By the hilt

[freenarnian.livejournal.com]

Hello, Sounis! How is everyone?

Just thought I'd share this post by noratheodora on tumblr:

“During an argument with my father I’d sworn, in front of an embarrassing number of people, not to take a sword by the hilt unless my life was in danger.” (The Thief, chapter 12, using the e-book so I can’t find a page number.)

Okay. So Gen took an oath not to use a sword unless his life was in danger. This explains some of his behavior in The Thief, such as refusing to spar with Ambiades. But we later see him using a sword in The King of Attolia.

It’s true that he made this oath before he met the gods while stealing Hamiathes’ gift, but the tone of this quote makes it sound like he was more concerned with personal embarrassment about breaking the oath. Still, Eugenides’ reputation matters a lot to him, enough that I’d expect him to keep even a haphazardly made oath.

Then I realized. After Eugenides becomes king, his life is always in danger.

To which tumblr user tenney-shoes replied:

May I also remind, for your consideration, that when his life is a bit more blatantly in danger in the Queen’s Garden, he does not grab the Assassin’s sword/knife by the hilt.

Interesting observations, ay? I'll have fun taking a closer look at these details in my next re-read!

Comments

[whataliethatwas.livejournal.com]

I saw that post, but not the follow-up about grabbing the assassin's blade and not by the hilt. What an interesting point! (See what I unintentionally did there?)

My first thought was about Sophos being at pains to point out the oath was honorably retired as rouan1 points out. I do wonder if there might be something here about that mysterious private oath/loyalty of the thieves that Gen still seems to live by as a continued worshipper of the God Eugenides.

[jhawkgirl86.livejournal.com]

That oh-so-secret Thief’s oath intrigues me because, I agree, we are given every indication that Eugenides is still bound by it. If that’s the case, he has to always make sure that his oath to the country and people of Eddis is not in conflict with the oaths he’s made to Attolia as its king.

At this point the interests of the two countries are in alignment so there is no conflict in loyalty, but really that’s because Eugenides has made sure that to keep it that way. Juggling his potentially competing loyalties as Thief and King—just one more thing this poor guy has to worry about.

[whataliethatwas.livejournal.com]

And gets to complain about. :)