“Sompas says lights were sighted on your private terrace,” Conphas remarked. His tone was offhand in the probing way of devious family members. “What was it?” he asked, glancing at the man. “Some four or five days ago?”
Certainly there were truces, the coming together of coincidental interests, but nothing else, nothing meaningful. Kellhus had taught him that. He cackled aloud when the revelation struck, and for a moment the world itself wobbled. A sense of power suffused him, so intense it seemed something other might snap from his frame, that throwing out his arms he could shear Joktha’s walls from their foundations, cast them to the horizon. No reason bound him. Nothing. No scruple, no instinct, no habit, no calculation, no hate … He stood beyond origin or outcome. He stood nowhere.
One of her brothers had sat to his right—only it wasn’t one of her brothers. It was him … the serpent whose coils ever tightened about his heart: Moënghus, the murderer, wearing the armour and insignia of a Nansur infantry captain. Or was he Kellhus? “You …” The Dûnyain nodded, and the air became yaksh dank—yaksh sour. “What am I?”“I …” What kind of madness? What kind of devilry? “Tell me,” Moënghus said.
Men were like this, Cnaiür realized, binding their manifold roots then branching in a thousand different directions, twining into the greater canopy of other men. But these things—these skin-spies—were something altogether different, though they could mimic men well enough. They did not bleed into their surroundings as men did. They struck through circumstances, rather than reaching out to claim them. They were spears concealed in the thickets of human activity. Thorns … Tusks.
Hated or adored, Seswatha was the pin in the navigator’s bowl, the true hero of The Sagas, though not one cycle or chronicle acknowledged him as such.
Golgotterath would not be pleased with this new disposition of pieces. But the rules had changed …
QuoteOne of her brothers had sat to his right—only it wasn’t one of her brothers. It was him … the serpent whose coils ever tightened about his heart: Moënghus, the murderer, wearing the armour and insignia of a Nansur infantry captain. Or was he Kellhus? “You …” The Dûnyain nodded, and the air became yaksh dank—yaksh sour. “What am I?”“I …” What kind of madness? What kind of devilry? “Tell me,” Moënghus said.
I was a little confused here. The Skin-Spy is putting on Kellhus's face and Cnaüir just thinks it's Moe, right?
QuoteMen were like this, Cnaiür realized, binding their manifold roots then branching in a thousand different directions, twining into the greater canopy of other men. But these things—these skin-spies—were something altogether different, though they could mimic men well enough. They did not bleed into their surroundings as men did. They struck through circumstances, rather than reaching out to claim them. They were spears concealed in the thickets of human activity. Thorns … Tusks.
Found this very interesting and a little gem from Mr. Bakker. Cnaüir observing the skin-spies and how they are compared to men. A lie made flesh essentially. And, he compares them to tusks. And the Tusk is another lie the Inchoroi has put in the Three-Seas to further their purpose. Great little nugget of you ask me.
This is very close to the lesson Kellhus learns from Pragma about trees.QuoteMen were like this, Cnaiür realized, binding their manifold roots then branching in a thousand different directions, twining into the greater canopy of other men. But these things—these skin-spies—were something altogether different, though they could mimic men well enough. They did not bleed into their surroundings as men did. They struck through circumstances, rather than reaching out to claim them. They were spears concealed in the thickets of human activity. Thorns … Tusks.
Found this very interesting and a little gem from Mr. Bakker. Cnaüir observing the skin-spies and how they are compared to men. A lie made flesh essentially. And, he compares them to tusks. And the Tusk is another lie the Inchoroi has put in the Three-Seas to further their purpose. Great little nugget of you ask me.
QuoteCertainly there were truces, the coming together of coincidental interests, but nothing else, nothing meaningful. Kellhus had taught him that. He cackled aloud when the revelation struck, and for a moment the world itself wobbled. A sense of power suffused him, so intense it seemed something other might snap from his frame, that throwing out his arms he could shear Joktha’s walls from their foundations, cast them to the horizon. No reason bound him. Nothing. No scruple, no instinct, no habit, no calculation, no hate … He stood beyond origin or outcome. He stood nowhere.
I'd have to say this is the moment in which Gilgoal actually inhabited Cnaüir. Joktha is one of my favorite battle scenes in the books, for this reason alone.
Conphas had witnessed it, as much as any of the Columnaries who'd quailed before him in Jokta. In the firelight the barbarian's eyes had been coals set in his skull. And the blood had painted him the colour of his true skin. Theswatting arms, the roaring voices, the chest-pounding declarations. They had all seen the God. They had all seen dread Gilgaol rearing about him. a great shadow...
Grim kinsman,frosting the breath of his every counsel[/i]
Dark reflection! Even the knight-cheiftains bundle their cloaks
When they catch your glint in their Lord's eye.
In chapter 8 when Esmi is reading The Sagas, In The Kelmariad, which is a history of Anaurimbor Celmomas. Celmomomas had a stillborn twin named Huormomas, the poet who wrote The Kelmariad insisted Huormomas ever stalked his brother's side, chilling his hear even as he quickened his intellect.
QuoteGrim kinsman,frosting the breath of his every counsel
Dark reflection! Even the knight-cheiftains bundle their cloaks
When they catch your glint in their Lord's eye.
Ah, finally, a textual reference of The Rape of Omindalea - proof that it exists in cannon but the follow up reference/explanation in the glossary was simply removed.
Moe and Kellhus get mixed up by cnaiur, skin spies appearing with their faces is probably to get more info out of Cnaiur. I suspect the consult have met/made many an insane human.
Kellhus mixes up a Cish for his father until the dude is right in front of him and realises he is too young.
I suspect Moe and Kellhus might look the same like nonmen or genetic twins.