Question about the attendants

[beth-shulman.livejournal.com]

Rather rambling and unorganized thoughts:

• In KoA, I got the impression that Gen's attendants thought that he was weak and unqualified but that they reversed their opinion when Gen brought down Erondites.
• They try to protect the king when he's angry about Nahuseresh, so that Attolia won't hear that he was bitter about his missing hand.
• Didn't everyone who disbelieved Costis about Gen say that he sounded like the king's attendants, and no one believed them either?

I just reread ACoK, and what happened with Gen and his attendants?

• They thought Gen considered them less than his boots? Why? I thought they'd proven themselves once they weren't under Sejanus's sway.
• Ion thought he would be dismissed for one too many mistakes - does Gen think they're incompetent? Wouldn't he know better? Or are they really incompetent?
• He thinks they're "overelegant lapdogs", but why would he think that Sophos wouldn't want to hire one of them? Again, are they really incompetent?

Is this something that doesn't have much information to support a case either way? I'm thinking that maybe I'm just confused because the point of view is different in ACoK, because Sophos is more distant from the Attolian court than the Attolian king. But it's something that's been bothering me over the weekend, so I thought I'd ask. Thoughts?

Also: I just remembered - there's still sand in his food in ACoK? I thought that was taken care of in KoA! What happened?

Comments

[styromgalleries.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I think Gen's probably hiding it because 1) He doesn't want to see someone publicly ganched for putting sand in his food, and 2) He still likes to work on his own.

But, you're right. Attolia is one sharp tack. XD She may very well know, but maybe she wants Gen to confide in her. IDK. The two of them still have a long way to go when it comes to trusting each other. I think they would make such an awesome team (and have) if they would rely on each other more.

[beth-shulman.livejournal.com]

He does like to work on his own. Hmmm. I'm just thinking of this now, but remember in QoA, when Gen complained that he couldn't do the kidnap-the-magus, burn-Sounisian-navy mission himself, because he lost his hand?

You would think he saw the merits of team work. Maybe it's his - trump card, or something. He wants to maintain some independence even though he's king, and he's missing a hand.