Introduction and Questions!

[intangible-muse.livejournal.com]

Hello! I've been a fan of the series for a while and have been lurking around Sounis for some period of time now. After re-reading the series, I have some questions I was itching to ask, so I decided to finally post!

The questions I have are regarding KOA and I have three of them.
1. Gen's kiss to Relius when he brings Attolia to the infirmary always puzzled me. The dialogue and description of Gen saying, "Jealous?" then giving a kiss on the cheek to Relius without smiling was confusing to me. I don't know if he's subtly mentioning the crush Relius might have on Attolia, but the fact that MWT carefully mentioned that he wasn't smiling doesn't make sense. Thoughts?

2. I've always thought that the myths (or stories) that are told within the books (the ones told by Eddis and Phresine) add to the theme or reveal something we don't already know, but they don't seems to (the one in KOA especially). Am I overthinking it or maybe missing something? :)

3. This one has been bugging me incessantly for a while: why is Baron Susa so interested in whether Gen is homesick?

Comments

[helle-d.livejournal.com]

1) I always read the "without smiling" as a way of showing Reluius that he isn't trying to mock him, or belittle him, that it's an entirely sincere gesture of his acceptance/appreciation of Relius; showing him that he and Attolia *do* value his service and loyalty. They are two men who both love and serve the queen - and have sacrificed a lot to do so - and Gen has come to accept that.

2) I can't always figure out the relevence of the stories, but I think Eddis' story was about love, and specifically having to chose between love and family. I think Eddis says later in the book how much she is coming to sympathise with Hestia's mother, since she is also placed in the position of letting Gen chose to live with a "monster" far away.
Phresine's is more opaque, but I would say it has to do with accepting the gods' gifts and not invalidating the warranty by rejecting them or showing ingratitude - which is why it distresses Gen so much at first, since at this stage he still, really does not want to be king and is terrified the gods will find out.

3) Hmmm. Politics? Any emotional advantage you can possibly use over your 'enemies' is good knowledge to have.

[helle-d.livejournal.com]

Also, hello!

[elvenjaneite.livejournal.com]

I actually did a whole series of posts about the myths in QT, over at my other blog. You can see here (http://bysinginglight.wordpress.com/tag/the-queens-thief-week/) if you're interested. And a brilliant commenter over there had a theory about the myth (http://bysinginglight.wordpress.com/2012/01/27/queens-thief-week-myths-in-the-king-of-attolia/#comment-3660) in KoA that I found fairly convincing. Basically, that it's as much foreshadowing for the relationships in CofK as anything else.

[intangible-muse.livejournal.com]

I just read the myth series at your blog and it was super insightful! Thanks for sharing!

[1221bookworm.livejournal.com]

Welcome! We always love new questions!! :)

1. I kind of think of this as Gen making both Irene and Relius part of his family. He's not jealous of Relius' love for Irene, and I think it was to show Relius that (a) Gen didn't hold a grudge, and (b) that Gen forgave him for his part in "betraying" the Mede spies.

2. I think Phresine's story was about friendship, as well as responsibility, and if I'm not mistaken (I haven't read this particular one in a while) probably hiding who you are from others. When he went into the other town and won the tournament without revealing he was a prince was like Gen playing a fool while really pulling everyone's strings.

3. I never thought of it as Baran Susa caring if Gen was homesick as he wanted to know *what* Gen did with himself. But, if he did care about homesickness, he was probably trying to prove that Gen's heart still lay in Eddis, and not with matters in Attolia like it belonged.

Anyway, can't wait to see everybody else's responses, and welcome again!! :)

[(Anonymous)]

going off of your number three...I was actually thinking about this the other day, at the end of QoA Gen has the dream about the mountain exploding. While we all know that Gen married Attolia...just to marry her, it makes me think like what if he has some greater plans....for Eddis. I mean we know he's now looking out for Attolia, himself, against the Mede. But KoA doesn't quite mention Gen's "political" stance on Eddis. Moreover, we see that Eddis and Gen have made an alliance that sort of traps Sophos in aCoKs. Anyone think Gen might be planning to save Eddis all along (since QoA)?

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think you are spot-on with this. Gen has a whole bunch of motives, both personal and political, both honorable and selfish. Ever since the Magus told the story of his childhood and the wide-open spaces of Attolia and Sounis after the plague, and we learned about Gen and Helen's dream, I've suspected Gen and Eddis have a master plan of rescuing the Eddisians from the volcano. Don't they discuss it at some point--maybe in ACoK--or am I just referencing the fanfiction in my head?

Because the gods let the two of them know the future, it seems like even they want their chose people to be saved. Regardless, knowing Gen, there is no way he'd allow his countrypeople to die, after seeing it happen in his dreams. C'mon, King Attolis, you Annux, you. Save the world! You know you want to.

[intangible-muse.livejournal.com]

I like your comment about how the undercover tournament mission in the story reflects Gen's situation. Of course, Gen requests a story not about him and gets one almost exactly about him. Phresine is one crafty, insightful attendant :P

[tiegirl.livejournal.com]

Welcome! These people are so smart, I don't have anything to add. I like helle_d's interpretation of the Relius kiss especially: that Gen was not mocking Relius for his love of Irene.

Also Baron Susa wanting general information on Gen's vulnerabilities.

[(Anonymous)]

1. I think that Gen is trying to show his appreciation to Relius, and that at the same time, not smiling means that he wanted to show that he was sincere. Also, I don't know why, but when I first read it, I always thought that it meant that Relius was jealous of Irene, because Gen kissed her. Haha, it's weird, but I always thought he had the tiniest crush on them both.

2. For the story in Qoa, by Eddis, I thought that it was both Eddis trying to reassure herself that Gen's crazy plan would be good for him, and also, for the reader, an analogue of the relationship between Gen and Irene, as they both can be placed in the position of either Horreon (I am not sure of the spelling) or Hespira. As for the one in Koa, I believe that Gen was uncomfortable with it because he knew that gods' gifts were dangerous things, and since he is close to refusing the one given to him, he is afraid he would end up like Klimun if he had lied. On the other hand, there was also the fact that words were very important things, and promises, which sort of echoes the theme of Gen lying and his words being moon promises; he never outright lies when things are important, so his words are really like moon promises, except they are trustworthy, unlike Irene thought in Qoa.

3. The king is a new power, so being a subject, especially a grudging one, no doubt they wished to catalogue his greatest weaknesses and such. It is important, because one, knowledge is power, and two, it means that Gen is still attached to Eddis greatly, which is understandable, but it affects his political stance, and three, he looks weak to them, and it is a perfect thing to be exploited.

I probably contradicted myself somewhere in the mess, so pardon me! :)

[agentmaly.livejournal.com]

Regarding Number One, I've always seen it as Relius desiring from Gen the affection that he is directing towards Irene, so he bestows some affection upon Relius as well. It may be that Relius being jealous of Gen for his relationship with Irene is the more obvious reading, but I agree with you.

[(Anonymous)]

Cheers! I'm not the only one who thinks that Relius wants the same affection that Gen has for Irene to be directed to himself. Really, I have the feeling that Relius has a crush on Gen.

[intangible-muse.livejournal.com]

I've always seen it as Relius having a crush on Irene, but what you both are saying makes a lot of sense too. Relius does mention that he is constantly surprised with Gen and is glad that Irene shares her genuine (ha, no pun intended) smiles with Gen. I guess it could be seen as Relius "falling in love" with Gen, so to say.

I also just realized that with the smiling comment, he seems to ship Gen with Irene :P

[(Anonymous)]

Really? I think I need a reread! (An excuse)

I interpreted it as he was glad that he was privileged enough to see the smile that the king saw.

[intangible-muse.livejournal.com]

Haha, you never need an excuse to reread!

Here's the quote in question: "The smile she so often hid in her voice came to her face then. It was a smile Relius had been privileged to see before. He knew he shared that privilege with few others. It pleased him deeply to know that one of those others was the king."
I always read it as he is realizing that Attolia loves Gen and vice versa. At the beginning of KOA, he thought that it was a marriage Attolia had been forced into and talked to her about limiting Gen's power, but during his talk with Attolia here, we see that he has realized Gen became king because he wanted to marry Attolia (instead of wanting power). In that sense, it seemed to me that he was saying here that he is glad that Attolia has found someone she loves.
But then, with MWT's writing, there are many layers and many ways to interpret it, so you never know! :)

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Also, I don't know why, but when I first read it, I always thought that it meant that Relius was jealous of Irene, because Gen kissed her. Haha, it's weird, but I always thought he had the tiniest crush on them both.

It's not weird at all--Seems to me it was intentionally written that way so we'd think just that. Oh! Have you seen my Lego Fic featuring Relius (http://sounis.livejournal.com/301170.html)?

Also, I think Gen doesn't smile with the kiss because he knows exactly what it's like to love Attolia but be afraid of her, too, and he feels some degree of sympathy with Relius.

[(Anonymous)]

Oh, I saw the lego fic! It was so funny. And you are a genius with the blocks!

[intangible-muse.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much to everyone for the warm welcome and awesomely insightful answers! I'm glad I finally crawled out of my lurker shell to comment :)

[creative-lefty2.livejournal.com]

I always interpreted one of the meanings of Phresine's story to relate to the relationship between Gen and Costis. Costis' story is kind of similar to Gerosthenes'. Both are in a bad situation and end up being friends with the king, and eventually remind their respective kings of their duties when faced by the gods. One purpose of the story could be to remind Gen that he needs supporters and friends--in short, people he can trust--if he ever wants to be great (which we know he pretends he doesn't!).

[intangible-muse.livejournal.com]

Yes, Costis' and Gerosthenes' situation are very similar, even down to how both of them end up being the catalyst of the respective kings revealing themselves as kings (Costis with his dueling party and Gerosthenes with hitting Klimun with an amphora - both situations equally painful for the kings).

To add to that, Klimun eventually became an Annux. Foreshadowing for Gen, perhaps?

[freenarnian.livejournal.com]

Regarding 3: It seems Gen is never without his attendants since becoming king, save for these rare occasions when he dismisses them all except for Costis. It would be a matter of great curiosity, I think, what the king does during his sparse 'alone time'. (For example: Is he wandering the palace, ninja-spying? Or perchance meeting with one of those mistress candidates they keep launching at him? Etc.)

[freenarnian.livejournal.com]

Oh, and welcome! So many new recruits all at once! Exciting. :)

[sgwordy.livejournal.com]

Welcome! I don't have a whole lot to add that hasn't already been said but since Relius is one of my favorite characters in the series I thought I'd share how I read that scene. When Gen says "jealous?" I think he is gently teasing by alluding to the not-so-secret love (of the non-mentor variety) that Relius has for Attolia. In other words, he is saying "jealous of this love/relationship?" Then with (safely) dead seriousness he shows Relius that he HAS that love/relationship.

I also agree with checkers comment regarding Gen's understanding of fearing one you love as heavily informing the exchange.