KoA Section Two (Chapters 6-10)

[agh_4]

Welcome to April, the month before the month of Thick as Thieves! This week, we’re reading from “The stool hit the wall with a satisfying crash” to “Costis returned to his room, freed himself of belt and breastplate, and fell, otherwise fully dressed, onto his bed.” As always, these discussions are spoiler free for “The Wine Shop,” “The Knife Dance

Comments

[freenarnian]

Lovely tribute... I was just thinking about Philia_fan as I reread this section. My time on Sounis overlapped with hers briefly, but she was always kind and so very insightful. Like you said, she helped shape so much of my understanding of the books. <3

I've gotta get dinner in the oven. More thoughts to come!

[agh_4]

Yes, Lady Jane thought that this would be a good week for a small tribute. <3 And, yes, the in-text Philia has definitely become, to me, a reference to and reminder of the one we knew ... no matter who was actually named after whom, that's how it will be.

Why does Baron Susa care that the King stares out the window?

[an_english_girl]

I'd always figured that Barons Susa and Erondites aren't allies. See their different reactions to Gen and Irene's engagement at the end of QoA: Susa "hisses" at Gen, while Erondites calls it "droll." So, while they'd both like to be the ones manipulating the king, they're not in collaboration but opposition. Susa wants to know what Gen's doing when the attendants are shut out, and he's very glad (a whole gold coin's worth of glad) to hear that the king is just sitting alone, not amusing himself with the mistress Erondites is trying to push on him. Ie, what Costis tells Susa is that Erondites' plots haven't got anywhere yet.
Does that make sense?

Re: Why does Baron Susa care that the King stares out the window?

[agh_4]

That makes a lot of sense to me! I'd never thought to connect the question to Erondites' mistress plan -- but of course there's a whole constellation of barons aware and wary of one another's plots, and there are ways to get information that don't involve hiding in the ceiling. Thank you!

Re: Why does Baron Susa care that the King stares out the window?

[rosaleeluann]

Ah-ha! See, this is why I come here. Everyone is so smart.

I really really really want to re-read this now. Because Costis.

But LIFE.

Re: Why does Baron Susa care that the King stares out the window?

[an_english_girl]

LIFE. Re-reading. Tell me about it!
Can you join me in keeping book or eReader somewhere to hand for those odd two seconds? Like, on top of the microwave (while you're waiting for the kettle to boil); or next to the phone (all those 'please-hold-while-we-play-music.....' calls)?
Because, you know, COSTIS :)

Attolis

[an_english_girl]

Hands up if, like me, like Costis, you missed noticing this is the second time we've seen Gen's handwriting ;D

[checkers65477]

Very nice analysis and discussion on these chapters! Some random thoughts:

Maybe part of the reason Irene is so angry when Teleus quotes the invocation the Hephestia is because she knows she must (once again) comply; it's not only that Gen has unmade her decisions, she has to show mercy or risk offending the gods. Plus, it reminds her of that awful night when Gen cried it over and over, and her failures, especially with personal relationships. And, I do think Hephestia showed mercy to Gen. A trade, the loss of his hand for the lives of everyone in Eddis.

I love your comparison of fleeing to the temple and later from it.

Gen IS frightening when he's god-like. Luckily, he seems (so far) to be able to control his potential I CAN DO ANYTHING I WANT terrible decisions and actions. Like, for example, not having the captain of his guard gutted.

I still haven't forgiven Irene for slapping Gen when he's injured and pathetic.

The writing in this book (and QoA) is extraordinary. So many layers and poignant scenes, and so funny, too.

[mander_lee]

I still haven't forgiven Irene for slapping Gen when he's injured and pathetic.This was one of the things that really bothered me the first few times I read KoA. And by bothered, I mean I wrote an entire blog post angsting about it in my old LJ, lol. I'm currently doing a reread, and I just finished that chapter a few days ago, and for some reason, I found it more understandable this time around. I don't know if it's because I was expecting it, and I wasn't as shocked about it as before

[frosted_feather]

I love your questions. I see many of the moments between Gen and Attolia that the court witnesses and are confused/angered by (with the wine cup and the dance) as part of the balance between their private lives and their public lives. Most of what we see of them are their public image, the appearance of their marriage that most of the court thinks is a sham. But Costis (and we!) slowly get a glimpse into their real affection for one another. I think Irene is very unsure of how to show any affection in public, and thus she maintains her cold face most of the book. Gen, on the other hand, sometimes wants to throw caution to the winds and be himself

[checkers65477]

I wondered, too, if he laughed because she was showing that dry sense of humor she has by mocking herself. As in, "Ha ha remember that time I poisoned my first husband?"

Sejanus

[an_english_girl]

Looking up a crossword clue in "Who's Who in the Ancient World," a familiar name caught my eye: Lucius Aelius Sejanus!

He was an aristocratic Roman, 20BC to 31AD; a close friend, confidant and manipulator of the emperor Tiberias; and commander of the Praetorian Guard. He wheedled, blackmailed and poisoned his way into a position of power secondary only to that of the emperor, but was finally arrested and executed for conspiracy to assassinate the emperor.

Just a /leeetle/ bit familiar sounding??!!??