#senrid

i know these books involving the mearsieans are all kinda focused on the concept of kid rulers, and most if not all of the kids express at some point how adults failed them, adults never listen, adults don’t think they’re smart or strong enough to solve problems, etc. the inclusion of the age-slowing spell to keep kids younger for longer functions as both a mechanical tool to keep the kids around long enough to write many books about them lmao, but it also says interesting things about how youth and growing up is perceived and practiced in sartorias-deles.

these kids, the mearsieans, senrid, and lerorans, have all played critical roles in many an adventure, and a fair number of them involving norsunder, all forms of abuse, murder of parents, and other traumatizing events. in short, childhood has not been kind to them. this is most noticeable in senrid and kyale, as they’re closest to said trauma, have had it happen most recently to them, and for the most part until the events of this book had little to no support from other people (in contrast, leander had his loyal woodsmen squad, and the mearsieans have found each other, rallied under clair and cj). senrid has all his anger issues, paranoia, and insecurity about being perceived weak over ethics and white vs black magic. kyale complains about not being the most special person in the room, is snobby about servants, common folk, etc., and reacts to the slightest criticism or guilty feeling with anger. gonna focus more on senrid for this bit. a lot of senrid’s issues comes from how he was denied autonomy as a kid, and that lack of control is manifesting itself as those less-than-desirable characteristics.

this theme of senrid being regarded and treated as a powerless, stupid kid is repeated a lot in the book, perhaps most often in his voice, how it’s high-pitched and when he’s sick, weak, wavery, and described as the sound of many an animal lol. also his round face, skinny short frame, and how easily he resembles “seven out of ten” of the kids in marloven hess lol. senrid enhanced his cheery, careless child persona when under his uncle’s control to protect himself, but even after when he’s trying to secure the throne for himself and win the people’s loyalty, that perception of him being weak because he’s a kid is used against him and is something he has to overcome. which is tricky, since he can’t make himself grow up faster, merely prove to adults that despite his youth he’s still capable of ruling.

which is what makes the youth/age-slowing spell so compelling to me. the series leans dramatically in the opposite way of “kids grow up quick to become capable adults”. rather, our protags retain their youth in DEFIANCE of that perception. the mearsieans use the spell, as well as leander, essentially to take back some of the childhood that was stolen from them. they continue to be kids longer, continue to rule their kingdoms, continue to have adventures, and disdain the adulthood slowly creeping up on them. a big ole fuck you to “you’ll understand when you’re older” yknow lmao. no, they understand now, they’ve been through the shit, but they’re not letting that shit steal even memories/experiences as youth. they’re not growing up just to forget what it’s like to be a kid. they’re gonna damn well enjoy being kids, no matter what the world throws at them.

and though senrid doesn’t have the youth spell on him (yet? don’t remember if he does get it done eventually), his arc still fulfills that attitude, as seen in the quoted paragraph way up yonder. rather than walk slow and proud, dignified as some other ruler might try to be, to convey strength and wisdom to their subjects, senrid grins at seeing the salutes. he runs! he runs and laughs as he runs through the castle, as he never could before, the very image of a young and carefree child. embracing that youth, celebrating it, rejoicing in being a kid AND having control of his kingdom. it’s the first time in the whole damn book that we see senrid simply happy, not even a bit of sarcasm, and it’s incredible to behold. he’s no longer afraid to be seen as a kid, because he is a kid, and doesn’t feel it necessary to smother that part of him just because adults might look down on him for it.

“What’s a Pluquerta?” “Old Language. Means a short, loud, wretch. I looked it up just for you!”