Laurent versus Aimeric aka How Much of a Laurentian are you?
Warnings: spoilers for up to and including Chapter 27
Firstly, How Awsome Was Chapter 27? *flails*
Ahem...reading everyone's comments re: Laurent's actions in this chapter of Laurent hotness er I mean badassness it was interesting to see people had really varied reactions to Laurent's actions in this Chapter, from being completely on Laurent's side including being angry at Jord for siding with Aimeric instead of Laurent, to Laurent scares me/ Laurent is not yet ready to be King.
So, if you're interested post a comment and say wether you're:
A) Laurent = God / Laurent was too Lenient with Aimeric, he should have said all that AND flogged him to within an inch of his life/ neutered him/ something equally drastic
B) Laurent was right and gave Aimeric exactly what he deserved after he tried to get Laurent & Damen killed and killed Orlant
C) Well I'm with Laurent but I thought he was an ickle bit harsh there given Aimeric's background
D) I felt sorry for Aimeric, I could kinda see where Laurent was coming from but he was totally over the top!
E) Laurent is not fit to rule/ I'm with the Regent
Let the war begin! Er discussion, I mean discussion! XD
Personally I'm a B /C (erm I'm I allowed to be halfway in my own poll?)
1) Firstly Laurent really knew how to hurt. Punching Aimeric or any form of physical punishment Aimeric could probably bear, but Laurent's words BROKE him. Laurent of course does a little bit of the physical chastisment too ;-)
2) Aimeric directly kills Orlant, but he probably also directly/indirectly resulted in the messenger's death (remember the riderless horse in Book 1?) if he is the Regent's spy, and members of Laurent's men killed in the recent battle in Helay.
3) Aimeric/ Regent attempts to get both Laurent and Damen killed. Both L and D were going to be beheaded while the rest of Laurent's men go free - why kill Damen if he was Laurent's slave and following orders? I can see two potential reasons, either the Regent knows Damen is Damainos or via Aimeric, the Regent has learnt that Damen means something to Laurent, killing Damen would be the extra lavish in hurting Laurent
4) I would like to throw my 10 cents in and suggest that as more of the plot is revealed, we will come to realise that Laurent is BETTER than Aimeric. Laurent I believe has more of a moral code. This may seem a wierd thing for me to say after the latest chapter but! Remember in the first book when Laurent suggests to Damen in the ring 'perhaps you strayed, after he F*cked you?' and in this latest Chapter Laurent says 'used goods are not as appealing unless they have something worth using'. I think Laurent himself may have 'strayed' by refusing to do certain immoral acts (like killing Orlant Aimeric!) for his uncle hence leading to his uncle cutting him off as soon as he was no longer sexually attractive to him. Remember when Laurent fought for Damen's life after the assassination attempt even if (as I believe) he knows Damen = Damainos because Damen saved his life. I think the regent, Arran, and from what we have learnt of him, probably Aimeric, would have let Damen take the blame, especially when in that final play it was either Damen's life or risk you own life by going to Delfeur, and Laurent chose the latter.