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

I vote for "A"

[peggy-2.livejournal.com]

He was extremely ill. My guess is they took his clothes away to be burned, but who ever undressed him didn't have a policy or the time to think about what to do with his tools and so left them there to be dealt with later. I doubt anyone considered he was capable of getting out of bed, much less escaping.

So ... I vote "A": underestimating Gen (and the influence of the gods).

[rowana.livejournal.com]

I'm voting A too, for the same reasons. We saw how unwell he was on their way back - he'd been stabbed through the shoulder and survived only because of Hamiathes's Gift. No one expected him to be fit enough to escape.

[philia-fan.livejournal.com]

I agree A is logical, but really, you've got someone in your palace who is reputedly a master thief, and you lay all his tools out on a table in his room? However sick he was, seems like it would have been wise to confiscate them.

[emerald-happy.livejournal.com]

This could be one of the questions we ask Megan. If Megan says 'yes'

[philia-fan.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure it worth her trouble. I was just idly musing!

[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?

[avian-xj.livejournal.com]

yeah, i'll just put in my 2cents and agree with A. i considered B but disregarded it. i like E, and maybe that is a bit of it, but A just seems to fit best.

[crazyviolin.livejournal.com]

I'd go with A too. Maybe they didn't know how good he really was.

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

I'm coming to this party late, but I've been thinking about the question. When I read Thief, I thought A. Even if Attolia suspected who Gen was, she probably didn't believe that he'd actually stolen Hamiathes's gift. Ambiades was dead, no one seemed to have it, and the Magus claimed he'd lost it. She must have underestimated Gen, since he had it in his hair the whole time. Seems like a stupid risk to take, though, leaving the tools right there on the table.

In QoA when he is locked up at the beginning, his tools are left with him again. Did they not learn from their mistakes? But it didn't do him any good, as he couldn't get to the lock.

Obviously, I have no idea. Excellent question, Philia.

[philia-fan.livejournal.com]

Oh good, I thought it must be a really stupid one, since everyone said A, of course.

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

No, not at all. I think most say A because Thief doesn't have as many subtle undertones and layers upon layers of intrigue as the other books. Although it holds an enormous surprise, it tends to be more straightforward. The other books have us guessing about every tiny detail--is it really more than it seems?

Couldn't think of a good name

[(Anonymous)]

I remember the attolians just leaving the door unlocked which in my oppinion is even stupider, though they thought he was injured and were not expecting a man who has just had a sword threw the back to attempt run away, and they would think he would be trying to make it to sounis not to eddis and sounis is further away. Infact probably much to far for a naked guy with a wound that is life threatening to try and climb over the mountains where he wouldn't be able to get a doctor.

The Thief

[(Anonymous)]

In the Theif, they leave Gens tools to test his ability to see what they would do, at least I think. Any ways, GEN RULES AND WE ALL KNOW IT YAYA.

Just clerifying something

[tiloo.livejournal.com]

I just happened to stumble upon this sight and I am so siked that I am not the only person who is obsessed with those books :D it was me who posted the coment titled "couldn't think of a good name" but I remeber now and just feel stupid lol, but I do remeber that they did leave his tools in with them, lol I feel like a bit of an idiot, but shmeh.
but yeah that was my personal take. minus the leaving the door unlocked. sorry if that is confusing. lol

[(Anonymous)]

I'm thinking maybe a little bit of b AND e. (Subconscious desire of the Queen to see him escape naked) sorry, couldn't resist :)

-Hellocello