Because Queen Ro said so

[jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com]

(heehee, it rhymes!)

(*refrains from boat jokes*)

anyway, the following is something I posted on my journal (I debated about posting it here, but I felt kind of stupid for having not gotten this right away, as often happens when we realize things about the books), but Rowana left a comment saying I should put it here.  So here it is!

So, an epiphany, and some questions for y'all to muse on.

I GET IT.

The reason the duel at the end is so important is that it proves Costis wasn't a liar, and that Gen really did fight those dudes.

something about the entire scene on the parapets, and the beginning/duel between Costis and Gen, made so much sense this time around.  I can't even describe how much I got it.  I just did.

I liked the bit about how Gen says..."I don't think I've ever heard you say that many words in a row" on p. 340.  Because it was such a jarring line; we've done nothing but listen to Costis talking in his head for almost the entire book, and yet Gen--while knowing a lot about Costis--hasn't heard him speak much more than, "Yes, Your Majesty" or "No, Your Majesty."  (I love how similiar their senses of humor are, if Gen's is on a more knowledgable level.  And I like how Gen trusts him.  And I want to know what specific purpose Gen wants to use him for--the bit about how he wants to dismiss Costis, but I get the feeling he doesn't really want to.)

Dude, Costis makes Gen sound black and blue all over.  I wonder what Attolia thinks of her poor abused husband?

I wonder how early Gen singled out Costis as the instrument he wanted to use to move Teleus.  I wonder how close Teleus and Costis really are.  I mean, I don't think they're close close, like Relius and Teleus are, but I get the feeling that Teleus likes Costis a lot--we know he sees a lot of potential in him.

Comments

[empmai.livejournal.com]

I got the impression that Costis is kind of niave and is unaware how highly Teleus and other think of him.

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

And I want to know what specific purpose Gen wants to use him for

Let's speculate for a minute here. Gen must want Costis to do something that, as a member of the King's Guard, he is not allowed to do. So, we can rule out anything that protects the king or that would be part of his regular military duties. I wonder if it might involve leaving Attolia. Spying of some form? Something that might be seen as treasonous, like a double agent pretending to betray the king and switch sides? Nah, I can't see Costis capable of that. Something that would put Gen and Costis on a equal footing, with Costis no longer taking orders from Gen? Like in the story of Klimun and Ger...(don't have the book handy).

Yes, I'm just rambling now. Make me stop.

[arts-inferno.livejournal.com]

I thought maybe it had something to do with stealing-or spying-because Gen wast saying something about Costis adopting the patron god of thieves.

But I don't know...

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Costis staged the sparring to force Eugenides into showing his talent with a sword. Then everyone would know that Costis hadn't lied about the assassins. He had other reasons, too, I'm sure. He, along with Irene, Relius and Ornon, wanted Gen to be king.

In Phresine's story, Gerosthenes forced Klimun to keep his promise to the goddess and do what would save him and his country. Geroshenes saved Klimun from the goddess's wrath. When Klimun says that he doesn't deserve her mercy because he would have broken his promise, if not for Gerosthenes, the goddess said, "If you were not the man you promised to be, all these years, he would not have been your friend, here in your moment of need. I do not think the moonlight has uncovered anything it should not have seen."

Which all sounds a bit similar to Costis and Gen, don't you think? If not with the sparring, perhaps in books to come?

[philia-fan.livejournal.com]

The other thing Costis is doing (which parallels the story-within-a-story) is revealing the King's true identity. Both the King in the Story and Eugenides are wearing a disguise. Klimun is about to deceive someone, and even though he believes his deception is in a good cause, Gerosthenes shows him that sometimes honesty is more effective than trickery when it comes to diplomacy. Likewise Costis.

[peggy-2.livejournal.com]

Very good! Gen becomes quite uncomfortable with this part of the story while Costis is clueless as to why Gen is bothered.

Gen is upset by the scene where Klimun refusing to "unmask" would lead to the king's downfall, and reassured (but still uncomfortable) when honesty leads to new and better relationships with the neighboring country.

[crazyviolin.livejournal.com]

Wow I'd just thought the story was just a little deviation from the plot. I'd never noticed the similarities before!!

And I'd never realised why I liked that line Gen says to Costis on the parapets. So I have nothing more to add to this discussion except thanks for explaining a more enigmatic part of KoA.

[(Anonymous)]

Why does Eugenides say "You won't like it, of course" to Costis?

~Feir Dearig

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Good question. Did he mean the Costis was dedicated to the guard and working his way up the ranks, but now he was going to be detached and lose his position? Or, did he mean that Costis wouldn't like the job that Gen was going to give him? What do you think?

[aged-crone.livejournal.com]

"Dude, Costis makes Gen sound black and blue all over. I wonder what Attolia thinks of her poor abused husband?"

Well, if she persists in smacking him so hard he bounces off of doorframes, she can hardly complain if he's a bit bruised, can she?

[netslefj.livejournal.com]

Costis is Teleus' protege. That doesn't involve acknowledging a personal friendship.

Gen is about to pull Costis out of the military and give him another assignment. He won't like leaving the military, where he seems to have a chance of becoming Captain, and probably he won't like the new assignment because he won't think himself capable of it. But I have no ideas yet about what it might be.

Seems to me that the next book could be about the King of Sounis - whether that turns out to be Sophos or Gen.