Elantris 13: Raoden

Raoden finds a book written completely in Aons and starts to translate it. Sounds like it might be a user manual for the Elantrian operating system. He just needs to find the reboot command.

Then the gang leader Karata turns up. She's pissed off that Raoden seems to be starting his own gang and stealing her potential recruits. He offers to help her get into the palace, because she's be caught trying to do that a few times.

Karata agrees and they escape by going down the well and floating along the underground river, which they can do because they don't need to breathe. It still seems pretty risky, though. If I knew every minor bump and scrape would result in an eternity of agony I wouldn't get out of my chair without serious consideration, never mind ten foot jumps into water and potentially being dashed on rocks.

Anyway they break into the palace because Raoden knows where the secret entrance is (why does the escape tunnel open from the *outside*?). And why does Raoden only ask her what she wants to do in the palace once they've got this far? It turns out Karata just wants to see her daughter.

Karata has figured out who Raoden is. He tells her his plan to grow corn. He's been keeping the corn seeds from the new arrivals the whole time. Sanderson has this well planned out because I remember Raoden pocketing some mysterious food item in a previous chapter.

Anyway, Karata is now a powerful ally, so that's good. They get back into Elantris by just asking the guards to let them in, which is awesome.

I'm wondering if Raoden is a bit overpowered. He seems to be good at everything. Or maybe it's just the power of optimism.

Nobility is in one's bearing as much as it is in one's breeding. If we *act* like living here is a blessing, then maybe we'll start to forget how pathetic we think we are.

I think this is Sanderson's advice to new authors. When he wrote this he hadn't had his big break yet. He's saying that if you act like a published author you'll end up being one. Or something.

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We find out that Karata and her gang are taking care of the children. The children seem happier and less affected by the Shaod that the adults. I wonder if this will turn out to be a clue. Raoden and Karata are now openly in allegiance.

Elantris 11: Sarene

Sarene attends the top secret meeting of traitors. Kiin serves nice food. The other attendees are suspicious of Sarene but she wins them around. It helps that she is Raoden's wife.

This Eondel character is acting suspicious, or at least thinks Kiin might poison him. Perhaps he is a mole. He has been openly opposing the king and getting away with it. That would fit. He has a small, well-trained army, so could be either very dangerous or very useful.

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After a lot of eating, Sarene announces her plan. The problem is that by threatening the titles of those who do not make enough money, landowners are forced into beating their workers to work harder. I'm not sure I completely buy this, since a more kind approach does not seem like an impossible to discover innovation, but then again this world order has only been in place for a decade.

Sarene points out that people will be more productive if they are working for themselves. She learned this in Teod, where presumably the peasants are free rather than being serfs. In this, Sanderson reveals himself to be a world-builder who understands economics. He's probably even read some Adam Smith. This is excellent news.

It takes some work but the other nobles at the meeting agree to try giving their people freedom so as to demonstrate how much more wealthy it makes them.

Sarene asks questions about Raoden's death. Perhaps the king murdered him, since he was causing so much trouble. Kiin thinks not, even though Raoden died at a convenient time for the king. That makes me wonder if the Shaod is directed to some purpose, rather than being random.

"There are too many stories about lost heirs that [sic] reappear after twenty years in the wilderness to claim their rightful throne." Aragorn springs to mind. I haven't read much but it's definitely a fantasy trope. Also Danaerys, if she ever gets around to it.

We learn that Sarene has sent her seon to Elantris. Only a matter of time before it bumps into Raoden, then.

Roial is set up as the powerful and wise man.