Latest writing:
Fires in the Fells
By Irvin Khaytman
There really isn’t a single bad scene in the Seven Realms series. However, there is one scene that is just so far above and beyond, that it takes the cake. I am talking about the scene halfway through The Crimson Crown, the one fittingly depicted on the cover – where Ragmarket is on fire. On the surface, this is an excellent scene – there is a sense of danger and excitement, the action is well written, and there’s a lot going on. But the way in which this one (admittedly long) scene brings the entire series full circle is just magnificent. By contrasting the characters’ actions in this fire compared to the two fires in Demon King (the one in the beginning of the book, and the one where Mam and Mari were burned), we can see how far they’ve come. In a sense, this one scene encapsulates how the three main characters have grown during the series.
Micah’s journey during the Seven Realms series is one of redemption. Our first impression of Micah in Demon King is that he is his father’s puppet, desirous of nothing more than wielding power. As the series progresses, however, we begin to see that he is not all bad, and that he does genuinely care about Raisa.
In the beginning of Demon King, Micah Bayar starts a magical fire, with no thought about burning Hanalea. His father Gavan is forced to stop the fire. This shows how selfish Micah is, and it also demonstrates how terrified he is of his father.
In Crimson Crown, the exact opposite happens. Gavan Bayar sets fire to Ragmarket, but Micah defies his father to help stop the fire. Micah even works together with Han, whom he detests, to put the fire out. He is doing something selfless and brave, and this truly shows his redemption.
Han’s journey is one of achieving power. In the beginning of the series, Han is a victim of circumstances. He cannot fight poverty and provide for his family, he has barely any defense against Southies and the Queen’s Guard, and he cannot affect Gavan Bayar even as Gavan ruthlessly murders people.
This is shown in the second fire of Demon King, where Mac Gillen torches the stable with Mam and Mari in it. As Cat tells Han, “They’re gone. You can’t help them. You’ll just get caught or burned to death yourself.” (DK465) Han struggles with this powerlessness throughout the rest of the series – no amount of wizarding knowledge can help him bring back Mam and Mari. He has no way of protecting those he loves from the people in power like Gavan Bayar.
But Han slowly works his way up to where he is no longer powerless. And when he runs into the citizens of Ragmarket and the Gray Wolves when they’re trapped by flames in Crimson Crown, he can protect them this time. He has them go into a temple that he then fireproofs with magic. And this time, he succeeds. He does not believe he succeeded at first. “Han stood by, thinking, I didn’t do enough.” (CC233). But he is then proven wrong by the grateful crowd.
“Thank you, Lord Alister,” they said. “Thank you for saving us.”
“Thank you for saving my little ones. They’re all I got.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you.” [CC234]
This shows that Han has finally achieved what he set out to achieve in Exiled Queen – the ability to protect people.
Raisa’s journey is similar to Han’s in that it’s about her finding her power. For Raisa, the series is about her taking charge of her people to rule them better. She starts off as a princess heir with no power and no leadership ability. But then she takes matters into her own hands, and becomes a very hands-on and beloved queen.
In the first fire of Demon King, Raisa is seen just following instructions as the Bayars and Edon Byrne protect her. She follows them into a canyon, is instructed by Byrne to dismount and lead her horse, and then can do nothing while the wizards combat the flames.
In Crimson Crown, Raisa is the one giving the orders. She even wants to go to the burning Ragmarket to help out, though Amon stops her. She “ripped the skirt off above her kneews to allow more freedom of movement,” (CC 221) working the pump and stuffing bandages, and commanding her people. As the people of Ragmarket say, she “called out orders, and put her shoulder to the wheel of the pump, and carried water just like the rest of us.” (CC235) This shows how Raisa has come into her own as a leader.
It is easy to forget that, as a reader privy to Raisa’s and Han’s thoughts, they are quite remarkable individuals. This is why we are reminded of this in this same scene. The people of the Fells are used to being treated as if they’re nothing – certainly the nobility of the previous generation has done nothing to disabuse them of that. So we see just how incredible Han and Raisa are through the public’s gratitude.
The people Han saves in the Market Temple approach him “as if he were some kind of saint” (CC233), thanking him and offering to pay him back. Han is bemused by this, but Cat explains it beautifully, “Nobody’s ever cared what happened to any of them before. Can you imagine Lord Bayar or Queen Marianna risking their lives to save people in Ragmarket or the Bottoms?” (CC234)
Another woman expresses what this change is like for them: “maybe we an’t seen any queens like [Raisa] before, but I’m glad she’s the one we have now.” (CC235) This encapsulates, not only how far the three characters have come in the series, but what this incredible new generation means for the Fells.
Since there are two fires in Demon King, there are two fires in Crimson Crown as well. The first one shows beautifully how the three main characters and the queendom in general have changed through the series. The second fire, while not as rife with symbolism, is nonetheless very significant. I am talking about the climax of the series, where the Ardenines try to burn Mellony, and then Raisa with her.
This dramatic moment represents what was perhaps the biggest question of the series: which boy will Raisa choose? At this point, it’s narrowed down to Micah and Han. And “Raisa tugged at Micah’s ring, wrenched it off her finger, and threw it at him.” (CC552) Here, Raisa makes her choice once and for all.
Then Fire Dancer calls the river and now Han is in danger of drowning, so Raisa tried to save him. All four of Raisa’s main love interests are in this scene: Amon, Micah, Nightwalker, and Han. All of them had gotten to the point trying to save her. And she has made her choice: Han. Amon and Micah both respect her choice and do save Han in the end – “Amon and Micah each took one of Han’s arms, helping Raisa lift his head and shoulders free of the water.” Thereby conceding their defeat, they show that they care more about Raisa than they do about themselves. Tellingly, Nightwalker does not help rescue Han.
To boil down Raisa’s choice of four suitors to one scene is nothing short of brilliant. To show the character growth of three main characters in one scene is, if anything, more impressive. And that is why Crimson Crown is a stupendous finale to this great series.