[identity profile] loquaciousquark.livejournal.com posting in [community profile] queensthief
Hey everyone! I don't think anyone remembers me, but I joined almost two years ago and have been pretty much lurking since then. And, uh, now I'm back? :)

So I was recently rereading King and The Thief, and I kept noticing all these little details that I'd missed the first four six several times through. Here's a list of my questions and observations.

from The Thief (page numbers from the copy with the statue of Hephestia and Gen looking over his shoulder):

1. When the magus accuses Gen of stealing the food and asks if he's eaten well, Gen replies, "Not lately." Why is this so supposedly indicative of his guilt? I would have thought, if anything, it would clear him, since he hasn't eaten. (pg 97)

2. After Gen rifles through the bones at the end of the maze and finds the seal ring with the dolphin on it, why does he get so defensive when the magus tries to take it? Is there something special about the ring that I'm missing, or does he just not want the magus to take anything else from him? (page 140)

3. This one's just something I noticed in retrospect and thought was so cool. This passage is when the magus and Sophos join Gen in prison.
"I didn't dare shake my head, but I desperately didn't want the magus to try to wrap me in his cloak. I didn't want his cloak. I didn't want him to put his hand beneath my head and lift it to slide Sophos's fancy folded cloak underneath, which is what he did first. When he didn't notice the bump under my hair at the base of my skull, I gave up protesting. The pain washed back over me, and I sank into it."
I've read this I don't know how many times, and I'd always thought that the bump at the base of his skull was just some wound where he'd been hit and the magus bumping it caused the pain to wash over him. It was only on this last reading that I realized that he's actually talking about Hamiathes's gift! Probably everyone noticed this but me, but I was so excited when I realized I just couldn't help sharing. :) (pg 173)

and from The King of Attolia (hardcover version):

1. Why does Gen get so upset during the Klimun myth? (pp 273-285)

2. And one more quick observation--when Gen's on the balcony and Costis says, "You can trust me with your life, My King." is that the first time anyone but Attolia's called him that? How fitting that it should be Costis. :)

So that's everything I have at the moment. Your thoughts? :D

Date: 10/2/08 06:50 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] checkers65477.livejournal.com
1. What anachred said. He's such a smartass, and is saying that the magus' food supply left something to be desired.
2. Good question. He took only that out of all the things he found in the pool in the temple. Maybe he knew it was the dolphin ring from the Aquila family of Eagle of the Ninth? :)

Date: 10/2/08 07:13 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gauroth.livejournal.com
Oh, the moment when he found the dolphin ring made me shriek with delight (and convinced my children that I had finally lost my marbles) because The Eagle of the Ninth is one of my favourite books ever!

Date: 10/3/08 12:14 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] crowinator.livejournal.com
Well, now I have to go find that book and read it. I've never heard of it.

Date: 10/3/08 02:03 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] checkers65477.livejournal.com
YES YOU MUST GO READ IT. TODAY.

Date: 10/3/08 03:39 pm (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
It's by Rosemary Sutcliff and is set in Roman Britain some years after the Ninth Legion was last seen marching into the Scottish mists with Eagle standards glimmering and red cloaks flying...

Date: 10/3/08 03:41 pm (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
Apologies - this is [livejournal.com profile] gauroth. I forgot I wasn't logged-in! Ooops!

Date: 10/4/08 05:57 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] aged-crone.livejournal.com
That's beautifully phrased! I must go and re-read that book. And Sutcliff's other books. It's been years since I read the Roman ones; I've been too busy focusing on her (my!) Bonnie Dundee. And her wonderful Arthurian trilogy.

Date: 10/3/08 12:16 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] peggy-2.livejournal.com
that would be a

the emerald dolphin ring actual links a family through several generations and much of england's early history, starting with the Roman invasions and going through the viking raids and William's arrival. They are quick reads, and excellent.

Date: 10/3/08 02:04 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] checkers65477.livejournal.com
See above comment. :)

Date: 10/8/08 03:32 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com
yes! you get it, and then I'll borrow it off you.
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