Perhaps she's trying not to spoil him? Wasn't it mentioned in Issola, when Sethra is talking to Teldra, that Vlad has been 'trained'? Maybe Vlad is part divine and Verra simply wishes to conceal from him that they're related, so not to get him all proud of himself or expect help from her and develop survival skills Aliera doesn't have. Also, remember Vlad's father always changed his description of Vlad's mother and how she died/left. Verra's a chaotic god-either he could be remembering what happened but there were several encounters, or possibly Verra messed with his memories as such not to give it away. This also may explain Vlad's father's bitterness towards Eastern things and wanting to be accepted as a Dragaeran, or better- he's been the consort of a goddess. And I kind of read a sullen resentment of Vlad in him-perhaps because he's part divine? On 1/3/06, Maximilian Wilson <wilson.max at gmail.com> wrote: > > On 1/3/06, Scott Kreitzer <rascaltkatt at yahoo.com> wrote: > > I know I posted this before, but I didn't see any comments on this. > > > > Since Devera keeps calling Vlad "Uncle Vlad", isn't it possible that > Verra is Vlad's mother? > > Anything's *possible*. Previous discussions of this topic have left me > unconvinced. There's not enough positive evidence in its favor, and > significant contradictions involved. Devera calls Morrolan "Uncle > 'Rolan" as well; she may very well know about the spiritual connection > between Dolivar and Aliera; and a child might very well call a family > friend "Uncle" in any case. Verra doesn't treat Vlad like a son; she > would have had to be married to Vlad's father, which from Vlad's > description of him sounds like an unappealing prospect (and "Noish-pa > as Vlad's REAL dad" is prima facie ridiculous); she calls Vlad by his > species-name, "Easterner." Aliera knows about her relationship with > Verra, so you have to postulate some reason why Verra would conceal > her relationship with Vlad. > > Search the list archives. I'm positive that we've discussed this recently. > > Max Wilson > > -- > Be pretty if you are, > Be witty if you can, > But be cheerful if it kills you. >