Magus in a bag

[creative-lefty2.livejournal.com]

So, rereading Conspiracy of Kings, I came to the scene where Sophos is making his official oath to Gen. Just prior to that it is mentioned that the Magus is with him (296). I thought the Magus stayed behind with the army while Sophos and his dad (who needs a name) raced off with a couple of solders for a family reunion. It seems like it would have been mentioned sooner if the Magus had been with them the entire time. It is almost as if he is randomly inserted into the scene as to elicit the proper facial response from Eddis.

So, did Sophos pack the Magus in a bag (that was my dad's suggestion) or was he just trailing along behind whining "You can't leave behind your most trusted adviser!"

Comments

[thelasteddis.livejournal.com]

Everyone needs a name in these books. Magus, MoW, Sophos' dad, that goddess who talked to Gen in QoA... mwt isn't particularly fond of names.

Or alternatively, she realizes that in real life we don't always know people's names and for us to have full birth names for everyone would be unrealistic.

But the other one is simpler.

It never says specifically that the Magus stays behind. The passage that might be confusing you is this one:

In this, my father was my greatest ally, putting his foot down when the magus suggested that I should travel with all my Eddisians and Attolians at a snail's pace. (289)

Sophos ends up leaving for Eddis' palace with his father and some soldiers and possibly, although as you pointed out that it is never mentioned, the magus. The scenes at Eddis' palace are short enough that it isn't important that the magus was there, if he was.

The other possibility is that the magus was with the army, as you said. The army is moving towards Eddis and then on to Attolia, so the soldiers can return to their homes. The only reason Sophos went on ahead was for speed's sake. Eventually the magus would have made it to Attolia as well, probably in time for the ceremony.

Or Sophos stuffed him in a sack.

[drashizu.livejournal.com]

Huh. You're right. I just reread that section and it doesn't specifically say that the magus stayed behind with the army, but then again, it does say that Sophos traveled "with a guard and a change of clothes and left the rest to travel at the speed of armies and gastropods." Implying that he left everybody else aside from his guard. Now, his father also comes along, but you could maybe consider him to be a part of the king's guard in this instance. I don't think the magus qualifies.

I guess it doesn't literally say that he brought no one else along, so it's not technically a mistake. But it does seem as if the magus falls into a small plot hole somewhere on the way through Eddis and only climbs back out when he's needed for the proposal scene.

Great find!

[brandy-painter.livejournal.com]

I just read this yesterday and totally missed this! Nice observation skills. I kind of like the idea of the magus following along behind Sophos whining about being left.

Given Sophos's mom and sisters were waiting to travel with the army when it came through the pass it seems Sophos beat the army to Attolia as well. So, if the magus were with the army he shouldn't have been in Attolia yet. I guess we just have to assume the magus tagged along with Sophos and his dad to Eddis and his presence wasn't mentioned until he was needed to make Helen blush.

[kitsune-rains.livejournal.com]

Perhaps the Magus could also be considered a part of the king's guard in this occasion? Don't forget he was a well-respected soldier before he became bookish for a living. And he's not wilted from age either, as it is specifically mentioned during his Eddisian-hostage days that the guards watching him were wary of him.

[filkferengi]

It may well be, but it's much more fun to imagine that they simply decided to Bagdemagus.*

;)

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagdemagus

[creative-lefty2.livejournal.com]

Could be, but I still feel that it should have been mentioned earlier that the Magus was part of the "fast" party, especially since I think everyone regards him more as an adviser (at least in Sounis) than a warrior.

And I think I just came up with a good nick name for Sophos' dad: Mr. Sounis. (His mom can be Mrs. Sounis.)