So Now the Big Question...

[tresa_cho]

And no, it's not the 'Does Laurent know who Damen is' question. There's a slightly larger question hovering over my head as I try to figure out where this story could possibly go.

Why is Damen still alive?

No, seriously. Why is he alive when it would be so much easier to kill him and not risk him reappearing on the political landscape?

Comments

[feverfewmole]

What reasoning happened on the Akielon side is a mystery to me. Spite or no, Kastor would have been mad to let Damen live, and to send him away out of his control. Either Margaret talked him into it (Laurent said he thought Kastor weak), or he isn't in on the plan. Which would mean, he either wanted him dead, and Margaret saved Damen's life, or he doesn't even know what happened to his brother, and his grief was genuine, like Torveld said.

I don't think that Laurent was in on the plan. For the Regent I'm not sure but I think it's unlikely.

As I read it, before Damen's arrival, they were at a stalemate in Rabat. Laurent intent on waiting it out, the Regent waiting for the right moment to strike, while subtly working on ruining his nephew's reputation.

Damen was thrown in there like a ball into a pitch. He was the catalyser who set things into motion. When Laurent came out of his stasis and actually began to act, it was done on Damen's behalf. And it brought on deathly counter-moves from the Regent.

[bornof_sorrow]

I agree with much of your position. I am not sure what Margaret's motives where but I think there is some fleeting implication that she is something of an arriviste or socially ambitious (some scornful remark of Laurent's - I can't remember)and that might be part of it