Costis: Where he is, a Theory

[4minutesoryears.livejournal.com]

Hi,

I've only been a fan for a week, but I am in love with these books. I wanted to share a theory I had about Costis. We don't see him in CoK, but he was such a huge character in KoA that we can expect to see him again. I realized that I am glad that Costis is not in this book, because Attolis had plans for him.  At the end of KoA, Gen says that he has plans for Costis and that Costis needed help with his Mede. We all know that MWT drops subtle hints in her books, this may be one of them. Eugenides plans for Costis are to send him to the Mede.  

Comments

[zumie-ashlen.livejournal.com]

I've thought about this too, but I'm hesitant to jump on it for one very simple reason:

If Eugenides was sending someone to the Medes, it would be to spy, or to negotiate.

Both of those things takes a GREAT DEAL of suavity and craftiness.

Now, I love Costis to bits, but crafty he is not; part of what allows him to be manipulated by Gen is that he's very honest and honorable.

That's not to say he couldn't be in Mede, though, perhaps as a bodyguard to someone who is more tricky.

[heiros-acumen.livejournal.com]

I totally agree with you on this. A spy would need to think on his feet faster, and be better at lying then Costis. But as my mom is constantly reminding me (Costis is her favorite character) Costis strength is his loyalty. What could he be doing for Gen that would require absolute loyalty? Maybe be master of spys or something more along those lines. Like he could work for the Attolian Ambassador to the Mede and be in charge of getting the spy info back to Attolis. Just a thought.

[sandtree.livejournal.com]

Costis is with me. ;)

Haha, JUST KIDDING.

*Runs from Costis fangirls*

[tiegirl.livejournal.com]

Better run. Better hide. Just sayin'.

[tiegirl.livejournal.com]

JUST KIDDING!

[sandtree.livejournal.com]

What a relief! XD

[tiegirl.livejournal.com]

Welcome! I agree, Gen has sneaky plans for Costis, having to do with the Medes. After all, he's making him learn the language. What the plans are? *shrugs* Beats me, but I agree with you. He'll be going there for something or other. Probably not spying or negotiating for those good reasons stated above, but for bashing heads or two-handed strangling or something.

[msmcknittington.livejournal.com]

The idea of Costis as "the muscle" amuses me unduly.

[earthstar-moon.livejournal.com]

Perhaps Cotis is off dealing with the person who keeps putting sand in Gen's food? XP

(*sigh* I hope it won't take too long before the next book comes out.)

[coyul.livejournal.com]

And doing a bad job of it, it would seem.

[crazededdisian.livejournal.com]

Ooh, yes! I agree with everyone else about Costis's strengths and weaknesses. And does everyone remember how Gen's been helping Costis practice his swordplay?

[teenareena.livejournal.com]

My pet theory is that Costis accompanied Ornon who is the ambassador to Mede.

Think about it, we haven't seen Ornon in the court of ACoK either and he's too important a man (Eddis trusted him to watch over Gen, honestly) to just disappeared. And Costis went with him to be the reliable pair of eyes and ears for Gen. Because even though Ornon's definitely trustworthy, he would take initiative for Gen's, Eddis and Attolia's own good which our thief might despise. Also, Ornon's account of things would definitely be coloured by his view and experience. In this capaciry, Costis' loyalty and honesty would be an asset while the cunning machination part could be dealt by the ambassador in charge.

Or Costis could just be sent to learn some cunning tailor arts to make clothes fit for kings...

[philia-fan.livejournal.com]

Tailor/spy? Sounds like Deep Space Nine.

[tiegirl.livejournal.com]

Ahahahaha! But I picture Worf...

[philia-fan.livejournal.com]

I was thinking of Garak, but you're right, Costis is more like Worf. Honor!

[brandy-painter.livejournal.com]

Bur if Ornon is in the ambassador to Mede wouldn't he have to be the Eddisian ambassador and not the Attolian one? Ornon is a subject of Eddis and not Attolia. It wouldn't surprise me to discover that Ornon was in Mede but there would have to be somebody else there acting as the Attolian ambassador. Maybe Costis was sent to keep them from killing each other???

[tiegirl.livejournal.com]

Okay now I have this picture of Costis with his arms outstretched between two ambassadors whose arms are in turn flailing at one another...and Costis' eyes are rolling and he is sighing...and Gen is smirking somewhere.

[ninedaysaqueen.livejournal.com]

EPIC.

[stubefied-by-gd.livejournal.com]

I agree that it must at least be something like that. The only thing that niggles at me is that I don't think that's what Gen had in mind for him all along. He called up the general of that far-away fort to send Costis there, didn't he? And I believed him when he said on the roof that he had just then been given an idea of what to do with Costis.

The Mede-learning came much before that. I think it was a combination of good luck, and Gen being a proponent of learning in general, and needing to get his kicks somewhere. ("Ha, he will think he is learning to spite me, when it is really me cheering him on! And this way, my practice note-taking will not be a waste of paper... Not quite as good as stealing earrings, but it will have to do. Stupid kingly duties.")

[ninedaysaqueen.livejournal.com]

Ditto. He may think Costis needs to learn Mede, but I think it mostly amused him. And Gen certainly gave him motivation to learn by torturing him. Poor Costis...

[hazelwillow.livejournal.com]

I was quite convinced Costis was going to be sent to find Sophos (and protect him --I think that's a more Costis-size job than going after the Mede), but alas, Conspiracy of Kings proved me utterly, utterly wrong. So I am going to refrain from making more predictions. I only hope the next book isn't *entirely* about Costis, because I like all the other characters better than him.

*runs and hides*

(Okay, that's not really true, I hate Sounis (the original), and I actually do *like* Costis. He's just so....... overly honourable).