Quicksilver Chapter 21: Saeris’s Experiments and the Dinner Attack

Spoiler Notice

This chapter includes the first major monster attack in Cahlish and reveals the reason behind the silver embargo. It also deepens the tension between Saeris and Kingfisher through a fraught dinner conversation.

Summary

Saeris begins her alchemical work in the smithy, but she cannot read the Old Fae texts Kingfisher provided. She experiments with scrap metal, learning to distinguish metals by their vibration frequency. After locating silver’s frequency, she melts a quantity and adds various ingredients—salt works, but other powders burn or fail. Her four attempts to create a relic medallion produce nothing.

Searching for quicksilver, she hears a faint whisper and finds a silver box hidden behind a plant. The solid quicksilver is barely two tablespoons. She liquefies it easily and dips her medallion in, but nothing happens. Frustrated, she leaves the smithy with her fox, Onyx.

She meets Ren, who returns bloodied from a mountain pass skirmish. Ren tells her he argued with Fisher about the oath and arranged a dinner so they could get to know each other. Saeris reluctantly agrees after Ren’s pleading.

At dinner in the grand hall, Saeris sits at the opposite end from Fisher behind a large floral centerpiece. She moves her plate next to him after he uses magic to whisper in her ear. They discuss the silver shortage: gold is abundant but useless because Belikon has put an embargo on silver in Yvelia. Fisher explains they need quicksilver to travel between realms to procure more silver.

The conversation turns personal when Fisher implies Carrion still smells like Saeris, referencing a past sexual encounter. Saeris denies it and grows angry. Suddenly, four monstrous blood-suckers (foot soldiers from Sanasroth) smash through the windows. Fisher kills two, while Saeris stabs one female with her dagger. The smaller creature tackles her, and she is about to be bitten when Fisher decapitates both. He carries her out, noting her wound must be cauterized because of poison.

Key Events

Saeris fails four attempts to make a relic medallion.
She discovers quicksilver hidden in the smithy and liquefies it.
Ren arrives from battle and tells her he arranged a dinner with Fisher.
Saeris moves to sit next to Fisher during the meal.
Fisher explains the silver embargo and the need for quicksilver to travel between realms.
Fisher provocatively mentions Carrion’s lingering scent on Saeris.
Blood-suckers attack the dining hall; Fisher kills two, Saeris wounds one but is injured.
Fisher carries Saeris away and warns of poison.

Character Development

Saeris: Shows determination in her experiments despite repeated failure. She stands up for herself at dinner by moving her seat. Her reaction to the attack proves she can fight, but she is still vulnerable.
Kingfisher: Reveals a strategic side (explaining the embargo) and a possessive, jealous edge when he brings up Carrion. His protective instinct during the attack shows a crack in his cold exterior.
Ren: Demonstrates loyalty and diplomacy; he tries to mediate between Saeris and Fisher by forcing them to share a meal.
Carrion (mentioned): His earlier lie about Saeris loving him is exposed and used by Fisher to provoke her.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs Evidenced Here

Alchemy and Transformation: Saeris’s failed experiments mirror her own struggle to adapt to Yvelia. The quicksilver whispers suggest a living magic that responds to her.
Silver vs. Gold: Silver symbolizes necessity and scarcity; gold represents vanity and superficial wealth. The embargo creates a literal barrier between realms.
Pheromones and Scent: Fisher’s ability to smell Saeris on Carrion underscores the theme of biological/instinctual bonds versus emotional ones.
Monstrous Hunger: The blood-suckers lack tongues and only have destructive impulses, contrasting with the civilised dinner setting.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter advances the plot by establishing the immediate threat of blood-suckers and the strategic importance of quicksilver. It deepens the fraught relationship between Saeris and Fisher: their dinner conversation reveals both political background and personal tension. Saeris’s injury sets up a need for healing and further interaction with Fisher. The attack also proves that Cahlish is not safe, raising the stakes for Saeris’s mission.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Saeris fail at making a relic on her first day? She lacks knowledge of Old Fae texts and proper ingredients. Her four attempts use salt, sand, salt water, red powder, and charcoal–each burns or does not react. She also has no quicksilver until she finds the hidden box, and even then the medallion shows no change.
What does Fisher reveal about the silver shortage in Yvelia? He explains that Belikon, the ruler of Yvelia, has placed an embargo on all silver within the realm. Gold is plentiful but useless for their needs because only silver can kill blood-suckers. They need quicksilver to travel to other realms and obtain more silver.
How does the dinner conversation change the dynamic between Saeris and Fisher? Fisher uses his magic to whisper intimately in her ear, then provokes her by claiming Carrion still smells like her from a past sexual encounter. This reveals his jealousy and possessive nature. Saeris stands her ground, but the attack interrupts them, leaving unresolved tension.