[Dragaera] incident with Pel

[skzb]

That's pretty much what I was thinking.  But we might both be wrong, you 
know.

Steve Rapaport wrote:
> I would imagine, to elaborate, that the woman had insulted Pel, either on
> account of his not being a Dragon, or being a Yendi, or being short.  Pel's
> response would have been a subtle but enraging insult, which caused the
> woman to suddenly attack him without warning, in a manner obvious to those
> around them as a breach of all duelling codes, and simply attempted murder.
>
> Pel would then simply have drawn his sword and spitted her in self-defense,
> at which all the witnesses would have nodded and perhaps even congratulated
> him.  He would not have had cause to worry about his lie being
> contradicted.  However, relating the entire story to his Captain would have
> brought dishonour to both his killed opponent, and Pel himself (for his
> tactics).   So a tactful lie was the best response.
>
> Ga'aereth would probably have deduced all this just as I have, only quicker,
> and decided judiciously to let matters lie.
>
> How's that?
>
>
>
> 2008/6/13 Steve Rapaport <steve at romlin.com>:
>
>   
>> Pel describes the death of his
>>     
>>> partner.  He says they argued about sorcery, she raised her hands
>>> as if to cast a spell, he drew, then talked her down, and then she
>>> rushed to embrace him, spitting herself on his sword.  He tells
>>> Captain G'aereth that there were many witnessess, who will confirm
>>> his story.  (Note the little exchange with Khaavren which follows -
>>> it's priceless.)
>>>
>>> The above is surely nonsense, but the Captain doesn't challenge it.
>>> Is Pel sure his lie will be allowed to stand, or has he prepared
>>> the scene of the duel, or what?
>>>       
>> My guess when I read it: He's sure that the lie will be allowed to stand,
>> because it's close to the truth, and the real truth would be slandering the
>> name of the dead partner.  The actual scene was probably similar from an
>> visual point of view, but those who heard the actual words spoken would know
>> that the woman had disgraced herself or acted in a cowardly way, and
>> therefore they wouldn't wish to contradict Pel.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> \Steve
>>     
>
>
>
>
>   

-- 
Steven Brust
skzb at dreamcafe.com
MENTES INDIGNORVM FRANGERE