Hi Sleo: you asked for clarification regarding some points ongoing in the discussion: specifically Eriegal's loyalty.
I am hesitant to answer ALL OF THIS outright, as it will surely unveil a few things prematurely (all of those 'back scenes' that were spoken of in Initiate's Trial are 'shown' from one or another character's point of VIEW - are they entirely right in their interpretations???
In lieu of answering outright and taking out all of the interplay that WILL bud out and happen in the story line yet to emerge, I can point to a few things to consider before those climactic scenes are unveiled in your hands.
Eriegal: read into the scenes with him. HE IS A DEEPLY LAYERED/CONFLICTED PERSONALITY.
Oaths of Fealty: look carefully at these, from a liegeman's stance: what is he swearing TO uphold; and what does any sanctioned crown sovereign STAND FOR … note: a crown prince as differentiated from a crowned sovereign.
Note: the scene at Athir (Stormed Fortress) where DAKAR swore a binding oath - in behalf of the crown/IN THE NAME OF THE FELLOWSHIP SORCERERS. NOTE: the Fellowship's scathing reaction (when Asandir finally unburdened that(Initiate's Trial)
Who betrayed whom?
And do you KNOW, yet, by eye witness: that Eriegal actually did: Exactly what???
The legal obligations, all of them, are set down in plain words: black and white. The gray area of human nature of course, has to be accounted for, AND THE RELIABILITY OF THE NARRATORS.
Then, of course, there is the moral high ground from which each character chooses to act…and that is not always stated, but must come out as the story unfolds.
Let the speculation continue…?
originally posted by Sleo
LOL, a Janny Wurts answer if I ever read one! And Just when I thought I knew the answers. And Kudos to Annette, who always seems to know the answers,
Ah, well, as a parting note, she doesn't… 
originally posted by Annette
Thanks for the reply Janny, although I have to admit sometimes I feel a quote from Dakar fits perfectly with trying to find hints and clues.
'Can’t you tell me straight just once in a century?'
Hopefully in the final book.
And absolutely I do not know the answers, Janny has had me sitting here for ages trying to guess. And I can be spectacularly wrong as well, and very stubborn to give up on a notion without being hit over the head with proof. So you guys are meant to be trying to topple me off my perch. I have a terrible memory, I might have missed something, that and my mind certainly does not think normally sometimes. 
But I still feel Eriegal did what he thought was best for the clans, and no way would he have ever handed Arithon over to the Koriani. Those two notions are complete opposites.
So either Eriegal made a spectacular mistake with dire consequences, or Selidie was as usual manipulating things in the background. There had to be someone else involved, that Janny is keeping very quiet about. And until Janny gives us another clue (that I can actually understand) I am sticking with the one we know Selidie can manipulate and who would have been there, Bransian s'Brydion. Liesse and Sindelle might be as susceptible, but what mischief could they do without Bransian? Eriegal would have helped them if he thought he could, and I think he would have thought Arithon owed them some help.
As to Janny's as usual not very clear reply, I will provide a quote of Steiven's from CotM
quote:'You are Teir's'Ffalenn, and sanctioned for succession by the hand of Asandir. I am sworn to serve your line, as my forefathers before me were appointed regents of the realm until return of Rathain's true high king.'
Arithon was never crowned, and as Jieret already demonstrated, it is the Caithdein who is regent and who decides what is best for the crown. That post not being claimed at the time in question we already know was important.
Also Eriegal gave his oath of fealty before Earl Barach.
quote:Other unsworn clansfolk might come forward tomorrow. But Barach, as the inheriting chieftain, must acknowledge his sovereign ahead of them.
-Traitor's Knot
originally posted by Neil
Yes - I reread that Asandir/Dakar exchange…Asandir was "ungentle"…
Dakar got officially fingered with responsibilty for Athir and the F7 took 200 years to tell him presumably because he did not ask :-)?
Or a seized opporunity to allow dakar to act independently of F7 post Koriani actions?
Arithon was presumably betrayed (according to Fionn prophesy but by who?) Dakar made a mistake…but is Arithon going to see Dakar as the cause of the loss of a daughter? The F7 seem to think so. The price of humanity's survival at that point?
I think I need to reread some more…