originally posted by Julie
Well he may have also judged that this was the best course of action based on his prismatic farsight. Instead of looking at the short term, the far reaching effects were deemed acceptable.
originally posted by Annette
Spoiler, spoiler, spoiler, spoiler, spoiler.
Oh I am sure Arithon knows what he is doing, definitely that one looks at the long term picture. That he ensured (he hoped) that he could never again be put into the situation that Elaira's life could be used against him like that shows he was thinking long term. He expected to survive somehow no matter what happened. Pretty sure Arithon when himself and whole has the far distant future of mankind in mind. I suspect there is more than just the Biedar acting behind the scenes to help him with that. Dakar's unconscious visions that cannot be changed have just been too convenient for a start.
originally posted by Doug Hope
Spoiler, spoiler, spoiler, spoiler
I am looking forward to the upcoming conflicts. My hope is many of the questions will be answered and our romeo and juliet DO get a life after all is said and done. At present i cannot even attempt to figure how. Really enjoying reading all of you're debates, assumptions and predictions. I am in awe of your knowledge of the story thus far.
originally posted by Julie
Well there is 200 years left to the life span enhanced by Davien's fountain. That is four times what mere mortals get to have in meaningful relationships!
originally posted by Annette
That was the natural lifespan though, at least one brother is likely going to be meeting an untimely death before then. Janny is unlikely to be covering 200 years in the next book, so presumably the legends that survived to the seventh age saying the conflict lasted 500 years were a bit out. The conflict between the brothers would likely end within the current generation of characters. The conflict over theology would last longer.
I do not see Arithon and Elaira getting any chance for a life together before the end of the conflict, so there must be more, we get 11 books.
Lysaer spent most of his time avoiding meaningful relationships, third time lucky. Presumably Lysaer and Daliana get a chance to set up their happy home together, fate always seems to look after Lysaer. We are waiting to see when this new city gets built, Arithon would never build a new city on Daon Ramon Barrens, so it would have to be Lysaer. It seems whenever he is happy he wants to build something.
originally posted by Julie
You are too hard on Lysaer!He likes his creature comforts but is not unhappy without them. We do not know what Janny has up her sleeve- a hundred years per book? It could easily take a gerneration for the True Sect's influence to reach insignificant levels. At the end of the last book we are set up for renewed zealotry although I do not think Lysaer will want anything to do with it. He is going to be wracked with guilt. I do hope that Janny introduces a viable solution for Lysaer to rid himself of the curse. The conflict does not neccesarily have to continue to be between Lysaer and Arithon.
originally posted by George
Hi! Just de-lurking after a looooooong time.
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER (is it really a spoiler?)
A thought occurred to me the other day. Sethvir seems worried about the fact that the Great Waystone is now cleansed and that the citrine vein through it has affected its aura - such that Athera will not be able to protect itself from the Great Waystone.
HOWEVER, I also note that Davien (who orchestrated the Waystone being so affected) is now free of his "pet" Drake 
I just wonder whether Davien was able to forsee that the Great Waystone would be affected in such a manner and that he had placed things in motion on purpose. I also wonder whether the Citrine vein will also play a part in the Waystone's undoing.
I suppose that nothing is for certain except that Davien is a wild card!
originally posted by Gillian Bonnell
Hi George,
You could have hit on something there as Davien's ring is Citrine.
originally posted by Annette
Hello George, welcome to the very quiet specultion thread.
Spoiler, spoiler, spoiler, spoiler, spoiler.
I would love to know how that bit of citrine gave Sethvir access, was it perhaps because it was created on Athera? The original stone was from elsewhere, but the citrine part of the stone is now Atheran?
Actually I think the Waystone probably gets a prime position in the coming events, it seems fated to cross Arithon's path. Be interesting to see if the Waystone ends up half and half all yellow or just plain breaks in two.
I also suspect the word Waystone has a Paravian root Janny has been keeping under wraps. Just like I bet Elkforest is not named so because it has a lot of four footed elks roaming around in it.
originally posted by Sleo
Geeze! I'm going to have to reread since I can't remember a damn thing about that citrine in the Waystone!
I'm not much of a speculator. I only know what my HOPES are! Such as: I hope Arithon and Lysaer both find some peace and serenity by the end and can live a period with normal lives. I hope the sleeping sorcerer wakes up. I hope the Paravians return. I hope humanity finds some kind of balance in their ability to live on Athera (unlike our own version of humanity, I might add.) I hope no one goes up in flames. I hope Elaira and Arithon are able to reconnect in their love. I hope Lysaer becomes able to love and can return Daliana's love. I even hope Morriel is able to make peace with herself and die without killing Selidie. Not to mention poor Lirenda.
Sigh.
originally posted by Gillian Bonnell
Agree with all your hopes Slee. Am just now rereading all the books and have reached The Stormed Fortress again. I had not previously noticed a number of things and am now able to understand more of Jenny's hints.
My hope that Arithon and Elaira are able to complete their interrupted liaison!!! You know what I mean.
Gill
originally posted by Julie
I imagine they will. But mostly for Arithon I hope he gets to have some some time with her unencumbered by royal duties and saving the world. He was so happy during those 6 years with Haliron.
originally posted by Annette
Actually I suspect Arithon is going to be looking after Athera for a while,I am expecting him to actually agree to be her protector. Does not mean he is not going to be happy, his requirements for happiness were very simple. Elaira, music and a chance to study the mysteries. If he gets a chance to put aside crown and Alithiel, nothing was mentioned about having no responsibilities. He always showed a natural tendency to want to save everyone.
originally posted by Annette
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
What did we think of the italic highlighted bits on pages 162-163 (HB/TPB) of Initiate's Trial? I read over them a few times and thought they were old. Is Janny trying to fool us? Memory or prescience, or both! The more interesting I think is the second description.
quote:Initiate's Trial pg 163 HB/TPB
but another place of dank mist and jaggedly rocky terrain, sprawled with war dead; and after these, other corpses, fallen in graphic slaughter under a green canopy of summer forest. The re-echoed torment of those fatalities drowned his identity, and much worse. He heard again the pealed cries of terrorized women and children put to death in a frenzy of massacre.
You could read it and think Tal Quorin and the massacre at the grottos, but is it?
originally posted by Annette
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
quote:"And where in creation is Prince Lysaer?’ ‘A very sharp question.’ Mearn s’Brydion’s irksome, bright smile gave way to intent speculation.
Noticed that quote in Fugitive Prince, fitted my current thinking perfectly. I must say Lysaer's role in all this is a complete mystery. I am sure he has a role in the bigger picture, but Janny is just too devious. She has me chasing shadows all over the place.
originally posted by Julie
I have been re reading Stormed Fortress and just finished the part where under the influence of Arithon's Paravian working Lysaer is speaking with Sulfen Evend. His self honesty, and longing to be released from the curse are palpable. His is the much harder journey and as such may turn out to be Arithon's most difficult trial- defeat of the mistwraith and returning to the relationship built at Ithamon.
originally posted by Annette
I am I think a pessimist, I am expecting the Mistwraith to get its final revenge by ensuring the brothers remain separated. But I do also expect Lysaer to be Arithon's most difficult trial, hope he turns out to be worth all that trouble.
originally posted by Julie
I think he most certainly will be- he has all the qualities needed for a good ruler- Arithon has said so several times. Would love to know why the Rauven mages refused to educate him- maybe they though his father's influence too strong and he would wield magecraft for feud. Although if he was anything like Kevor that would not have happened and we would not have this long saga!!
originally posted by Annette
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
The line seems to breed true, pretty sure Lysaer would have been exactly like Kevor when he was that age, he was willing to hate long before he was cursed. If kevor had lived long enough in his fathers shadow he might have been corrupted as well. He is better of with the Adepts.
As a good ruler, Lysaer would need no mage training, his father explained why those do not go together years ago, and we saw what trying to mix them did to Arithon. And the Rauven mages would not be putting any power in the hands of anyone likely to use it as a weapon to blind or destroy others. Cursed or not Lysaer has hardly used his gift for anything else so far, would be nice to see him experiment more with what else it can do. Talith inspired his more creative side at least once, maybe Daliana will as well. Matrimonial bliss Lysaer has so far missed out on, third time lucky.
But if he goes and builds his love nest in the middle of Daon Ramon Barrens, I must say he deserves to get a dragon raining scorching piss on him for his upstart pretensions.
originally posted by Gillian Bonnell
Unlike the rest of you I am unforgiving. Lysaer does not deserve Arithon's compassion. He was hardly a kind person before the curse hit him. When Arithon was his prisoner in TCOTM he held him in awful conditions. Admittedly he feared sorcery but do the marks the Arithon still carries of the shackles not condemn Lysaer and his father. His bitterness about his mother's behaviour over two hundred years after the event is not the attitude of a mature mind.