byron in the very same page where Frigg riffs on 99 bottles are a more arguable example of Best possibly respecting Syr’Nj’s intellect, vis-a-vis expressing confidence in her & her truth serum. It’s still borderline, though, since he’s possibly just making up a narrative after her success.