"Rachel L. Ruhlen" <melalvai at kemenel.org> writes: > Just finished reading _The Lord of Castle Black_. D O N ' T F O R G E T S P O I L E R S P A C E ! > As I recall, _Viscomte de Bragelonne_ had some tragic > events, including the death of d'Artagnon's son. I'm really > worried about Piro. I got worried about him back in POTD when I realised that this huge three-part novel was named after someone who hasn't even been mentioned in the Vlad books. To the left, if we're wrong and he survives, his new occupation will give him a chance to meet Vlad, considering how Vlad has been making his living lately (okay, okay, he only did it once, but it'd still be a really cool scene). > Next, a few specifics. Zerika's Easterner lover named > Laszlo rang a bell. Sure enough, there's a Laszlo in > _Brokedown Palace_. I concluded he can't be the same guy. > That Laszlo is King Laszlo who was crazy. The Laszlo of BP is also disqualified on account of being slightly dead. > I was willing to overlook the age issue, because assuming > her Easterner lover is the same we hear rumors about from > Vlad (not necessarily a safe assumption, I am aware), Note that in _Phoenix_, Zerika confirms the rumors and even gives his name as Laszlo. > he's lived a long time, and we have some hints that > Easterner witches can live as long as Dragaerans. Maybe > longer. So, I speculate that her lover may be a descendant > of Miklos. That could be interesting. Laszlo is certainly a typically Hungar^H^H^H^H Fenarian name. > The first time Tazendra used the new & improved Orb, she > nearly blew herself to smithereens. The first time Oidwa > the Tsalmoth used the Orb to prove to Morrolan that it was > back, she attempted to start a fire and succeeded with no > remark and no unintended effects. That struck me as > inconsistent. I agree with Lazarus' opinion that it was due to Tazendra attempting sorcery during the Interregnum. See also _Phoenix_ where Verra denies that the Orb was modified. > Finally, how did Paarfi come to know what transpired among > the Gods in the two conversations reported? In _The Paths > of the Dead_, Zerika was present at all conversations which > he discussed, No, only the second, though the Orb may have been present for the first. > and I vaguely remember some clue somewhere about Paarfi > having conversations directly with Zerika. He mentions her dropping hints. > This time, Devera was there for the first conversation, but > slipped away for the second. I suppose she could have stuck > around & listened in, but I don't see why she had to sneak > like that. Were the Gods going to refrain from saying > something just because of her presence? I don't find that > likely. Admitting the unlikely possibility that Paarfi got > information from Devera about the first conversation, how > did he get the dialogue for the second? He made it up? See the first several pages of Chapter 18. A quick question for Mr. Brust: Is the Tri'nagore/Moranthe confusion at the very end a mistake? Or is this HoJ time wierdness and Moranthe was the failed first attempt? --KG