[Dragaera] Just got ahold of Dzur

[David Dyer-Bennet]

On 8/26/06, Steve Rapaport <steve at romlin.com> wrote:
> (And read it at one sitting.  Too short!)
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> But now that I'm skimming through the last 2 weeks' spoilers on the list, a
> couple of late answers:
> (spoilers)
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And just a couple of replies to specific points...

> Jose: I think Teldra's influence on Vlad makes an early appearance on Page
> 22, when he asks an improper question to another assassin:
>
>    "I assume, at some point, you were offered the job?"
>
>    He looked directly at me.  At the same time, I felt an odd little twinge
> from somewhere in the back of my head, as if there were a voice whispering
> just too softly for me to hear. I decided now wasn't the time to think about
> that twinge, and what it implied.
>
>    "Sorry," I told [him]. "Improper question".

Yep, that's a clear-cut example.  While we don't know absolutely for
sure that it's Lady Teldra's influence, that's clearly the way it's
being spun to us.

> * Why is simply giving South Adrilankha up to whatever faction not an option
> for Cawti or Vlad?  Neither of them wants it.  How is Vlad saving Cawti
> somehow by helping?  I expect I'll catch this on the second time through.

Interesting question. She needs *some* source of income.  And there's
the question of the treatment of the Easterners living in that sector,
which she had some interest in back in Teckla, and which Vlad may
perhaps have some personal interest in.

> But more questions are bugging me:
>
> * Why does Vlad want to blame stuff on Verra?  Aside from some memories
> coming back, I didn't see any reason to believe that she was responsible for
> (or even interested in) any of the books' events.

Remember this book takes off immediately after Issola; the whole
timespan from the end of Issola to the end of Dzur is, what, about a
week maybe?  Verra was heavily involved in Issola, so she'll be rather
on his mind.

And the concept of a creature out there of unknown intentions that can
mess with his mind that way is very deeply offensive to Vlad, pretty
clearly. The clear evidence that she *has done so* really strains him.

> * The strained dynamic between Vlad and Daymar makes even less sense than
> ever.  They learn from each other each time they meet, and Vlad has long
> since accepted Daymar's literal thinking, yet he can't stop jibing at
> Daymar.  Even Daymar has begun to notice it.
>  And Vlad seems more mature than he was, and less intimidated by powerful
> folk, so why hasn't he relaxed a bit around Daymar yet, and perhaps started
> to even be civil when he's the one asking for favors?

I dunno, they've always seemed to have that sort of relationship.  Why
would you expect it to suddenly change?  *If* it was all because Vlad
was under stress before, then maybe; but I see no reason to believe
that.

Hmmm, I seem to have discussed more points than originall expected.
-- 
David Dyer-Bennet, <mailto:dd-b at dd-b.net>, <http://www.dd-b.net/dd-b/>
RKBA: <http://www.dd-b.net/carry/>
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Dragaera/Steven Brust: <http://dragaera.info/>