“ | West realised he was squeezing Jezal’s arms with all his strength. How had that happened? He only meant to have a quiet word, and now he’d gone way too far.1 | ” |
Three Signs is the twentieth chapter in The Blade Itself.
Chapter Summary[]
Now, Major West finds himself regularly losing to a much improved Captain Luthar, since he has committed to his craft. Even Varuz seems impressed. Afterwards their latest bout, West asks Jezal what his intentions are towards his sister. When Jezal tries to brush him off, West almost loses his temper while warning him off.
Afterwards, arriving at a meeting with Lord Marshal Burr, West learns that the war with the North has begun, after the Union received a “message” from King Bethod — the three heads of the Angland border commanders. Burr bemoans how ill-prepared the Union is for this war: many of the veterans of the Gurkish war have since left the army; the nobles are providing only poor quality levies or none at all because of infighting with the Closed Council over the dissolution of the Mercers; and corruption within the army results in promoting people due to blood rather than capability.2 Burr also mentions that the foppish Prince Ladisla intends to fight in the coming war.3 The stress of all this has caused Burr to develop a chronic stomach illness.
In the end, Burr appoints Major West to his personal staff, despite West’s concerns that his common-born roots will undermine his effectiveness. However, Burr insists that he needs capable military men —something the army desperately lacks.
Character[]
Introduced | Appeared | Mentioned |
---|---|---|
Lord Marshal Burr | Collem West | Ardee West |
Jezal dan Luthar | Bethod | |
Lord Marshal Varuz | Prince Ladisla |
Locations and Terms[]
Adua | The Union | The North | Angland | The Gurkish Empire | First Gurkish War |
Guild of Mercers | Closed Council |
References[]
- One of the first indications of West's fearsome temper.
- Burr recognises that the core of Adua is rotten, and they’re in desperate need of people like Collem West to get them through.
- Another bit of a foreshadowing for the future of the Union.