CoK ending questions

[m-chant.livejournal.com]

Hi, I'm totally new here and not completely sure what I'm doing...hopefully I'm creating a new entry.
So I just finished CoK and I'm so confused...

1. "He had been saved by the men Eugenides sent, though he did not yet know the ferocity with which the king of Attolia had stripped those men from other posts, the capital he had expended, the secrets that had been revealed in order to send help to Sounis. BUT SOPHOS HAD TO KNOW THAT SHE AND EUGENIDES HAD LET HIM RIDE AWAY WITH AN ATTOLIAN ARMY AT HIS BACK, BELIEVING HE NEEDED IT. WITH MORE FAITH IN HIMSELF, AND HIS FATHER'S ARMY, HE COULD HAVE RETAKEN HIS THRONED WITHOUT ATTOLIA'S AID. HE MIGHT NOT HAVE FOLLOWED THAT BLOODIER AND MORE COSTLY PATH, BUT EDDIS AND ATTOLIS HADN'T OFFERED HIM THE CHOICE."

The bold is where I feel like a complete vegetable. I don't understand it at ALL. Can someone parse this for me? I thought Sophos didn't know there was an army behind his back...

And then, later:

2. ""Well, I wasn't looking forward to it," said Sounis caustically. "But over our dead bodies the Medes would never have been accepted by the people of Sounis. Much more likely that they would have allied with Attolia." He looked at Eugenides, who was still eyeing him in surprise. "I didn't expect to die", he said. "I knew you would send help"
"Why?"
It was Sounis's turn to be surprised. He said, "You told me you needed me to be Sounis. I am. I needed my king to send me help. You did. There had to be reinforcements at Oneia, so they were there." To him it was obvious.
Eugenides swallowed. "I see"

I just don't understand the thread of this argument. What do Sounis' first two sentences mean? And why is Gen surprised?
And then, "It was Sounis's turn to be surprised"....Why is Sounis surprised?
And what is so obvious? I really don't understand Sophos's last statement. Is this supposed to be a show of complete faith in their friendship or something? And if so, why does Gen swallow? Is it not obvious to him? That last line bothers me...even if I don't understand what precedes it.

Please enlighten me. Sorry if this is a reiteration of others' questions.

Comments

[ninedaysaqueen.livejournal.com]

Welcome! Great questions!

(2) Sophos means he wasn't looking forward to dying. Gen is a bit disconcerted by Sophos's will to die in order to stop the Mede from getting a foothold in the tri-countries. Sophos is surprised because Gen didn't have the same faith that he did about the situation, considering his connection to the gods. Sophos had faith in both Gen and the gods. They needed him to be Sounis and so they sent help. Duh... XD In other words, Sophos is just a bit crazy! Which is why Gen swallows uncomfortably.

I'll get back to you on #1. And this thread should help.

http://sounis.livejournal.com/462130.html#cutid1

[elle-winters.livejournal.com]

As ususal everyone has answered the question with a lot more articulation that I could manage *yay*

So I'm just here to say, Welcome :)

[tiegirl.livejournal.com]

Okay, so I'm probably the only person here who hasn't re-read yet *ducks*, but if I recall correctly (probably don't), Gen, Eddis, and Attolia all tricked Sophos into believing he needed Attolia's army to retake his throne, when he actually didn't really. And that was almost the whole army he sent with him. He had had to scrounge to get them all.
And yes, then the grand plan was of course one of those plans that could have gone all wrong very easily, so Gen probably freaked out ("swallowed") when Sophos was so matter-of-fact about it. I think. Maybe. I am starting to get really anxious to re-read now.

Hey! Welcome! You did just fine, and we all like to hash these things out over and over again, so perfect!

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Welcome! Great questions.

1. I agree with what's been said, plus Gen and Eddis pushed Sophos into accepting their help to gain control over Sounis (that sounds so cold--merge the powers of the three countries?) although Sophos probably could have gained control of Sounis through a bloody civil war, instead. If he'd had enough faith in himself to be a strong leader along with the help of his father's army.

2. I agree with msmcknittington--I thought Sophos assumed that the reinforcements would be there because the gods would make it so, through Eugenides. Gen doesn't like this because of the uncomfortable favorite-of-the-gods thing, plus what a huge burden on Gen--to live up to Sophos' faith in him. I've said this very poorly, but I hope my idea has come across.

[m-chant.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you! I understand #2 now!
But #1 still eludes me. So, to my understanding, Eddis, Gen, and Attolia all conspired against him so that he'd swear Sounis to Gen--yes? So that Eddis would also have to swear loyalty to marry, and therefore have an official reason to relocate her people? Why couldn't Eddis and Sophos marry without Gen's permission? I honestly don't understand why Eddis has to marry Sounis (the uncle or Sophos) in order to save her people...Man, I don't understand what the ultimate goal of Gen et al is! Is it to be unified and have Gen as annux? Or is it to save the country of Eddis from the eruption? Help.
And also, in the end, Sounis did end up needing Gen's troops, didn't he? How else could he have survived 10,000 Medes? "Believing he needed it"--who's doing the believing? Sophos or Gen and Eddis?

Man, I don't know about you guys, but I felt incredibly sad after this book. Especially with the mystery of Gen's health. I always expected Gen to come out on top, especially after his performance in KoA. But now I'm not so sure that MWT won't kill him off...Even if it is heroic. I want to end this series grinning, not crying.

[m-chant.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I think this is the most complex book/series I've ever read. I'm racking my brains trying to understand their motives and emotions.

[diadactic.livejournal.com]

Sounis's first two sentences mean that he didn't want to die, but he was willing to die (and lead his army to death) to avoid conquest from the Mede.

[bookishbabe.livejournal.com]

Welcome! I just finished re-reading this very section, moments before opening your post. In response: I think we have to remember the social organization in the three countries is rigid. An eddissian can't just move off the mountain, buy some lowland property, and slide right into society. There is a class system that keeps people in their places, literally and figuratively. The three countries must begin to be one people if the Eddissians are to find a place outside of their mountains. Perhaps Hephestia is making sure that her chosen people have a place in lowland society and can make a life for themselves, rather than fleeing the eruption in haste to be made subjects and beggars in the lowlands. Hmmm...even Attolia realized that shaking up the class system was the way to unify her country under her rule. She offers her loyal okloi promotion and land for service. Hello, upward mobility! Political and class barriers are being broken. So you see, the countries must be truly unified not just to fight off the vile Mede, but to ensure that Eddis can be absorbed by the other two countries when it not longer has a mountain to call home. At least those are my late-night musings on the mysterious conclusion of aCofK. Glad you've joined us!

[gkchesterton1.livejournal.com]

Another reason Eddis may need to be joined to Attolia is that Attolia has extra land to move her people to while Sounis does not. This is mentioned in TT.

[sgwordy.livejournal.com]

I'm just saying hello and welcome because my thoughts are similar to what has already been said.

I agree about the complexity of the series. It's one of my favorite things about it.