On 11/11/05, Maximilian Wilson <wilson.max at gmail.com> wrote: > On Paresh, Paarfi, and Aerich: > > It's also possible that the two stories are not related at all, or > that Paresh has read Paarfi and is embroidering his history with > details from the stories. While we might chuckle to think that the > real-life Aerich was less cool-headed than his literary counterpart > (Paarfi is, after all, a purveyor of romance novels), Paresh also says > that his attacker tried to blast him with sorcery, with he adroitly > dodged. This doesn't fit in well with Aerich, who isn't much of a > sorcerer per the novels, That reminds me - Aerich doesn't *use* sorcery much, but over the centuries, Tazendra might well have taught him some small amount, perhaps at least enough to afford him some defensive measures. Alternatively, I have a vague memory of some amulet that Aerich has in the later Paarfiad, perhaps as a gift from Tazendra, which might be something that affords some sort of sorcerous protection. Indeed, perhaps what Paresh thinks was Aerich's "attack" was his own sorcerous blast being automagically (hah!) reflected back at him by this amulet (or some other automated sorcerous protection), with no concious intent of assault from Aerich himself. Hmm. Thinking about it, some sort of sorcerous protection would also make sense given Aerich's vambraces, and metal being especially vulnerable to sorcery, at least according to some vague noises by SKZB. Although I'll have to check and see if I'm misremembering about the amulet. > and IIRC Tazendra's kidnapping takes place during the Interregnum. Nope. Zerika returns with the Orb at the beginning of /Lord of Castle Black/; Tazendra even helps Zerika with sorcery in the course of that book. Tazendra was abducted much later, after Zerika has already started setting up court, in /Sethra Lavode/. > > IMHO, this is a case where Steve is teasing us. Much like the conflict > between Morrolan's and Paarfi's accounts of the Zerika's descent from > Deathgate. I don't know that it necessarily has a deeper meaning; > maybe He does it just to be contrary. > I nearly think I agree.