Blood 24

**Chapter 24**

We're back with Verna, who is chatting with Sister Phoebe about getting old. This uses up three pages, and the only thing of note is Verna mentally calling Phoebe stupid.

We learn that three Nuns, Christabel, Amelia and Janet, are missing, and that they used to be best friends with Verna and Phoebe. Verna is displeased by their disappearance, but doesn't seem overly concerned.

Verna heads out to the Popette's garden. At the back wall she finds some *“pear trees that had been espaliered against the wall. While they were all trained and pruned, one seemed to be particularly suitable; its limbs to each side alternated like the steps of a single-pole ladder.”*

*Just before Verna hiked her skirts up and started to climb, the texture of the bark caught her eye. She rubbed a finger along the top edge of the stout limbs, seeing that they were callused and rough. It would appear she was not the first Prelate to want to surreptitiously depart the Prelate's compound.”*

So she climbs the tree and gets over the wall, disguising herself by donning a black shawl and removing her ring. Because that's how people recognize the Popette: by her ring.

For those without access to a dictionary, espaliering is a technique where a tree is grown flat against a wall or trellis, and the branches are trained to grow in a sort of grid. Weak, leggy branches are preferred, and strong, stout branches are generally removed. It's a useful technique for gardens where space is at a premium, or simply to decorate an otherwise blank wall.

I bring it up because the branches of an espaliered tree are generally quite weak, and are usually tied to the wall or trellis to keep them supported, especially if it's a fruit tree like a pear. I find it highly questionable that espaliered tree branches would be sturdy enough to support the weight of an adult human. I suppose it's *just* possible, but it's another case of Terry Goodkind Did Not Do The Research. \~/

Furthermore, a tree that is climbed recently will not become *“callused and rough.”* Trees do not have skin. They do not develop calluses as humans do. A tree that is climbed often will get *smooth* patches on its branches, where hands or feet rub against it often, not rough ones. This is especially true of pear trees, which have *very smooth bark naturally.* I speak from experience, having spent most of my adolescence clambering around in various trees. \~/

And I, once again, have now spent more thought on this than Goodkind did.

Verna heads off to a grove of rushes by the river, secure in her clever disguise, and meets Warren. There's a few pages of chatter that serve no real purpose except to infodump on the game of Ja'La, which I think is Terry Goodkind railing against professional sports. Ja'La is short for Ja'La dh Jin, which means The Game of Life in *“the old tongue of the emperor's homeland of Altur'Rang.”*

Sadly, no. Ja'La is played using a *“broc,”* which Wiktionary informs me is French for “ewer.” That's hilarious. Why not a “ball,” I have no idea, since it's described as *“a heavy, leather-covered ball, a little smaller than a man's* head.” So these people are throwing a pitcher around.\~/ There's two teams of . . . however many. It's basically American football without passing or kicking or protective equipment. The players are referred to as “brutes,” and it's specifically noted (by Warren) as being a violent, bloody game, with injuries being a regular thing and deaths common. The losing team is flogged by the winners, but despite this, Ja'La players – winners and losers both – are treated as celebrities who can do no wrong, can ignore laws and rules, and have their pick of women. There are orgies after every game, women compete to get picked by a Ja'La player, and Terry Goodkind gets a little too graphic as to what said women do. \~/

Hereafter, Ja-apostrophe-La will be known as Murderball for obvious reasons.

There's a brief linguistic digression, in which we learn that Altur'Rang means *“ 'the Creator's chosen,' or 'destiny's people,' or something like that,”* in Warren's words, and Rang'Shada means *“war-first of the chosen.”* That was certainly useful and necessary information to have.

Warren comments that the emperor encourages Murderball, and has his own team. We learn that the Empire is obsessed with Murderball, even the refugees from newly-conquered provinces, despite the emperor's obvious incompetence:

*“ 'Since then, times have become hard for the people. The emperor allowed corruption to flourish and at the same time ignored important matters of commerce and justice. All those people you've seen living in squalor are refugees come to Tanimura from smaller towns, villages, and cities that were sacked.' “*

But the people have Murderball, so they don't care! It doesn't matter if their homelands have been conquered, their way of life destroyed, their friends all murdered or starved, and they themselves now penniless and homeless as they try desperately to assimilate into an alien culture: they've got professional sports! \~/

Warren notes that anyone, from any background, can become a Murderball-player and thus become a wealthy celebrity. I'm sure that being born a peasant, and thus having insufficient protein to build a strong body, not to mention no time to spare for practicing at something as useless as Murderball, doesn't enter into it. Also, I can't help but wonder who pays the Murderball players. The state? The town they play for? Where is this money coming from? Surely it's not all donated by the local merchants, who – remember – are having just as tough a time as the other refugees. \~/

Verna says that still doesn't explain the passion for Murderball, and I shall quote Warren's response:

*“ 'Everyone is part of the Imperial Order now. No devotion to one's former land is allowed. Ja'La lets people be devoted to something, to their city, through their team. The emperor paid to have the Ja'La field built – a gift to the people. The people are distracted from the conditions of their lives, over which they have no control, and into an outlet that doesn't threaten the emperor.' “*

Sound familiar, especially the part about how *“no devotion to one's former land is allowed?”* This sounds *exactly* like what Richard did, minus the professional sports. Richard's been in power for, what, a week? and he's already mimicking the current Evil Emperor. It's like Terry Goodkind *wants* us to make these comparisons.

Warren finally gets around to the actual plot, and we learn that four horses were stolen, but only tack for two, and that they disappeared right after the winter solstice. Verna and Warren are suddenly at the undertakers'; the names on the sign are Benstent and Sproul.

***This has been Warren's Murderball Hour! Next up: Verna Sauventreen, our Nun-on-the-streets, interviews some undertakers. But first, these messages!***

Drinks: 6

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