First post here guys. I'm not as well versed in the series as some of you. This will be my first re-read and its been awhile since I first read the books. That being said, one of my favorite series ever and am totally looking forward to The Great Ordeal. Hopefully you guys don't mind a pleb like me asking a few questions.

First of which: do we know what Inrau found in Maithanet's apartments that upset him so ? I don't remember any reference to that later in the books.

Quote from: H on December 11, 2015, 01:13:34 pm

Well, we have (most probably) seen Aurax though and it's not with the Synthese.  He's the one at the end of WP that is "interrogating" those people and asking "Who are the Dunyain?"

Yes, I thought about that too. But with Aurang's body back in Golgoterreath, he was only able to possess Esme, I imagine you'd need a physical form to pull off a glamour, hence Aurax.

The Honourable H.

Skafra

http://fav.me/d9jnbeo

When several thousand Tydonni who’d contracted his ships defaulted on their payment, he sent them to the island of Pharixas, an old pirate stronghold of King Rauschang of Thunyerus, demanding they storm the island in lieu of monies owed. They did, and with abandon. Thousands of innocents perished. Inrithi innocents.

But this plan of your uncle’s—to deliver a Holy War to its destruction! A Holy War! I fear for my soul, Ikurei Conphas. My soul!”

“No. I care nothing for Maithanet—or Shimeh, for that matter . . . You’re young. You wouldn’t understand my motives. The young can never see life for what it is: a knife’s edge, as thin as the breaths that measure it. What gives it depth isn’t memory. I’ve memories enough for ten men, and yet my days are as thin and as shadowy as the greased linen the poor stretch over their windows. No, what gives life depth is the future. Without a future, without a horizon of promise or threat, our lives have no meaning. Only the future is real, Conphas, and unless I make amends to the gods, I’ve no future left.”

“It’s not the feast we dispute,” Skeaös replied, “it’s the price! Surely you can see this!”

As always, she looked an old whore playing the coquette. But there was something in her expression. She seemed different somehow.

Istriya had always goaded him, but never had she pressed her banter so close to sedition.

“I’ve never known you to be impolitic, Mother . . . Only to appear so.”

But Istriya’s gaze had drifted to the Prime Counsel. “You’ve been awfully silent, Skeaös.”
“It’s not m-my place to speak, Empress.”
“No? But this mad scheme is yours, isn’t it?”
“It’s mine, Mother,” Xerius snapped, irked by her assumption. “The wretch has spent tedious weeks trying to talk me out of it.” Even as he gave breath to these words, he knew he’d blundered.
“Is that so? And why’s that, Skeaös? As much as I despise you and the inordinate influence you have over my son, I’ve always found your thinking sound. What insights have you to shed?”
Skeaös stared at her helplessly, said nothing.
“You fear for your life, don’t you, Skeaös?”