Ashlords

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of animal cruelty.

“As quietly as possible, I approached the horse’s left shoulder. I keep my voice soft and patient. Most riders would just use constants. They’re with their horse through every death, every life. Feed them an apple, whisper a certain word. That’s all it takes for the Ashlords who can afford their own horses. It’s a little more difficult when you’re trying to convince a creature you haven’t seen in months to trust you again.”

Imelda can only practice rebirths and ride phoenixes on Ashlord holy days and other rare occasions when the Ashlords have not booked time at Martial’s ranch. This foreshadows the many disadvantages that Imelda will face against her privileged Ashlord competitors in the Races. Imelda’s approach to the phoenix, however, shows her careful and intelligent nature, highlighting the patience that will be necessary to enact her rebellion.

“‘Adrian’s heading south,’ he says. ‘He will be the first Longhand in twelve years to compete in the Races. When he wins, our people will remember. They will rise to war. My son will remind the Ashlords who we are, what we can do. Their world will tremble.’”

Ben Ford raised Adrian to be the exemplar of the Longhands so that he could essentially serve as a mascot for their cause. The Races are immensely popular, even in the Reach: Ben bets that seeing one of their own win will be the spark that the Reach needs to revolt against the Empire. Ben’s tone in this quote highlights his commitment to both the cause and his plan.

“‘Adrian made a lot of noise yesterday, but remember, that’s all the thunder ever is. Noise. It’s the lightning you have to worry about. Ever seen a good storm out on the plains?’ The girl nods. ‘You always see the strikes before you hear the boom. That’s how I’ll handle the Longhand. I’ll ride hard and I won’t look back. I’ll be in the distance, and he’ll just be the noise that follows.’”

A key rivalry forms early between Pippa, the natural favorite to win the Races, and Adrian, the dark horse competitor. Pippa refers to the motif of thunder and lightning, likening Adrian to thunder by arguing that he is “the noise,” while she is the main attraction. Boasting during the required interviews allows the competitors to build their personal brand, heightening the entertainment value and changing their odds on the betting markets.