Say what you like about Ilterish, but he’s certainly fearless in the face of adversity (or actually just super unwilling to consider defeat, tbh). He didn’t hesitate to respond. I wouldn’t say this aspect of him is entirely a strength, though, as knowing when you’re beaten is important if you want to live.
(Which clearly some of the Turanian generals don’t. I suppose it was seen as better to go down fighting than retreat after your army has been so unsustainably reduced.)
I wish we’d had a chance to get to know some of the Turanian characters a little better; it was good to see Kishward in combat once more but even if you don’t already know what happens I think it very much feels like a foregone conclusion that he’s going to best Boila in their duel so there wasn’t much of a sense of peril. I don’t mean that as a criticism as such, just that his inevitable death is just a continuation of the Turanian army’s disintegration, and I didn’t really know enough of Boila to feel bad that he died.
Meanwhile, the contest between Daryun and Tarkhan was FUCKING BRUTAL.
I enjoyed the scene between Alfarid and Kubard so much (it was time for a bit of humour on the battlefield and Kubard just looked so...happy? to realise who she is.)
I also liked this line of dialogue for Alfarid.
The novel has her stay silent, though acknowledges that there’s something she wants other than leading the Zot Clan. But I like that she says it, and I like the way it’s presented here; obviously it’s alluding to her feelings for Narsus, but I also don’t think it’s as simple as that. It’s also about her desire to be part of something bigger, to lend her support to both Arslan and Narsus for the good of Pars, and it’s about her actively choosing her own future for herself, which is why I think her speech here is paired with such a dynamic panel.
Turan may have different ethics to Pars, but this chapter really shows us that their top warriors have honour. In particular, Tarkhan (who bravely continued to fight to the death so that his king could flee) acknowledged his defeat and accepted his own death with dignity, and it’s impossible not to respect that, just as Daryun does.
(I really like that you can see how much of a toll that battle took on Daryun. It’s extremely rare that we see him struggle to best an enemy, but it’s not just physical fatigue, there’s a mental toll as well. Though it is his victory and an accepted part of war, he clearly respected his opponent and although he does not regret the outcome, I don’t think killing a man like that is easy for him.)
...Tarkhan’s horse was another good horse, it just came off worse in the clash against Shabrang (pretty cool to see the big warhorses getting into it with headbutting and ramming while their riders are fighting).
I feel like Arakawa enjoyed drawing this fight, lmao. That one panel of Daryun where the blood is pouring down onto his face... her portrayal of their duel really conveyed the mixture of violence and honour. As a reader you can’t help but be a little respulsed by the brutality of their struggle, while at the same time respecting both participants. It just...doesn’t really feel like a victory you can celebrate, you know?
And the last panel is a severely-wounded Jimsa, just to leave you with more good feelings as the chapter comes to a close.
