By the hilt

[freenarnian.livejournal.com]

Hello, Sounis! How is everyone?

Just thought I'd share this post by noratheodora on tumblr:

“During an argument with my father I’d sworn, in front of an embarrassing number of people, not to take a sword by the hilt unless my life was in danger.” (The Thief, chapter 12, using the e-book so I can’t find a page number.)

Okay. So Gen took an oath not to use a sword unless his life was in danger. This explains some of his behavior in The Thief, such as refusing to spar with Ambiades. But we later see him using a sword in The King of Attolia.

It’s true that he made this oath before he met the gods while stealing Hamiathes’ gift, but the tone of this quote makes it sound like he was more concerned with personal embarrassment about breaking the oath. Still, Eugenides’ reputation matters a lot to him, enough that I’d expect him to keep even a haphazardly made oath.

Then I realized. After Eugenides becomes king, his life is always in danger.

To which tumblr user tenney-shoes replied:

May I also remind, for your consideration, that when his life is a bit more blatantly in danger in the Queen’s Garden, he does not grab the Assassin’s sword/knife by the hilt.

Interesting observations, ay? I'll have fun taking a closer look at these details in my next re-read!