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| name = The Will of the Empress
  
| name = The Will of the Empress
 
| universe = [[Emelan]]
  
| universe = [[Emelan]]
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| protagonist = [[Sandry]], [[Daja]], [[Tris]], [[Briar]]
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| protagonist = [[Sandrilene fa Toren]]<br>[[Daja Kisubo]]<br>[[Trisana Chandler]]<br>[[Briar Moss]]
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| antagonist = [[Berenene dor Ocmore]]
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| antagonist = [[Berenene dor Ocmore]]<br />[[Ishabal Ladyhammer]]
 
| setting = [[Namorn]]
  
| setting = [[Namorn]]
 
| release_date = 2005
  
| release_date = 2005
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| followed_by = [[Melting Stones]]
  
| followed_by = [[Melting Stones]]
 
}}
  
}}
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'''''The Will of the Empress''''' is the ninth book and first standalone set in the [[Circle Universe]] by [[Tamora Pierce]]. The book is set four years after the last '''''[[The Circle of Magic]]''''' book, and the four protagonists are all around 18 years old. The book is centered around the tensions from their reunion after being away from each for quite a long time. They have different experiences, different wishes, and different behaviors.
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{{Wikipedia}}
  
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'''''The Will of the Empress''''' is the ninth book and first standalone set in the [[Circle Universe]] by [[Tamora Pierce]]. The book is set four years after the last '''''[[The Circle of Magic]]''''' book, and the four protagonists are all around 18 years old. The book is centered around the tensions from their reunion after being away from each for quite a long time. They have different experiences, different wishes, and different behaviors.
 
   
 
==Plot==
  
==Plot==
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===The Four Reunite===
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The book opens with [[Sandrilene fa Toren]] when she is just sixteen, having just received reports of her lands in [[Namorn]] which she doesn't want to go over. [[Daja Kisubo]] returns not long after and will not speak telepathically with Sandry like the other girl wants her to. They fight and are tense around each other, as Daja is saddened that she cannot live at [[Winding Circle]] anymore as a sixteen year old accredited mage. [[Trisana Chandler]] is the next to return and is distrustful of her old foster family and is afraid they'll treat her differently for mastering new magic techniques. She also brings [[Chime]], a living glass dragon.
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The book opens with [[Sandrilene fa Toren]] when she is just sixteen, having just received reports of her lands in [[Namorn]] which she doesn't want to go over. [[Daja Kisubo]] returns not long after and will not speak telepathically with Sandry like the other girl wants her to. They fight and are tense around each other, as Daja is saddened that she cannot live at [[Winding Circle]] anymore as a sixteen year old accredited mage. [[Trisana Chandler]] is the next to return and is distrustful of her old foster family and is afraid they'll treat her differently for mastering new magic techniques. She also brings [[Chime]], a living glass dragon.
   
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Two years after this, [[Briar Moss]] returns from far lands where he was caught in the midst of a war, which gave him post-traumatic stress disorder and extremely bad nightmares about what happened. He is afraid of opening up to his foster sisters and of how they'll treat him, so he doesn't tell them much of what happened while abroad.
+
Two years after this, [[Briar Moss]] returns from far lands where he was caught in the midst of a war, which gave him post-traumatic stress disorder and extremely bad nightmares about what happened. He is afraid of opening up to his foster sisters and of how they'll treat him, so he doesn't tell them much of what happened while abroad.
   
  +
[[Vedris fer Toren]] is put under pressure from [[Berenene dor Ocmore|Empress Berenene]], the powerful female ruler of the Namorn Empire, and Sandry's second cousin. The empress wants Sandry to come to Namorn to see her lands and her mother's country. Berenene has even threatened monetary repercussions on [[Emelan]] if Vedris does not use his influence on his great-niece to send her north. Sandry finds out from [[Erdogun fer Baigh]] and is outraged, planning to go immediately so no one would be inconvenienced. Duke Vedris is still nervous, however, and asks her three foster-siblings to go with her, even though they are at odds. They agree as they like the Duke.
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Empress Berenene, who wants to keep the revenue from the estate within Namorn, repeatedly invites Sandry to visit her court in [[Dancruan]] while levying increasing taxes from her estate. When Sandry realizes that the taxes are damaging to the estate and its inhabitants, she decides to accept the Empress's invitation and use the visit to put her financial affairs in order.
  
   
  +
===Journey to Namorn===
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Sandry's uncle, [[Duke Vedris]] of Emelan, asks her childhood companions [[Daja Kisubo]], [[Trisana Chandler]] and [[Briar Moss]] to accompany her with the 3rd Caravan Saralon<ref>''The Will of the Empress'', Cp. 2 (p. 39; Scholastic)</ref> in lieu of a company of guards, a gesture both incourteous and ineffectual. Though their friendship with Sandry and with each other has become strained since their return to Summersea after years of world-traveling, Daja, Tris and Briar agree, and the four travel to Namorn together.
  
  +
The four bump heads while getting ready, and they travel with [[Third Caravan Saralan]], a [[Trader]] caravan that is heading up to Dancruan<ref>''The Will of the Empress'', Cp. 2 (p. 39; Scholastic)</ref>. Daja still has a lot of clout with the Traders, so she and her foster-siblings are invited to sit with the Traders, and to see rare artisanal work. While crossing a river, Tris suddenly brings out her lightning to get the caravan to move faster. The moment they reach the other side, flooding occurs that would've swept them away if she hadn't seen it coming. Sandry is still outraged, but Briar knows how to calm Tris.
   
  +
The four run into a group of nobles after the caravan went on without them (per the four's request). The nobles are hunting [[Chime]], and Sandry realizes a bit too late that their leader is Empress Berenene herself. They are impressed with the magical proficiency of her bodyguard [[Quenaill Shieldsman]], who raises an impenetrable shield around the empress in a matter of seconds.
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While there, they learn of the Western Namornese custom of bride kidnapping, which entails a man kidnapping a prospective bride and holding her captive until she agrees to sign a wedding contract. While the so-called "horse's rump" wedding is usually only used to bypass reluctant families or out of a sense of adventure, some marriages are forced, and the custom remains legal. Empress Berenene has never attempted to illegalize it despite having twice been kidnapped, because she believes her ability to escape both times means that only weak women would allow themselves to be forced into a marriage they don't want. When he hears of this, Briar comments that the Empress's captors are unlikely to have used the same level of violence as a common woman might encounter.
  
   
  +
They reach Sandry's sprawling townhouse/mansion in Dancruan and get settled. They talk about about "experience" in terms of sexuality, and remark that Briar has gotten to be a bit of a ladies' man. [[Ambros fer Landreg]] arrives later in the night, and Briar notices that Sandry has been practicing meditation, as she used her magic to spread a web around the house so she knows who comes and goes. Ambros is surprised to learn that Sandry doesn't plan to stay in Namorn indefinitely and informs her that the empress will be quite determined in her wish.
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Because of their power and renown, Empress Berenene decides that Namorn stands to benefit if she persuades all four mages to remain in her court, in addition to Sandry and the funds from her Namornese estate. She offers Tris a position as a court mage with a large salary and benefits including access to the Imperial library, attempting to appeal to her merchant upbringing, her current financial straits and her known bibliophily. She appeals to Briar by inviting him to her private greenhouses, offering him unlimited access as her personal gardener and showing him public favor. To entice Sandry to remain in court, she sends an entourage of four young nobles to escort her to Clehamat Landreg, including [[Finlach fer Hurich]] and [[Jakuben fer Pennun]], who openly compete in their courtship of Sandry. Daja develops a relationship with Berenene's seamstress, [[Rizuka fa Dalac]]h, which is encouraged by the Empress in order to keep Daja in Namorn.
  
   
  +
The empress, who is also a point of view character, is shown to look over the four's files that her spies have collected and has plans to lure each of them to remain in her country as she sees their value.
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When Fin, frustrated by Sandry's reluctance, kidnaps her with the aid of his uncle, locking her in a magic-proof trunk, Sandry reconnects her magical bond with Briar, calling out to him for help. Briar and Tris succeed in extracting Sandry, and they decide to leave Namorn despite Empress Berenene's efforts to dissuade them and the incarceration of Fin and his uncle, until then the head of the Dancruan Mages' Society. The Empress then orders [[Ishabal Ladyhammer]], her most powerful war-mage, to prevent the four from leaving, and Ishabal casts a curse on Tris, causing her to fall down the stairs and fracture most of her bones.
  
   
  +
===The Court===
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The injured Tris insists that Sandry, Daja and Briar travel ahead of her, and she catch up to them when she recovers. Halfway to the border with [[Anderran]] Sandry is again kidnapped, this time by [[Pershan fer Roth]], whose proposal of marriage she had refused shortly before leaving Dancruan, and [[Quenaill Shieldsman]], a powerful court mage and Shan's rival for the Empress's attentions. Quen lays a powerful sleeping spell on Briar and Daja and magic-dampening spells on Sandry. Briar uses smelling salts he calls "Wake the Dead" to wake up Daja and they start to go after Sandry when they are confronted by Quenaill. Briar and Daja engage Quenaill, draining him until the spells on Sandry wear off. Sandry then uses thread magic to unravel her captors' clothing and cocoon them in the resulting threads.
  
  +
They are presented to [[Berenene dor Ocmore]] the day after at the [[Imperial Palace of Namorn|Imperial Palace]]. Empress Berenene tests Sandry's magical skill and political knowledge, much to Sandry's chagrin when she realizes it. The empress, like many others, believe that Sandry plays a lesser role in Emelan politics than she does.
   
  +
Sandry meets [[Pershan fer Roth]], the only nobleman at her cousin's court whom she really likes. Daja meets [[Rizuka fa Dalach]]; and Briar is invited to see the empress's greenhouses, earning him the jealousy of other young noblemen of the court.
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After meeting up with Daja and Briar again, the party continue to the border. At the border, they are confronted by Ishabal Ladyhammer. She raises a barrier against them, but Sandry uses the circle of thread that binds them together to combine their powers. Tris, who had been travelling behind, magically accesses the ring from a distance, allowing the four mages to use their amplified power to break the border barrier. Having invested much of her power in it, Ishabal is magically drained when she leaves without attempting to stop Tris from crossing.
  
  +
  +
Quen and [[Ishabal Ladyhammer]] realize that Tris would be an excellent addition to the empress's mages, and give her an offer. When the empress invites the four on an outing, Sandry declines for the group and says that they must visit [[Landreg]]—as it was what they came to Namorn to do. This angers Briar and Tris, who feel that Sandry made that decision without their consent.
  +
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===Landreg===
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Nevertheless, the four go to Landreg with four members of Berenene's court: [[Rizuka fa Dalach]], [[Caidlene fa Sarajane]], [[Finlach fer Hurich]], and [[Jakuben fer Pennun]]; the latter two of whom were chosen by Berenene to court Sandry and to convince her to remain in Namorn. During the journey, Sandry confronts [[Ambros fer Landreg]] about the disrepair on her lands, and this is when she first hears of possible monetary problems that the estate suffers from.
  +
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Once they reach the manse, they are introduced to Ambros's wife [[Ealaga fa Landreg]], a very kind woman; and their four daughters. They all get settled in. At night, Sandry wakes up to find the light gone and panics. She finds that a woman, [[Gudruny Iarun]], has sneaked in to her room in order to talk to her. Gudruny tells her of her plight in an abusive marriage, and how that came to be. This is the first time Sandry learns of the Western Namornese custom of bride kidnapping, which entails a man kidnapping a prospective bride and holding her captive until she agrees to sign a wedding contract. Gudruny explains that she came to Sandry for aid, as only a woman's liege lord or lady could sever a forced marriage. When [[Halmar Iarun]], Gudruny's husband, arrives early the next morning, Sandry severs the marriage before almost the entirety of the household, noble and common alike. This provides enough witnesses for the marriage to be officially severed, but she puts it in writing in any case.
  +
  +
Sandry, Ambros, Tris and a few guards leave the castle in order to view Sandry's estates. At the village of [[Pofkim]], Tris uses her magic to fix the bank in order to avoid possible fatal accidents and the monetary expense. While on their way back, they are ambushed by a group of noblemen and men-at-arms who wish to kidnap Sandry and force her to sign a marriage contract. Sandry is livid, and uses her magic to get their clothes to fall off.
  +
  +
The empress hears of the incident from her spies and shares her disappointment with Ishabal that [[Jakuben fer Pennun]] and [[Finlach fer Hurich]] did not accompany Sandry so that they could be shown being brave in front of the kidnappers. She also warns Isha that she does not want what happened to Sandry's would-be kidnappers to happen to her. Isha warns Berenene that perhaps it is unwise to provoke the four, as it could force them to rejoin, but Berenene laughs off this advice. Isha keeps her further thoughts to herself but still believes that her empress is underestimating them all.
  +
  +
The empress and her court visit Sandry at Landreg, and brings them back into the her fold. They all visit [[Dragonstone]], an old castle, where Briar is challenged by [[Olfeon]], a jealous nobleman.
  +
  +
===Return to Dancruan===
  +
The empress invites Sandry to return to the capital with them, and Sandry knows that it would highly offend if she refuses, so she returns with Gudruny and [[Zhegorz Fiavrus]] in tow. They do not stay at the Dancruan townhouse as before, but in fancy apartments in the palace. Tris is lent multiple books about Namorn in order to entice her to stay. She is also offered 500 ''argibs'' per annum—a huge sum in order to appeal to her merchant upbringing.
  +
  +
Daja begins a romantic tryst with [[Rizuka fa Dalach]] while there is a ball. As Sandry and Daja had opened their magical connection, Sandry feels it as if she herself were being kissed. She is dancing with Fin and desperately asks for a reprieve. She goes outside and is kissed by [[Pershan fer Roth]] which makes her even more flustered, as she comes back into the ballroom and dances with Jak without thinking.
  +
  +
Fin is angered and thinks Sandry meant to make a fool out of him. He decides to write to his uncle, [[Notalos fer Hurich]], who has access to the floor plans of the [[Imperial Palace of Namorn|Imperial Palace]] in order to make a kidnapping easier. At a reception to welcome the [[Lairan]]ese ambassador, Fin begs the empress for the honor of escorting Sandry to the Hall. She allows it, but instead of taking Sandry down the proper route, he lies and takes her down another where he drugs her.
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  +
She wakes up in a dark box in the [[Julih Tunnel]], spelled to keep her from accessing her magic. It is here when Fin tells her of his plans and informs her of Shan's liaison with the empress. He leaves for the ball, confident in his success. Sandry uses the [[thread circle]] to call to first Tris—which left a scorch mark on her power—and then Briar. He helps her break free with Tris's help and they demand an immediate audience with the empress. Sandry informs her imperial cousin that she will be returning to [[Emelan]] immediately.
  +
  +
===Escape from Namorn===
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Ishabal places a curse to injure Tris and succeeds, believing that the four's confidence stems from their relationship to a powerful weather-mage while underestimating the other three. Tris urges them to leave without her and charges Zhegorz with their protection.
  +
  +
Zhegorz warns them of cryptic things involving plans for a wedding while on the way to the [[Olart]] border. While staying at the [[Canyon Inn]], Sandry is kidnapped by Shan with the help of [[Quenaill Shieldsman]]. She bests Shan and his mages with her extremely powerful magic, Daja and Briar best Quen together, and Tris begins to make the very painful journey south so that she can help them defeat Ishabal.
  +
  +
When at the Olart border, Ishabal and a few Crown mages raise the border, an invisible wall of magic. They try to get through but are unsuccessful at first. They then decide to get out the thread circle and use that. With their immense power, they bring down the magical wall. Ishabal goes back to Berenene with her tail between her legs.
  +
  +
Briar, Tris, and Daja succeed in convincing Sandry to give over her lands and title to Ambros, who deserves them more than she for his work. She signs away her wealth in Namorn in order to avoid another fight with the empress. The four are officially reunited.
   
 
==The Circle Reforged==
  
==The Circle Reforged==
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''The Circle Reforged'' refers to the four returning and renewing their old bond, as in the beginning of the book, they rejected doing so. The [[thread circle]] symbolizes their relationship over the quartets. ''[[The Circle of Magic]]'' refers to them creating that bond, and ''[[The Circle Opens]]'' refers to the four leaving each other and finding their own way in the world for a few years with their respective teachers. [[Sandrilene fa Toren]] remains in [[Summersea]] with her uncle, [[Vedris fer Toren]]; [[Briar Moss]] journeys to [[Chammur]] and [[Yanjing]] and gets caught in a brutal war which furthers his unwillingness to open the old bond; [[Daja Kisubo]] goes to the northern countries like [[Namorn]], and is saddened to learn that she would be unable to stay at [[Discipline]] when she returns as a sixteen year old; [[Trisana Chandler]] visits [[Tharios]] and learns how to scry the winds—she fears her siblings' reaction so she does not tell them about her newfound ability. When they return to Summersea, they still see each other as siblings, although they refuse to open their old very powerful bond.
   
  +
Sandry is the only one who seems to want to reopen that bond, at least at first when Daja returns in 1041 [[KF]], when they are sixteen. But even she develops an unwillingness to truly reopen although she sets herself against her siblings in that respect. Daja doesn't reopen with Sandry because she is hurt that her foster-sister didn't tell her of the rule keeping them from living at Disclipline. Duke Vedris recognizes this as a bitter homecoming, and Daja buys herself an expensive house with rooms set aside for her siblings—even Sandry—although the young noble resides at [[Duke's Citadel]]. Tris is the second to return, and she is a bit apprehensive about opening their bond. She was exposed to criticism and even hatred for her abilities when other mages thought she wanted to be more than what she was. Thus, she wants to go to the [[University of Lightsbridge]] and study [[academic magic]] in order to avoid that scrutiny. Briar is the last to and latest to return, and he comes back when the four are all eighteen. He was in a brutal war with [[Gyongxe]] against Yanjing, and still suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and has nightmares about war events.
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The original title of the novel, The Circle Reforged, refers to the reforging of the four protagonists' friendship. In the year of the Circle of Magic quartet, Sandry, Tris, Daja and Briar live together and develop a strong friendship that manifests itself magically as a bond that allows them to communicate telepathically and causes their magical abilities to cross over from one to another. In The Circle Opens the four are separated, although their bond is clarified when they refer to each other as siblings or foster-siblings. Sandry remains in Summersea, living with her uncle in the Ducal Citadel, while Briar, Daja and Tris travel the world with their respective teachers. When they return, Daja after two years and Tris and Briar after four, the experiences they had while apart lead them to close their mental connection to each other, a representation of the distancing of their relationship. Sandry, feeling betrayed first by having been left behind, then by the telepathic wall, reciprocates in the same manner.
  
   
  +
The four fight constantly at first, and it seems that they would be happy to go their separate ways with this tense atmosphere. Duke Vedris, however, has other plans. He wants Sandry's foster siblings to go with her to Namorn to protect her, thus forcing the four together again. They agree, but not for Sandry, as they all are indebted in some way to the Duke.
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Throughout the first few chapters of the book the four mages fight frequently. Briar and Tris are invited by Daja to live in her new house, with Tris taking over housekeeping duties to assuage what she perceives as charity from her wealthier friends. Daja withholds the extent of her hurt at not being able to return to Winding Circle as well as her experiences with the arsonist Ben Ladradun during Cold Fire. Tris lies about her newly learned ability to scry on the wind because of the ill treatment she experienced from other mages who found out. Briar refuses to discuss his experiences of war in Gyongxe[2] and his resulting post-traumatic stress disorder with anyone but Rosethorn, his teacher and traveling companion.
  
   
  +
Over the course of the book, the four reconnect magically. Sandry and Daja are the first to do so, as they have a strong relationship from their past. Daja is also the most easygoing one of them, and so she is more likely to forgive Sandry of her micromanaging. Sandry reconnects with Briar when she is trapped by [[Finlach fer Hurich]] inside a magical box, who wants to force her to sign a marriage contract. Briar is angered at first, but then accepts the challenge and helping his sister. He reconnects with Tris easily and they go to free her. Daja reconnects with Tris after the latter is cursed by [[Ishabal Ladyhammer]] and is very injured. Daja and Briar then reconnect while magically fighting [[Quenaill Shieldsman]]. Thus all for have reinstated their bonds with the same powers as before. They are able to shield the other from things they don't want seen, however. In a battle on the border between Namorn and [[Olart]], they use their [[thread circle]] to bring down a magical barrier. After defeating Isha and destroying the barrier, they find the thread has disappeared and has instead left a physical lump in each of their palms—which then sunk into their skin to create a visible mark. This shows that their magical bond is here to stay.
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Sandry and Daja are the first to reopen their mental connection, ending their estrangement. Some time later, Sandry telepathically calls out to Tris and Briar when she's trapped in a box, nearly paralyzed by spells that bind her magic and her own fear of the dark. Briar and Tris reconnect when collaborating to free her. Eventually, their telepathic bond is completely restored, though they maintain their ability to screen their minds when they choose to. The bond, and the circle of thread that represents it, serve them in a joint magical working to breach the barrier on the Namorn-Anderran border during the book's climactic battle; once complete, Sandry finds the thread gone, and each of them is left with a scar on their right palm resembling the four lumps in the thread that had represented their magical identities.
  
   
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In the last scene, they are all brought to a dreamlike creation of Briar's of Discipline and they each share a secret they have been keeping. Briar shares a bit of his war past, Sandry shares that she killed two people to save her [[Pasco Acalon|student]] which shocks them<ref>This is a bit of an inconsistency since in ''[[Cold Fire]]'' Sandry had written to Daja about the events of ''[[Magic Steps]]'' and the aftermath.</ref>, Tris shares about her new abilities, and Daja talks about her disastrous friendship with [[Bennat Ladradun]]—a serial arsonist.
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In the post-climactic scene, each of the four reveals the secret that they had been keeping, and Briar introduces his sisters to a mental recreation of Discipline cottage, their former home, which he had created and used when he wanted to feel safe.
  
   
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==Romantic sub-plot==
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==Romantic sub-plots==
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''The Will of the Empress'' is the first book of the Circle Universe to have a romantic sub-plot. The previous books alluded to romantic relationships of adult characters, but none of the four main protagonists were shown to have specific romantic relationships besides some interest. Sandry, although she lived at her uncle's court for years, had mild flirtations but turned down any serious pursuits for her hand<ref name="willearly">''The Will of the Empress'', early chapters</ref>. Briar was shown flirting with a few [[Chammur]]an girls, like [[Ayasha]].
   
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Empress Berenene was frustrated that Sandry wouldn't be so easily wooed into staying in Namorn, but was confident with Briar. Sandry ignores the two young men chosen by the empress to court her, and develops feelings for [[Pershan fer Roth]], the handsome Master of the Hunt. Shan is the first person for whom Sandry has romantic feelings. Briar has no romantic relationships but quite a few sexual ones with no strings attached as he needs someone to be in his bed in order to sleep and keep away the nightmares. Briar is clearly sexually attracted to women, but he may not have any romantic feelings (aromantic).
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The Will of the Empress is the first book set in Emelan to involve the protagonists a romantic sub-plot. While previous books alluded to romantic relationships between the adult characters, none of the four main characters were shown to have romantic interests.
  
   
  +
Daja, although she kissed one boy before in [[Gansar]], never felt real romantic feelings for men. She developed feelings for [[Rizuka fa Dalach]], the Mistress of the Wardrobe, and grew a very strong attachment. Their sexual relationship occurred quickly and was not a secret to her foster-siblings. Daja wishes that her foster-siblings would accept Rizu, but Briar and Tris are both reluctant while Sandry welcomes her with open arms. When Daja prepares to leave Namorn she asks Rizu to return to Emelan with her and is heartbroken by her refusal.
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Sandry's visit to Namorn is punctuated by Empress Berenene's desire to see her marry a Namornese nobleman. She is courted by Jak and Fin, whose advances she rebuffs while maintaining a friendly acquaintance with them. She develops feeling for Shan and responds to his less public courtship, but when she learns that he's sexually involved with Empress Berenene, she doesn't pursue the relationship and rejects his offer of marriage. After Fin's incarceration Jak learns that Sandry is leaving Namorn and visits her before she leaves, when she tells him that she enjoys his company much more as a friend than as a suitor.
  
   
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==Social and political commentary==
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Daja meets Rizu, the Empress's Mistress of Wardrobe, developing an infatuation with her and commenting on her beauty and flirtatiousness. Her feelings remain unacknowledged until Rizu makes the first move and kisses her, resulting in awkwardness on the part of Sandry, who telepathically senses the kiss and is flustered by the rush of Daja's emotions. Daja and Rizu's relationship quickly becomes sexual, and is discovered by Briar when he finds Rizu in Daja's bedroom one morning (Naked). During their short relationship, Daja develops intense feelings for Rizu and shows a desire for her to be accepted as part of her siblings' inner circle, while they are reluctant.
  
  +
''The Will of the Empress'' deals with several topics that mirror social and political discourse in the real world.
   
  +
===Bride kidnapping===
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When Daja prepares to leave Namorn she asks Rizu to return to Emelan with her and is heartbroken by her refusal; during the ride to the border she's shown to carry a small portrait of Rizu in her pouch. After Daja leaves, Berenene comments on Rizu's low spirits since her lover's departure.
  
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One of the most notable is the topic of bride kidnapping that is a theme throughout the novel. The view on bride kidnapping mirrors real world views on rape and sexual assault in terms of blaming the victim for the occurrence. [[Berenene dor Ocmore]], despite having been a victim herself, sees that women who did not escape like she did as beneath her notice and that they deserve their fates. [[Ambros fer Landreg]] made an uncomfortable statement when Sandry was discussing the custom and blamed her for judging all Namornese men for the actions of a few—like what occurs in discussions of rape culture in the real world. Ealaga countered this by asking her husband of what else she was supposed to do, as women have so little freedom because of this custom. They truly do teach their daughters to treat all men as possible predators for safety reasons—and that it is necessary to treat all men as such. Briar hoped that Ambros would change his mind about the custom because of Ealaga's comment.
   
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==Characters==
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Briar, coping with an unspecified war in the country of Yanjing, tends to romance as many women as he can, mainly Caidy. He reassures the others that he takes droughtwort, a plant that renders the eater temporarily sterile.
  
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===The Circle===
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*'''[[Sandrilene fa Toren]]''' is one of the four young mages and a powerful noblewoman with a large inheritance in Namorn. Traps are set for her in the country so she would have to remain, despite her unwillingness. She is a powerful thread mage and the keeper of the [[thread circle]]. She is very politically savvy and her [[Vedris fer Toren|uncle]] looks to her as one of his top people.
   
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* '''[[Daja Kisubo]]''' is a powerful metal-mage with connections to some of the most powerful merchant families in Namorn. The empress would love to have her join her Court. Daja doesn't think she'd ever want to stay.
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==Characters in "The Will of the Empress"==
  
   
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*'''[[Trisana Chandler]]''' is a weather mage who has learned to scry the winds. She keeps it a secret due to how other people treat her. She is more ostentatious than her siblings, and the empress believes she is the only major threat and the reason why they are all so confident. She and Briar take in [[Zhegorz Fiavrus]] off the streets.
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* Sandrilene fa Toren
  
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* Daja Kisubo
  
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*'''[[ Briar Moss]]''' suffered a war while abroad and has nightmares because of it which is one of the main reasons why he doesn't wish to reconnect with his foster-sisters. Empress Berenene wants him to stay because of his skill as a plant mage.
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* Trisana Chandler
  
  +
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* Briar Moss
  
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===The Imperial Court===
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* Berenene dor Ocmore, Empress of Namorn
  
  +
*'''[[Berenene dor Ocmore]]''' is the main antagonist of the book and the Empress of Namorn. Berenene always gets her way, not matter how.
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* [[Zhegorz Fiavrus]]
  
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⚫
* [[Gudruny Iarun]]
  
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*'''[[Ishabal Ladyhammer]]''' is the titular character of the book as she is known as the "empress's will". Ishabal is a curse-weaver of immeasurable skill and a close adviser of the empress.
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* [[Ambros fer Landreg]]
  
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* Ishabal Ladyhammer
  
  +
*'''[[Pershan fer Roth]]''' has set his sights on Sandry, the wealthy countess with imperial blood. One small problem: he's the empress's current lover. If he succeeds, Berenene would have to respect him. If he fails, his time at Court and in imperial favor is done for good. Will he get his way through fair means or foul?
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* Quenaill Shieldsman
  
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* Pershan fer Roth
  
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*'''[[Quenaill Shieldsman]]''' was the past lover of Berenene and is jealous of Shan. He is dedicated to the empress's safety, however, and ensures that no one gets close enough to kill. Will Quen's allegiance be turned in the end?
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* [[Rizuka fa Dalach]]
  
  +
  +
*'''[[Finlach fer Hurich]]''' was one of the two young noblemen chosen by the empress to woo Sandry. He knows that the empress expects success, no matter how that success is reached.
  +
  +
*'''[[Jakuben fer Pennun]]''' was another of the two young noblemen chosen to court Sandry. He knows that either he or Jak is expected to be married to Sandry by the end of the year, but is he prepared to dishonor her by capturing her hand through foul means?
  +
  +
*'''[[Rizuka fa Dalach]]''' is the Mistress of the Robe, and has imperial favor. The empress has given her an important place and a different life, and she owed much to her. When Rizu falls in love with one of the four mages, can she be persuaded to choose love over the position she has earned?
  +
  +
*'''[[Caidlene fa Sarajane]]''' is a flirtatious lady-in-waiting of the empress who has her sights set on [[Briar Moss]].
  +
  +
===[[Landreg]] household===
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*'''[[Ambros fer Landreg]]''' is the steward of Landreg and has been since Lady Amiliane was countess. As steward, he cannot petition the empress for much, so he hopes he can persuade his young cousin Sandrilene to assume her responsibilities.
  +
*'''[[Ealaga fa Landreg]]''' is Ambros's no-nonsense wife. A seasoned mother, she knows exactly how to deal with the hot and cold personalities of her young guests.
  +
*'''[[Gudruny Iarun]]''' has been forced to stay with an abusive husband for ten long years. She is determined to make the new countess see sense and release her finally from Halmar. But will the young lady listen? After all, Sandrilene's own mother had cruelly dismissed Gudruny previously.
  +
*'''[[Zhegorz Fiavrus]]''' has tricked his way out of [[Yorgiry's Hospital]] by pretending to get better. Now roaming the streets of [[Dancruan]], he is rescued from [[Pershan fer Roth]] by Daja after he accidentally insults Sandry. Tris seems to think there is more to him than meets the eye.
  +
*'''[[Wenoura]]'''
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===[[Emelan]] residents===
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*'''[[Vedris fer Toren]]'''
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*'''[[Erdogun fer Baigh]]'''
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*'''[[Rosethorn]]'''
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*'''[[Lark]]'''
  +
*'''[[Niklaren Goldeye]]'''
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*'''[[Evumeimei Dingzai]]'''
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*'''[[Comas]]'''
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*'''[[Pasco Acalon]]'''
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===Other Namornese===
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*'''[[Maghen]]'''
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*'''[[Halmar Iarun]]'''
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*'''[[Dymytur fer Holm]]'''
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*'''[[Yeskoy fer Haugh]]'''
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*'''[[House Bancanor]]'''
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*'''[[Notalos fer Hurich]]'''
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*'''[[Gurkoy|''Saghad'' Gurkoy]]'''
   
 
==Notes and references==
  
==Notes and references==
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==See also==
  
==See also==
 
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[[Category:The Will of the Empress]]

Revision as of 01:07, 16 July 2017


The Will of the Empress is the ninth book and first standalone set in the Circle Universe by Tamora Pierce. The book is set four years after the last The Circle of Magic book, and the four protagonists are all around 18 years old. The book is centered around the tensions from their reunion after being away from each for quite a long time. They have different experiences, different wishes, and different behaviors.

Plot

The Four Reunite

The book opens with Sandrilene fa Toren when she is just sixteen, having just received reports of her lands in Namorn which she doesn't want to go over. Daja Kisubo returns not long after and will not speak telepathically with Sandry like the other girl wants her to. They fight and are tense around each other, as Daja is saddened that she cannot live at Winding Circle anymore as a sixteen year old accredited mage. Trisana Chandler is the next to return and is distrustful of her old foster family and is afraid they'll treat her differently for mastering new magic techniques. She also brings Chime, a living glass dragon.

Two years after this, Briar Moss returns from far lands where he was caught in the midst of a war, which gave him post-traumatic stress disorder and extremely bad nightmares about what happened. He is afraid of opening up to his foster sisters and of how they'll treat him, so he doesn't tell them much of what happened while abroad.

Vedris fer Toren is put under pressure from Empress Berenene, the powerful female ruler of the Namorn Empire, and Sandry's second cousin. The empress wants Sandry to come to Namorn to see her lands and her mother's country. Berenene has even threatened monetary repercussions on Emelan if Vedris does not use his influence on his great-niece to send her north. Sandry finds out from Erdogun fer Baigh and is outraged, planning to go immediately so no one would be inconvenienced. Duke Vedris is still nervous, however, and asks her three foster-siblings to go with her, even though they are at odds. They agree as they like the Duke.

Journey to Namorn

The four bump heads while getting ready, and they travel with Third Caravan Saralan, a Trader caravan that is heading up to Dancruan[1]. Daja still has a lot of clout with the Traders, so she and her foster-siblings are invited to sit with the Traders, and to see rare artisanal work. While crossing a river, Tris suddenly brings out her lightning to get the caravan to move faster. The moment they reach the other side, flooding occurs that would've swept them away if she hadn't seen it coming. Sandry is still outraged, but Briar knows how to calm Tris.

The four run into a group of nobles after the caravan went on without them (per the four's request). The nobles are hunting Chime, and Sandry realizes a bit too late that their leader is Empress Berenene herself. They are impressed with the magical proficiency of her bodyguard Quenaill Shieldsman, who raises an impenetrable shield around the empress in a matter of seconds.

They reach Sandry's sprawling townhouse/mansion in Dancruan and get settled. They talk about about "experience" in terms of sexuality, and remark that Briar has gotten to be a bit of a ladies' man. Ambros fer Landreg arrives later in the night, and Briar notices that Sandry has been practicing meditation, as she used her magic to spread a web around the house so she knows who comes and goes. Ambros is surprised to learn that Sandry doesn't plan to stay in Namorn indefinitely and informs her that the empress will be quite determined in her wish.

The empress, who is also a point of view character, is shown to look over the four's files that her spies have collected and has plans to lure each of them to remain in her country as she sees their value.

The Court

They are presented to Berenene dor Ocmore the day after at the Imperial Palace. Empress Berenene tests Sandry's magical skill and political knowledge, much to Sandry's chagrin when she realizes it. The empress, like many others, believe that Sandry plays a lesser role in Emelan politics than she does.

Sandry meets Pershan fer Roth, the only nobleman at her cousin's court whom she really likes. Daja meets Rizuka fa Dalach; and Briar is invited to see the empress's greenhouses, earning him the jealousy of other young noblemen of the court.

Quen and Ishabal Ladyhammer realize that Tris would be an excellent addition to the empress's mages, and give her an offer. When the empress invites the four on an outing, Sandry declines for the group and says that they must visit Landreg—as it was what they came to Namorn to do. This angers Briar and Tris, who feel that Sandry made that decision without their consent.

Landreg

Nevertheless, the four go to Landreg with four members of Berenene's court: Rizuka fa Dalach, Caidlene fa Sarajane, Finlach fer Hurich, and Jakuben fer Pennun; the latter two of whom were chosen by Berenene to court Sandry and to convince her to remain in Namorn. During the journey, Sandry confronts Ambros fer Landreg about the disrepair on her lands, and this is when she first hears of possible monetary problems that the estate suffers from.

Once they reach the manse, they are introduced to Ambros's wife Ealaga fa Landreg, a very kind woman; and their four daughters. They all get settled in. At night, Sandry wakes up to find the light gone and panics. She finds that a woman, Gudruny Iarun, has sneaked in to her room in order to talk to her. Gudruny tells her of her plight in an abusive marriage, and how that came to be. This is the first time Sandry learns of the Western Namornese custom of bride kidnapping, which entails a man kidnapping a prospective bride and holding her captive until she agrees to sign a wedding contract. Gudruny explains that she came to Sandry for aid, as only a woman's liege lord or lady could sever a forced marriage. When Halmar Iarun, Gudruny's husband, arrives early the next morning, Sandry severs the marriage before almost the entirety of the household, noble and common alike. This provides enough witnesses for the marriage to be officially severed, but she puts it in writing in any case.

Sandry, Ambros, Tris and a few guards leave the castle in order to view Sandry's estates. At the village of Pofkim, Tris uses her magic to fix the bank in order to avoid possible fatal accidents and the monetary expense. While on their way back, they are ambushed by a group of noblemen and men-at-arms who wish to kidnap Sandry and force her to sign a marriage contract. Sandry is livid, and uses her magic to get their clothes to fall off.

The empress hears of the incident from her spies and shares her disappointment with Ishabal that Jakuben fer Pennun and Finlach fer Hurich did not accompany Sandry so that they could be shown being brave in front of the kidnappers. She also warns Isha that she does not want what happened to Sandry's would-be kidnappers to happen to her. Isha warns Berenene that perhaps it is unwise to provoke the four, as it could force them to rejoin, but Berenene laughs off this advice. Isha keeps her further thoughts to herself but still believes that her empress is underestimating them all.

The empress and her court visit Sandry at Landreg, and brings them back into the her fold. They all visit Dragonstone, an old castle, where Briar is challenged by Olfeon, a jealous nobleman.

Return to Dancruan

The empress invites Sandry to return to the capital with them, and Sandry knows that it would highly offend if she refuses, so she returns with Gudruny and Zhegorz Fiavrus in tow. They do not stay at the Dancruan townhouse as before, but in fancy apartments in the palace. Tris is lent multiple books about Namorn in order to entice her to stay. She is also offered 500 argibs per annum—a huge sum in order to appeal to her merchant upbringing.

Daja begins a romantic tryst with Rizuka fa Dalach while there is a ball. As Sandry and Daja had opened their magical connection, Sandry feels it as if she herself were being kissed. She is dancing with Fin and desperately asks for a reprieve. She goes outside and is kissed by Pershan fer Roth which makes her even more flustered, as she comes back into the ballroom and dances with Jak without thinking.

Fin is angered and thinks Sandry meant to make a fool out of him. He decides to write to his uncle, Notalos fer Hurich, who has access to the floor plans of the Imperial Palace in order to make a kidnapping easier. At a reception to welcome the Lairanese ambassador, Fin begs the empress for the honor of escorting Sandry to the Hall. She allows it, but instead of taking Sandry down the proper route, he lies and takes her down another where he drugs her.

She wakes up in a dark box in the Julih Tunnel, spelled to keep her from accessing her magic. It is here when Fin tells her of his plans and informs her of Shan's liaison with the empress. He leaves for the ball, confident in his success. Sandry uses the thread circle to call to first Tris—which left a scorch mark on her power—and then Briar. He helps her break free with Tris's help and they demand an immediate audience with the empress. Sandry informs her imperial cousin that she will be returning to Emelan immediately.

Escape from Namorn

Ishabal places a curse to injure Tris and succeeds, believing that the four's confidence stems from their relationship to a powerful weather-mage while underestimating the other three. Tris urges them to leave without her and charges Zhegorz with their protection.

Zhegorz warns them of cryptic things involving plans for a wedding while on the way to the Olart border. While staying at the Canyon Inn, Sandry is kidnapped by Shan with the help of Quenaill Shieldsman. She bests Shan and his mages with her extremely powerful magic, Daja and Briar best Quen together, and Tris begins to make the very painful journey south so that she can help them defeat Ishabal.

When at the Olart border, Ishabal and a few Crown mages raise the border, an invisible wall of magic. They try to get through but are unsuccessful at first. They then decide to get out the thread circle and use that. With their immense power, they bring down the magical wall. Ishabal goes back to Berenene with her tail between her legs.

Briar, Tris, and Daja succeed in convincing Sandry to give over her lands and title to Ambros, who deserves them more than she for his work. She signs away her wealth in Namorn in order to avoid another fight with the empress. The four are officially reunited.

The Circle Reforged

The Circle Reforged refers to the four returning and renewing their old bond, as in the beginning of the book, they rejected doing so. The thread circle symbolizes their relationship over the quartets. The Circle of Magic refers to them creating that bond, and The Circle Opens refers to the four leaving each other and finding their own way in the world for a few years with their respective teachers. Sandrilene fa Toren remains in Summersea with her uncle, Vedris fer Toren; Briar Moss journeys to Chammur and Yanjing and gets caught in a brutal war which furthers his unwillingness to open the old bond; Daja Kisubo goes to the northern countries like Namorn, and is saddened to learn that she would be unable to stay at Discipline when she returns as a sixteen year old; Trisana Chandler visits Tharios and learns how to scry the winds—she fears her siblings' reaction so she does not tell them about her newfound ability. When they return to Summersea, they still see each other as siblings, although they refuse to open their old very powerful bond.

Sandry is the only one who seems to want to reopen that bond, at least at first when Daja returns in 1041 KF, when they are sixteen. But even she develops an unwillingness to truly reopen although she sets herself against her siblings in that respect. Daja doesn't reopen with Sandry because she is hurt that her foster-sister didn't tell her of the rule keeping them from living at Disclipline. Duke Vedris recognizes this as a bitter homecoming, and Daja buys herself an expensive house with rooms set aside for her siblings—even Sandry—although the young noble resides at Duke's Citadel. Tris is the second to return, and she is a bit apprehensive about opening their bond. She was exposed to criticism and even hatred for her abilities when other mages thought she wanted to be more than what she was. Thus, she wants to go to the University of Lightsbridge and study academic magic in order to avoid that scrutiny. Briar is the last to and latest to return, and he comes back when the four are all eighteen. He was in a brutal war with Gyongxe against Yanjing, and still suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and has nightmares about war events.

The four fight constantly at first, and it seems that they would be happy to go their separate ways with this tense atmosphere. Duke Vedris, however, has other plans. He wants Sandry's foster siblings to go with her to Namorn to protect her, thus forcing the four together again. They agree, but not for Sandry, as they all are indebted in some way to the Duke.

Over the course of the book, the four reconnect magically. Sandry and Daja are the first to do so, as they have a strong relationship from their past. Daja is also the most easygoing one of them, and so she is more likely to forgive Sandry of her micromanaging. Sandry reconnects with Briar when she is trapped by Finlach fer Hurich inside a magical box, who wants to force her to sign a marriage contract. Briar is angered at first, but then accepts the challenge and helping his sister. He reconnects with Tris easily and they go to free her. Daja reconnects with Tris after the latter is cursed by Ishabal Ladyhammer and is very injured. Daja and Briar then reconnect while magically fighting Quenaill Shieldsman. Thus all for have reinstated their bonds with the same powers as before. They are able to shield the other from things they don't want seen, however. In a battle on the border between Namorn and Olart, they use their thread circle to bring down a magical barrier. After defeating Isha and destroying the barrier, they find the thread has disappeared and has instead left a physical lump in each of their palms—which then sunk into their skin to create a visible mark. This shows that their magical bond is here to stay.

In the last scene, they are all brought to a dreamlike creation of Briar's of Discipline and they each share a secret they have been keeping. Briar shares a bit of his war past, Sandry shares that she killed two people to save her student which shocks them[2], Tris shares about her new abilities, and Daja talks about her disastrous friendship with Bennat Ladradun—a serial arsonist.

Romantic sub-plots

The Will of the Empress is the first book of the Circle Universe to have a romantic sub-plot. The previous books alluded to romantic relationships of adult characters, but none of the four main protagonists were shown to have specific romantic relationships besides some interest. Sandry, although she lived at her uncle's court for years, had mild flirtations but turned down any serious pursuits for her hand[3]. Briar was shown flirting with a few Chammuran girls, like Ayasha.

Empress Berenene was frustrated that Sandry wouldn't be so easily wooed into staying in Namorn, but was confident with Briar. Sandry ignores the two young men chosen by the empress to court her, and develops feelings for Pershan fer Roth, the handsome Master of the Hunt. Shan is the first person for whom Sandry has romantic feelings. Briar has no romantic relationships but quite a few sexual ones with no strings attached as he needs someone to be in his bed in order to sleep and keep away the nightmares. Briar is clearly sexually attracted to women, but he may not have any romantic feelings (aromantic).

Daja, although she kissed one boy before in Gansar, never felt real romantic feelings for men. She developed feelings for Rizuka fa Dalach, the Mistress of the Wardrobe, and grew a very strong attachment. Their sexual relationship occurred quickly and was not a secret to her foster-siblings. Daja wishes that her foster-siblings would accept Rizu, but Briar and Tris are both reluctant while Sandry welcomes her with open arms. When Daja prepares to leave Namorn she asks Rizu to return to Emelan with her and is heartbroken by her refusal.

Social and political commentary

The Will of the Empress deals with several topics that mirror social and political discourse in the real world.

Bride kidnapping

One of the most notable is the topic of bride kidnapping that is a theme throughout the novel. The view on bride kidnapping mirrors real world views on rape and sexual assault in terms of blaming the victim for the occurrence. Berenene dor Ocmore, despite having been a victim herself, sees that women who did not escape like she did as beneath her notice and that they deserve their fates. Ambros fer Landreg made an uncomfortable statement when Sandry was discussing the custom and blamed her for judging all Namornese men for the actions of a few—like what occurs in discussions of rape culture in the real world. Ealaga countered this by asking her husband of what else she was supposed to do, as women have so little freedom because of this custom. They truly do teach their daughters to treat all men as possible predators for safety reasons—and that it is necessary to treat all men as such. Briar hoped that Ambros would change his mind about the custom because of Ealaga's comment.

Characters

The Circle

  • Sandrilene fa Toren is one of the four young mages and a powerful noblewoman with a large inheritance in Namorn. Traps are set for her in the country so she would have to remain, despite her unwillingness. She is a powerful thread mage and the keeper of the thread circle. She is very politically savvy and her uncle looks to her as one of his top people.
  • Daja Kisubo is a powerful metal-mage with connections to some of the most powerful merchant families in Namorn. The empress would love to have her join her Court. Daja doesn't think she'd ever want to stay.
  • Trisana Chandler is a weather mage who has learned to scry the winds. She keeps it a secret due to how other people treat her. She is more ostentatious than her siblings, and the empress believes she is the only major threat and the reason why they are all so confident. She and Briar take in Zhegorz Fiavrus off the streets.
  • Briar Moss suffered a war while abroad and has nightmares because of it which is one of the main reasons why he doesn't wish to reconnect with his foster-sisters. Empress Berenene wants him to stay because of his skill as a plant mage.

The Imperial Court

  • Berenene dor Ocmore is the main antagonist of the book and the Empress of Namorn. Berenene always gets her way, not matter how.
  • Ishabal Ladyhammer is the titular character of the book as she is known as the "empress's will". Ishabal is a curse-weaver of immeasurable skill and a close adviser of the empress.
  • Pershan fer Roth has set his sights on Sandry, the wealthy countess with imperial blood. One small problem: he's the empress's current lover. If he succeeds, Berenene would have to respect him. If he fails, his time at Court and in imperial favor is done for good. Will he get his way through fair means or foul?
  • Quenaill Shieldsman was the past lover of Berenene and is jealous of Shan. He is dedicated to the empress's safety, however, and ensures that no one gets close enough to kill. Will Quen's allegiance be turned in the end?
  • Finlach fer Hurich was one of the two young noblemen chosen by the empress to woo Sandry. He knows that the empress expects success, no matter how that success is reached.
  • Jakuben fer Pennun was another of the two young noblemen chosen to court Sandry. He knows that either he or Jak is expected to be married to Sandry by the end of the year, but is he prepared to dishonor her by capturing her hand through foul means?
  • Rizuka fa Dalach is the Mistress of the Robe, and has imperial favor. The empress has given her an important place and a different life, and she owed much to her. When Rizu falls in love with one of the four mages, can she be persuaded to choose love over the position she has earned?

Landreg household

  • Ambros fer Landreg is the steward of Landreg and has been since Lady Amiliane was countess. As steward, he cannot petition the empress for much, so he hopes he can persuade his young cousin Sandrilene to assume her responsibilities.
  • Ealaga fa Landreg is Ambros's no-nonsense wife. A seasoned mother, she knows exactly how to deal with the hot and cold personalities of her young guests.
  • Gudruny Iarun has been forced to stay with an abusive husband for ten long years. She is determined to make the new countess see sense and release her finally from Halmar. But will the young lady listen? After all, Sandrilene's own mother had cruelly dismissed Gudruny previously.
  • Zhegorz Fiavrus has tricked his way out of Yorgiry's Hospital by pretending to get better. Now roaming the streets of Dancruan, he is rescued from Pershan fer Roth by Daja after he accidentally insults Sandry. Tris seems to think there is more to him than meets the eye.
  • Wenoura

Emelan residents

Other Namornese

Notes and references

  1. ↑ The Will of the Empress, Cp. 2 (p. 39; Scholastic)
  2. ↑ This is a bit of an inconsistency since in Cold Fire Sandry had written to Daja about the events of Magic Steps and the aftermath.
  3. ↑ The Will of the Empress, early chapters

External links

See also

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