- Come to think of it, why would Annwin (the oldest sister) not have been the one to marry Borneheld?

The only explanation I can think of is that maybe they were holding out hope for a better match for the eldest, since she would be the heir to the family's wealth (pretty much saying that the younger siblings aren't worth as much, so they can settle for less advantageous matches), but...Borneheld is royal. What better match could they be waiting for?

- I am quite sure this is the result of Douglass only coming up with Faraday’s sisters around this point, and not bothering to apply that information earlier (or indeed to mention it in Faraday’s introduction!).

And all she would have had to do is call them her younger sisters. I'm not sure if it would close all of the plot holes that their existence opens up, but it would surely help.

- Also, are we really supposed to look down on Harland for hiding?

Yes. We're supposed to sneer and mock him for being cowardly, no matter how logical it is for him to hide from something he thinks could destroy him without even blinking.

- Raum and Shra tried to escape but fell themselves.

Okay, honest question. Are there booby traps set up all over and around the village? Because this is Looney Toons levels of wacky clumsiness and slapstick shenanigans. I could buy the old man tripping and breaking the lantern. That's fine. But why do Raum and Shra trip, too, other than it makes it a convenient way to catch them?

- Hmm, are we supposed to think bad of them for reworking this story?

Yes. We're supposed to think they're lying liars who lie and sneer at them for being cowards who can't even tell the truth about what happened, even though if they did tell the truth, we're supposed to look down on them for that, too, because they were cowards who ran and hid. Douglass is determined to make them look bad no matter how they reacted.

- He does not think that “[t]wo against eight” is a great battle. Well, Axis, that depends very much on the abilities of the combatants, and a host of other factors, too.

Douglass, you're not changing my mind about Axis being the Worst Leader Ever. In fact, you're just reinforcing my belief.

- Even in his haste, Axis notes Azhure blanch at this. Once again, has she not learned to keep her reactions hidden by now??

You would think, but how would we notice something was up with her if Douglass wasn't running around with a giant flashing sign saying "PAY ATTENTION TO THIS!" She clearly doesn't trust her readers to be able to pick up on subtle clues.

- He answers that Raum and Shra are under “close guard”, and they will not escape. (So they naturally will later on.) There is no one in the church, and they go to a stairwell and follow that into the cellar.

If there's no one in the church and the back door is unlocked, how are they under close guard? Cameras and motion detectors obviously don't exist in this setting, so remote surveillance isn't possible (unless maybe you use magic, but they're not). Even people who aren't used to having captives should know that this is not how you make sure they don't escape.

- Axis then says that every time he “encounter[s] unnecessary cruelty it sicken[s] him”, and now he can smell it in this cell. Well, let me keep this in mind for when Axis himself commits unnecessary cruelty.

I was about to say, that is the height of hypocrisy from Axis, there. But I guess it's perfectly fine when he does it. It's just that no one else is allowed to.

- Finally, he manages to look at the cell and see Ogden and Veremund have already managed to find their way down here. Hagen is overjoyed to see them and “exclaim[s] with delight”

Meanwhile, I'm exclaiming with despair. Where did these two idiots even come from? It's like characters completely disappear until they're necessary to the plot, and then they just pop up out of nowhere.

- Huddled in a corner are “a dark man” and “a small female child of alien although attractive features”.

*blows a shrill whistle* Back away from the toddler, Douglass! I will call the police on you!

- Combined with the torture they have been through… and I highly doubt they would have survived this long.

Unless their race is able to survive without water for longer than a human, they should be dead. The limit for going without water is three days, and I suspect that's in ideal conditions where you don't lose any moisture from your body or sustain any trauma.

- So it is evil for Hagen to spare Raum and Shra’s life and have them tortured for information, but Axis knocking Hagen out for no good reason is good? Ah, that is probably his “righteous anger”, so he is ~justified~.

But of course. Anything the protagonist does is justified, even if it's the exact same kind of behavior that is looked down on when it comes from anyone else. I don't think Douglass knows how hypocrisy or morals work.

- Because I am rather focussed on the analysis, I have not really had the opportunity to hate Axis before now, but this… (shakes head) It is also notably the first time he has tried to murder someone, so that helps, too.

Oh, don't worry. Us readers have been hating him plenty, so he hasn't been able to prance around these chapters doing whatever he wants with complete immunity. But please, do join us! Hating him can be quite cathartic, especially when you yell at him.

- Belial then throws the keys to Axis for some reason, and their eyes meet in “complete understanding”.

All I can think is that Belial is afraid to get too close to Axis. Which doesn't speak well for Axis, since Belial is not only an ally, but is supposed to be Axis's best friend.

- Well, Axis, you do not know either, since I am quite sure it would be possible for me to go to Tencendor and give my own torture skills a workout on you. I am quite motivated to by this, at least.

Ooh, let me know when you start selling tickets for viewers. I'll be there in a heartbeat!

- Azhure frowns at this exchange for some reason (and why was this important?), but then Axis throws open the cell door,

The mention of 'Brother', I would think. If Hagen is associated with them, she might believe that these two assholes would treat her the same way Hagen does. (Admittedly, I could be grasping for straws, but that's honestly the only explanation I can come up with.)

- That is all that is required and yet Douglass managed to miss it. Good going!

I'm noticing a theme here with this. That seems like Douglass's MO—or one of them, anyway.

- He asks himself what “creature of evil” can hold a child “so lovingly”

Oh, if you only knew, Axis...if you only knew.

- Only “the most powerful of Icarii Enchanters” can sing it, but even they are normally too weak to have it work.

*sighs heavily* I'm not even surprised by this. I'm just tired. And disgusted. We don't need even more proof that Axis is a Gary Stu, Douglass. Stop wanking over his awesomeness.

- I wish we could have had this for the entire chapter, instead of Axis beating up and threatening the villagers! And I note that has been mostly glossed over in the last part of this chapter…

But of course, since Douglass doesn't think Axis did anything wrong. Why focus on it when he was "totally justified" in his actions? Blegh.