Blog Post #2 The Riddle

The Riddle
Alison Croggon
Fantasy 
89 pages  162/482

Summary

Maerad continues her study in the School of Busk while Cadvan searches about the Tree Song, though they have to leave since Nerili has already found that the Hulls suspect that they are hiding in Busk. They leave the city of Busk for the mountains in the center of the island. Nerili assigns Elenxi (one of the first circle Bards of Busk) to guide them through the mountains too see his brother who lives all alone up in the steepest mountains. They climb steep mountains and walk for hours hoping the darkness would not follow them there. They finally reaches Elenxi's brother's house, where they stay for a month waiting for the response for the other schools (they sent out messengers to all the schools warning about Norloch). Maerad and Cadvan try to explore her powers to see what kind of power she has. Since she ha Elemental blood Cadvan wondered if she could actually transform something into something else, no ordinary bard can do this, instead they use -glimmer-spells which tricks the eye to  think it is something else. Maerad tries hard some times to transform a boulder into a mountain lion, though of course Cadvan and Maerad did not think it would work but when she actually did transform the stone into a lion the did panic but Cadvan quickly put it too sleep. Both of them did not expect this but the main problem was how they were going to transform it back to a stone. Though Maerad's powers were totally drained after the transformation she forced herself to try to turn it back to a stone and succeeded.  When the messengers returned to Busk Nerili came to visit them up in the mountains and told them both that some schools agreed to join them and that some were not sure because they did not want to be seen as rebels by Norloch which had a very strong army. They knew that the dark suspected that they were hiding in busk and Nerili had already found one of the spies of the dark in the city, this meant that Cadvan and Maerad had to leave urgently, or the dark might find proof that they were here and wage a war no Busk. They need to reach the other side of The island at the easiest way to get through the mountains is to walk through a ravine that was called The Snakes Stomach. They travel there with Elenxi, though it used to be safe there now they got a sudden attack by a Hull. Elenxi was hit by the surprise attack and knocked unconscious so  it was up to Cadvan and Maerad. They had trouble finding the hull and whatever attack they shot at him he would just reflect it with a stronger force. It was revealed that he had a BlackStone which was a very rare stone that worth more that gold and was usually used as an extremely thin layer in expensive shield... though a BlackStone contained a lot of it wand could fill someones hand, it is said to be very hard so both make and form and it was a surprise that a Hull had it. The hull made an attempt to knock Maerad out with her own power, she is unconscious for some moments but forces herself to stand up again. When she can see again she realizes the Hull is locked in a sword battle with Cadvan, they were both skilled swordsman and the Hull's full attention was on Cadvan since it though she was unconscious. Maerad used all her powers to transform the Hull into a little rabbit. This was amusing for both of them until Cadvan snapped the little rabbits neck since it was a hull and they did not know if her transformations would wear of and if so they could not afford the risk. Maerad is allowed to keep the BlackStone and they help Elenxi up who was frustrated that had missed the fight. They reach the coast where Owan (an old fried) is waiting with his boat called The White Owl ready to sail to Gent. They sail for two days in peace as there are no winds. Though on the third day there Maerad is woken by a huge crashing on deck and the horrible shrieks of what sounded like dogs all barking like the kind. She gets up on deck when the whole boa is shaking and she on deck she realizes it is storming and Cadvan is fighting huge transparent creature that seemed to be made of wind with a silver and emerald tint. It looked like a huge bulky dog bigger than the ship with emerald fire for eyes. It howls and attacks the ship and Cadvan can barley defend the ship. As Maerad stands there the wind dog (later she gets to know it's called a StormDog)  turns it's attention to her... and just as she feels it's fury and confusing she comes to think of the lullaby her mother used to sing to her when she was really small. She started to sing to the StormDog both in her mind and out aloud. Both Cadvan and Owan become surprised when the howls started to die down and the StormDog stopped attacking and then slowly faded.They sail the third day to Gent where they are welcome to the First Bard's hidden home.


1.What is happening at this point in your reading?

Maerad and Cadvan have fled to Gent to avoid the darkness and have found out that the Winter King is also after them and that they need to find the Tree Song now. 
2.What have you learned or discovered in this section of your reading?

I learned that the Winter King is very powerful and also after Maerad. 3.How have these developments affected the characters, relationships, situation OR your understanding of the issues presented withing your reading?

When fleeing to Gent they strengthened their friendship with Owan and Maerad got a new friend in Get who was the daughter of the First Bard of Gent. My understanding changed by that now I now that they need to fin the Tree Song fast because soon it will be too late and they barley have any choice where to go anymore because they are wanted in all of Annar and another place there are Hulls looking for them and the sea is full of StormDogs that will most likely kill them. 

Response & Reflect

1.What do you think about what you have read?

I think that both Cadvan and Maerad are getting closer to the tree song but that the darkness is catching up to them even more and that now they have another burden on them, since he StormDogs are only controlled by the Winder King whom had only shown himself during The War of the Elementals millions of years before which I find strange and it is worrying that they are hunted by two powerful sources. 
2.Has your recent reading fulfilled your expectations?

Yes, I expected that Maerad and Cadvan would be forced to hurry on their journey that that they must flee yet again from a beautiful school.3.What do you expect for your continued reading?

I expect that they soon have to flee gent and that it is going to be hard since Maerad had become friends with the First Brad's daughter.4.How satisfied are you with what you have read?

I am satisfied because I have planned out how much I need to read each week and I managed to read enough and according to plan. 


Passage Section

"Nerveless, I fear that the StormDogs at sea would be a certain death sentence. One came close to killing us. Even with armies pursuing us, Annar is the lesser risk" Page 161

I find this passage important because they are deciding if they should travel by sea or go through Annar, though it makes me kind of annoyed that they end up traveling through Annar anyway even though they tried to avoid it s many times. I like this sentence because they clear up all their choices and give the reader a clear understanding of what they have to face no matter what path they take.