Achamian could feel it in his bones—catch glimpses of it in the eyes of the others. Mimara especially. He had watched a human head hammered into a wineskin, and he had felt nothing more than … curiosity?
It was the Qirri. It had to be. The medicine seemed to numb their conscience as much as it quickened their limbs and stretched their wind. Even as Achamian felt himself becoming closer to Mimara, he found himself caring less for the surviving Skin Eaters and not at all for the wretched Hags.
Given that Qirri grants vitality and numbs the conscience, I assume the core substance is what allowed the Inchoroi to live so long and have no qualms with unfathomable torture, and is also what they administered to the Cunoroi during the womb plague. So cremation of a body that's been treated with it brings out the pure substance, like getting resin out of marijuana. Perhaps the Apophagia will have this effect on the Ordeal - allowing them to overcome the vast multitudes of Sranc but losing all remaining humanity and compassion.
“He means that he’s not a … a self … in the way you and I are selves. Now go to sleep.”
“But how is that possible?”
“Because of memory. Memory is what binds us to what we are. Go to sleep.”
“What do you mean? How can somebody not be what they are? That makes no sense.”
Interesting to tie memory to self, since these books essentially ask whether self hood is an illusion. Could memory have something to do with the No-God's confusion?
“So you trusted him. Kelmomas, I mean.”
“Trusted?” she cried with open incredulity. “He was a child! He adored me—to the point of annoyance!” She fixed him with a vexed look, as if to say, Enough, old man …“He was the reason I ran away to find you, in fact.”
Thought this was interesting, maybe something happened to make Kelmomas turn on Mimara? Achamian believed when they first met that she was sent by Kellhus, whether she knows it or not.
No. She will not speak what cannot be heard. Soma would have to remain her secret, at least for the immediate future. She needs to discover more before going to the Wizard …
It's interesting that The Slog is arguably a closer parallel to the First Holy War than the Ordeal is. Sermons from Cleric instead of Kellhus. Keeping knowledge of the Consult away from Achamian.
“She’s pregnant. You are certain of this?”
“The stench is unmistakable.” Another moment of bird-hesitation, as if each thought had to be untangled … It was no small matter planting a soul so mighty into a skull the size of an eggshell.
“Then she cannot be harmed. All the prophecies must be respected, the false as much as the true.”
“Yes, Old Father. I anticipated this, which is why I … refrained.”
Seems like the prophecy turns on her being pregnant rather than who she is or anything else.
Assuming the replacement was made at Marrow, it's interesting that Achamian and the Consult both show up there at the same time.