(Untitled)

[avian_xj]

 Let's talk about Teleus

Comments

[jade_sabre_301]

I HEART TELEUS.

That is all. Well, and that other thing Checkers asked us not to mention. That too.

Also, some favorite passages/lines to think about when discussing him:
1) I mentioned in Chatzy
"We have to get a message to the army at the pass," Teleus said.
"Why?" asked the Mede, raising his eyebrows in surprise. "To start the arrangements for a state funeral?"
"She might not be dead," Teleus snarled.

2) ...um, I'm getting caught up in a QoA reread (oh God I love it so much. Oh Lord. When Gen bleats like a goat? Or when he kisses her in her tent? *FLAILS*), but I'm thinking that somewhere there's a scene where Attolia thinks something about how she switches out her captains before they can betray her. Of course, later one we find out that Teleus is only her second captain, so maybe this is a different kind of thing? Anyway, is his time coming to an end?

3) I ♥ him.

[estarria]

See, I've wondered about the switching-out-captains thing too, because Attolia doesn't seem so keen on getting rid of Teleus. (especially in KoA, if I'm remembering right, I don't have my copy here right now) And after she told Relius he had been promoted to a new level where he was trusted unconditionally, I'm thinking she might do/have done the same for Teleus. Maybe.

[estarria]

*remembers when Teleus nearly got executed* :P
*explains herself before she baffles everyone*
Even considering the death sentence, I thought part of the reason Eugenides saved Teleus from execution was to save Attolia from herself...to keep her from killing one of her most valued servants just because she felt she had to do SOMETHING about Eugenides' brush with death. Also, to show her that she needn't murder everyone who makes a mistake (and she does seem to learn that lesson as the book continues).

[jade_sabre_301]

I think you're exactly right there. Teleus is just so darn reliable and she does listen to him, but...yeah. I'm blathering, you're right, etc. etc. etc.

[jade_sabre_301]

Oh, I'll go ahead and copy some things from the chat backlog, too, just other things to think about

[avian_xj]

would you like me to put those in the post itself so people can find them more easily?

[jade_sabre_301]

if you want. *shrugs*

[philia_fan]

Of course, she did have a big brother, but he was probably a jerk. So Teleus is like the NICE big brother she never had.

[checkers65477]

Oh, way to be discreet, guys. :P I suppose it should become my default icon.

What I was going to say is that Teleus is a huge failure. It's a wonder Attolia has kept him around, knowing how she usually punishes those who fail her. In Thief, he underestimates Gen and fails to stop him before Gen kills a guard. Then he, or the jailers, allow to Gen to escape when they leave the lock picks with him.

In Queen, Gen twits Teleus repeatedly. Gen has been skulking around the megaron, what, four times? He's been in her bedroom, for heaven's sake. Teleus knows the only reason they finally capture Gen is because the queen *somehow* knew they should hammer boards between the trees. Then, he allows the queen to be kidnapped from under his nose. Nahuseresh sums it up nicely, when he accuses Teleus of being in on the kidnapping attempt (p. 274 of eos edition). " '...if you look to see who that conspirator might be, I think you will find the captain of your guard a likely candidate. Who admitted the Eddisians to the megaron at Ephrata

[empmai]

Maybe she's kept him around because there's just nobody else yet that she can put into the postition that would do any better. At least the guard follows his orders.

[checkers65477]

Good point. The guard wouldn't follow that guy Attolia put in charge after Teleus's arrest. Teleus seems to run the guard well.

[avian_xj]

oh, you're very right! poor Teleus would have had a much easier time if Gen didn't cause him so much trouble. poor guy. but then again, Gen saved him from Attolia's death sentence so that makes up for it a bit :)

[flamesword]

I always miss chat, because I am sleeping then. :/

[scottykarrde]

*sympathy*

[alineadrklrdsis]

I apologize for the very long comment.

It always seemed to me that Teleus saw Attolia's flaws and her strengths and respected her anyway and vice versa. When I first read KoA I thought Teleus had a sort of soldier's respect for the things that Attolia had done but further reading made me think that he sees her more like I think of my younger siblings; I love them very much but would never tell them, and whenever one of us makes an enemy we unite against them. That would be why for most of KoA he just can't process the fact that Attolia loves Gen,I don't think that he "hates" Gen though. With Costis it almost seems like he feels the same way about Gen,as Teleus does about Attolia, with the exception that he is VERY awed by the awesomeness that is Eugenides.
In short I agree with Estarria, Jade, and just 'bout everyone else who has posted here.

[peggy_2]

Very good points, Alinea. Well spoken. I don't think hate Gen so much as gets totally frustrated by him (which is a maddening emotion, in and of itself).

[estarria]

I like the "Teleus is to Attolia as Costis is to Gen" analogy. Hadn't thought of it that way before, but it's true.

[jade_sabre_301]

Yeah. You said what I was thinking, only much more eloquently. Especially when dealing with the whole sibling-type relationship I think they have. Or at least that Teleus has for her. He maintains his professional distance and all, but he's very, very protective of her (and not just as his job--not just her person, y'know?).