Discussion Questions/Theories

[velvetrose09.livejournal.com]

I have this new theory...

In QoA there is a scene between Eddis and Gen where Gen is headed for the roof, but a guard stops him from going up. Then we see Eddis with two guards and one of Galen's assistances. When Gen finds out he's being watched he gets pretty upset and shouts with anger at the Queen of Eddis.

Between this time and Eddis and Gen's next meeting Attolia has been keeping tabs on Gen. She finds out that they have been fighting and Gen is in "exile"

Later, Eddis admitts that Gen could easily appear in her bedchambers after leaving a note that would go to him with his food and drink. So we know that while it seems to Attolia and everyone else that Gen is in exile, he's been having secret meetings.


So, after rereading this my new theory is that Eddis and Gen had some what planned their argument knowing that word would be passed to Attolia and Sounis.

The only other thing I can think of is that she had two guards at her side so she must have hoped Gen would make a scene so that they would talk. And Gen goes out of his way to do so.

I've also tried to keep track of the Mede vs. Sounis, Eddis and Attolia

and well Mede: 1 (for Gen's hand)
S&E&A: 1 (for being shot by Sophos)

can you think of any others? I'm sure I'm missing some!

Comments

[chubbyleng.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I'm first to comment! Mwahahaha!!! Although I really should be studying for a mid-term...

Hmm, interesting theory. I've never thought of it that way. It seemed to me that Gen was genuinely annoyed at being incapable of doing things he had been able to do before. I mean, having only one hand already limits the activities he could do, but to go to the roof for some peace and solace should be something that's not prohibited to him. Well, at least he thinks so. I think a lot of the thieves like roofs ^__^ hehe. Uh, I always thought that Eddis, like Attolia, was somewhat guarded, although not as heavily, so maybe that's why the two guards were with her? Hm, but you have a point too, since we know Eddis can walk around her own palace unattended as well, a scene that we saw when she bumped into... the philanderer. Forgot his name.

But yeah, I think that for the most part, they knew that the word would get to Attolia and they had to play their little roles. I just never knew it extended to this scene. But who knows? Lol, I've never been the most observant reader.

Oh... and as for the score board, I think Attolia's victory against Nahuseresh might count. I mean, Nahuseresh was deeply *humiliated* with what she did. I'm not sure though if that's the kind of thing you're looking for.

[velvetrose09.livejournal.com]

That definitely counts!!

So, E&S&A 2
Mede: 1

I dont know i just felt that she had more guards than ususal, but that might have been to restrain Gen if needed. lol

[chubbyleng.livejournal.com]

=D

I think another one for E&S&A would be the failed assassination attempt on Gen in KoA. ^^

[velvetrose09.livejournal.com]

M:2
S,E&A:3


We're in the lead!!! And Gen still has to get square with Narhusserfish

[missadventure02.livejournal.com]

Neat observations!!

I've been reading CoK and there's a scene where Eddis and the Magus are talking about Relius. A comment was made about how he is now useless to Attolia and Attolis, but Eddis (I think that's the way the conversation went) said that while he was very useful as a friend, yes, the Mede had "won that round," or something to that effect. Score for the Medes again.

[velvetrose09.livejournal.com]

That definitely counts as one!!

Mede: 2

E,A&S: 2

[elvenjaneite.livejournal.com]

Ohhhhh. I've been bothered by that scene for a long time and haven't managed to make sense of it before. I think you're on the right track, but I do also think that there's some real feeling in it--that Gen does genuinely feel trapped by the new circumstances of his life and angry about it.

[elle-winters.livejournal.com]

I agree, I thought there was some genuine feeling on Gen's part.

I think it's at the very end when he goes back and starts yelling loud enough to wake everyone is when i think he's trying to make a *point* about arguing with Eddis.

I think I was always too distracted about the arranged marriage bit to even think about it, lol.

[live-momma.livejournal.com]

I agree that there's some real feeling behind it, but when I reread QoA last month, I did get a similar feeling that OH! so THAT'S why they did that, which I didn't get the first time through when I didn't know the full story.

[velvetrose09.livejournal.com]

yes, that's how I picked it up, on the second round.

And I agree, there was real feeling behind it, but I felt it was very publicized and exaggerated on their parts. I'm sure Gen was only in exil on Eddis's orders.

[thelasteddis.livejournal.com]

I interpreted that scene as being the reason they started pretending to be fighting--they had this real fight, but made up soon afterward secretly. They then used the argument to their advantage, continuing the facade so Gen could make steps towards solving the problem.

That argument definitely would have made it to Attolia's and Nahuseresh's ears.

[velvetrose09.livejournal.com]

I guess that would make more sense, I wish we could read the "inside" scenes that we can only guess on!

[agh-4.livejournal.com]

I think that Gen and Eddis definitely arranged the prolonged not-talkint-to-each-other in order to hide the fact that Gen was pretty much back in action (that's why the everyone who knew about that he blew up Sounis's navy was surprised). But I do think that Gen was genuinely (heh...!) offended and angry. He wanted to go up to the roof, because that's what he does, but he can't because Eddis thinks he wants to kill himself. Maybe he feels betrayed by her, besides being mad about the whole war thing.

I guess I'd give the Medes a few more points. Akretenesh being shot will probably turn out to be more of a score for them, because now they get to say they're on defense. Also, they did pretty much take over Sounis before Sophos did his thing.

But S,E,and A have Gen, and I'd say that that's worth plenty.

[stubefied-by-gd.livejournal.com]

I agree with agh and TLE that the fight was real and that they used it later.

The descriptions of Eddis's emotions hint to me that for her it was real the whole time. She is genuinely sad at the end of it, and was certainly not expecting Gen's comment about marrying him off to a nice girl who didn't mind cripples.

I am nearly certain that it began real on Gen's part, too. He is described in the narrative as surprised and puzzled to find the guard barring his way to the roof, and then dumbfounded - not acting surprised, puzzled, or dumbfounded, or seen as looking that way by another observer, but just being those things.
By the end of it, with the shouting loudly enough to wake an entire wing, it is very possible that he's already decided to turn the fight to his advantage. He's been thinking all day and may have enough of the beginnings of a plan to see it as something he can use. But I don't think it was planned between the two of them all along.

[elle-winters.livejournal.com]

Yes, I agree with this, it is very much real and at the end of it, Eddis *is* rather worried about Gen. But I do think they use it to their advantage

[keestone.livejournal.com]

I think the fight is real, so were the emotions and Eddis was still worried enough about Gen to basically put him on suicide watch, but that doesn't mean they couldn't use the fight. (A prolonged sulk doesn't seem to be typical for Gen's flashpoint temper.)