Yaaay! It's always gratifying when a sequel lives up to a first story.
The nightmare opening felt just right for Responsibility (whose real name I don't know how to spell) -- what could be worse than being trapped on the century ship again and getting burned by her mother trying to find her, in a horrible inversion of an orphan's parental rescue fantasy? And as a bonus, it deftly reminded listeners of the first story while also setting the scene for new listeners.
I was interested by her evolving relationship with her father -- he's trying to tell her to stand up for herself, but coming from her abused background, she naturally just sees this as pure criticism. (I also liked the consort/Throne's intercessions, here and later.) When Responsibility does take a stand to help someone weaker, he can't help being proud of her, despite the danger this poses to her and to his realm.
I liked the line about how she'd felt the weight of being a responsibility before, but now she realizes that having responsibility has its own weight.
Often when a youthful character acts rashly, it just annoys me, but Respy's recklessness worked for me. After escaping the ship, she's finally in a place where she feels comparatively safe, so she can try out her wings both literally and figuratively. Having been imprisoned, it's also natural for her to instantly sympathize with her former antagonist/watcher when she realizes she's a prisoner, too.
I was interested to find out a little more about the Consortium. In Abandoned Responsibility, I'd wondered if it were based on technology, rather than Respy's assumption that it just used a different kind of magic. Here, it seemed like more of a steampunk vibe, with the debt-slave's harness.
Finally, I liked the duel, and I agree that the ambassador cheated first. I'm sure the Consortium can use this as an excuse for war if it wants to, but on the other hand, if it doesn't, maybe the next ambassador will be a little more cautious.
