Trickster's Queen
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Trickster's Queen is the second book in the series Daughter of the Lioness, by Tamora Pierce. It tells the continuing story of Aliane of Pirates Swoop (Aly) and her life as a servant to the Balitang family on the Copper Isles.
[edit] Synopsis
At the end of Trickster's Choice, Aly promised the Trikster god Kyprioth to put a half-Raka queen on the throne. Now, she must prove to all the Raka, and to herself, that she can fulfill her vow.
The Balitangs moved back to Rajmuat, under the watchful eyes of the Regents, Princess Imajane and Prince Rubinyan. The rebellion is working feverishly to get ready for the open conflict that everyone knows must take place.
Aly and her fellow conspirators spend most of their time either at the palace or planning ways to spread discord around the palace, forts, and docks. Buried in spy work, reports, and a faltering romance, Aly fails to see Sarai's infatuation with a young Carthaki healer, Zaimid, and allows Sarai to run off. This is a disaster, since Sarai is the prime candidate for the throne,as the eldest of the two daughters from their father's first marriage. Thankfully, this proves to be a blessing in disguise as the conspirators realize that the younger daughter, 13-year-old Dove, is much better qualified.
A surprise visit from an old character, Tkaa the Basilisk, gives Aly a huge advantage in gathering information. Tkaa brings Darkings, small black blob-shaped creatures who can communicate with each other silently, and hide in small spaces to watch any room. Aly plants them across Rajmuat and in the city, keeping on darking named Trick for herself, to whom all the others report.
The conspiracy takes its biggest step forward when the regents kill the 4-year-old King Dunevon, along with the Duchess Winnamine's son Elsren, in a mage-produced storm. The newly crowned rulers have little time to enjoy their victory, as the raka conspiracy enjoys several victories. All around the Isles the raka on noble estates are revolting, sometimes with the aid of friendly nobles themselves. Riots crop up all around the city, spreading from the slums to the middle-class areas. Aly's pack of spies burn almost every slave ship in the dock, remove bodies from the Example execution grounds, and poision food in both forts. Aly plants false signs around the palace as "proof" that Rubinyan is cheating on Imajane, and learns from the darkings that Imajane is throwing chairs at him in their private rooms. In a bold move, Aly's pack springs all political prisoners from Kanodang,a large prison near the city.
The revolt happens and, as is inevitable, many casualties are sustained on both sides. Imajane commits suicide, and the raka general, Ulasim, dies killing Prince Rubinyan. The conspiracy wins; Aly stays in the Isles and becomes Dove's chief spymaster.
[edit] Characters
Aly- Alianne of Priates Swoop is in her second year in the Copper Isles. She is the daughter of the famous female knight Alanna the Lioness. This is often a hard burden to bear. She has finally found her place within the main circle of the Raka conspiracy.
Dove- Dovasary Balitang is the second of two half-raka girls. She is quiet but very intelligant. She loves riding through Market Town and making friends with the shopkeepers and regular people. Though not the obvious candidate for Queen, she turns out to be the perfect woman for the post.
Sarai- Sarayu Balitang is the beautiful but impetuous eldest child of duke Mequin Balitang. Though many plans are made on her behalf, she scorns them all and runs away to Carthak to marry the man she loves.
Winnamine- Luarin duchess married to Duke Mequen. Has two children with Mequen, Petranne and Elsren. Was the best friend of Mequen's first wife, Duchess Sarugani.
Rubinyan, Imajane, Dunevon- Three rulers of the Copper Isles throughout the book. Rubinyan and Imajane are the married regents for the four-year-old king Dunevon, until he dies in later chapters
Nawat- Aly's love interest, a crow who chose to become a man
