A question

[philia-fan.livejournal.com]

In The Thief, why do you think the Attolians left Gen's thieving tools in his room, enabling him to escape and free the others?  Was it:
a) Sheer incompetence on the part of the Attolians (and underestimating Gen)
b) Stupid assumption that Gen's being naked was going to keep him from escaping
c) A test to see what he'd do
d) A gesture of good faith to try to win him to Attolia's service
e) A subconscious desire of the Queen's to see him escape
f) other

Comments

[sandtree.livejournal.com]

I think the Attolians just messed up. :P So I'd go with answer A.

[(Anonymous)]

Is it possible they didn't know what they were? "Tools" is pretty generic--are we talking lockpicks, hairpins, etc...

Otherwise I'd say a) too. I don't think Attolia even cares for him at this point, other than to be pissed at him for a) outwitting her and b) making snarky comments.

~Feir Dearig

[philia-fan.livejournal.com]

I agree that e) is a long shot here. But c)and d) seem wildly possible. I've always wondered exactly what Attolia's up to here and how much she knows. She suspects Gen might be the Thief of Eddis, but in this part she's given him a nice bed and good treatment, and she's taken the Magus's suggestion to try to win Gen over to her own service. If she really knew who he is, would she still do this?