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A Teeny snippet from HFQ (spoiler)

This fascinating series is a combination of historical seafaring, swashbuckling adventure, and high technological science-fiction. Join us in a discussion!
Re: A Teeny snippet from HFQ (spoiler)
Post by DrakBibliophile   » Thu Mar 13, 2014 1:39 pm

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During the escape from Zion (and during the planning of the escape), Merlin was amazed at the differences between her various personas and yes she did use several names that we know of.

Taurus2 wrote:
wyrm wrote:
This phrase - among many other names - is very interesting. Is Aivah a mistress of disguise, or does this carry other implications that RFC will torment us with?


Well, she is a mistress of disguise, but I'm also pretty sure we have textev that she used a variety of names in various parts of her old business empire. I hesitate to read any more into it than that.
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Paul Howard (Alias Drak Bibliophile)
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Sometimes The Dragon Wins! [Polite Dragon Smile]
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Re: A Teeny snippet from HFQ (spoiler)
Post by Renegade13   » Thu Mar 13, 2014 2:07 pm

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LOL!!! I was already REALLY looking forward to the continuation of this conversation, but now it looks to be even better than I thought!!

A far as Aivah is concerned, it has already been confirmed that she has used multiple names (3 for sure have been mentioned); so considering all the work she did in setting up both her 'public' businesses and her obviously VERY extensive hidden organizations (notice, I said 'organizationS'... I think that she has multiple levels of them), I would bet that she has several more IDs that she could fall back on if she needed to do so.

As noted above - it is going to be a VERY LONG YEAR waiting for the next book!! But I think that we can be assured that it will be worth it!!!!
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Re: A Teeny snippet from HFQ (spoiler)
Post by karidrgn   » Thu Mar 13, 2014 2:57 pm

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It's really very simple how Aivah figured out that Ahbraim was a duplicate for someone and not a separate individual. After the 1st meeting she had and esp. after he ensured her escape from Zion, she would've put the message out to her network of "tell me if you see Ahbraim or someone like him - assist him if needed". But how many times has he shown up ANYWHERE? So, the fact that he's only appeared at extremely rare times, and that noone has seen him traveling anywhere means that he's not human. There's also the height that Merlin can't change and the fact that it's rare. So, process of elimination and her self-trained ability to read people.
The early books also mention how open Merlin is in showing his feelings compared to others.
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Re: A Teeny snippet from HFQ (spoiler)
Post by AClone   » Thu Mar 13, 2014 5:45 pm

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I have only two words to say.

Eee. Ville.
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Re: A Teeny snippet from HFQ (spoiler)
Post by ksandgren   » Thu Mar 13, 2014 5:59 pm

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AClone wrote:I have only two words to say.

Eee. Ville.


Those must be RFC's middle initials. From the tortures we've endured, it is certainly appropriate.
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Re: A Teeny snippet from HFQ (spoiler)
Post by KNick   » Thu Mar 13, 2014 8:04 pm

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AClone wrote:I have only two words to say.

Eee. Ville.


I must disagree with this statement. Sneaky, cunning, underhanded, nasty, that I will agree to. Evil would have been posting the first three paragraphs, then waiting a 5 day to post the second set of three. And telling us that was what he was doing.
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Re: A Teeny snippet from HFQ (spoiler)
Post by phillies   » Thu Mar 13, 2014 10:01 pm

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There is the interesting question as to whether "...most beautiful..." is Merlin the guy or Nimue the female thinking. Recall that Nahrman thought the real Nimue was a spectacularly beautiful woman, so there is some issue here.

My actual opinion on the matter is formed rather differently, namely listening carefully to heterosexual men and heterosexual women looking at the same human woman and opining for whatever reason on physical beauty or lack thereof. These conversations are extremely rare, but I have a long memory.

In my experience, the opinions were very very different.

It works several of the other ways.

I also at several points listened to heterosexual males and several acquaintances who were out gay males as to what they thought was physically attractive in human males. There was, like, no overlap at all, especially some of the guys trying to anticipate other guys.

Braudel26 wrote:
runsforcelery wrote:...
The firelight struck subdued highlights from her dark hair, and the heavy, utilitarian coat hanging from his coat tree — like the boots and heavy woolen stockings she’d slipped from slim, pedicured feet and set before the fire — was soaked with melting snow. She was quite possibly the most beautiful woman he’d ever met and he could smell the subtle sweetness of her perfume, but neither of those were what held him so still.
...


Now that Nimue is here, Merlin definitely goes from his (?) female past to present "he"ness

Well thanks for the snippet, RFC, even if it was short. :)
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Re: A Teeny snippet from HFQ (spoiler)
Post by Bruno Behrends   » Fri Mar 14, 2014 2:35 am

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I really like your theory!

And I like that there are several directions DW could take this. This opens the door to unforeseen plot possibilities.

For instance she may not even have 'stolen' control. She may have inherited a family secret somewhat similar to the Wylson key.

There may be several different families secretly tasked with 'keeping the church' straight, one of them being hers.

Which means Clynthan may be in even deeper trouble than we though.
Or not. What if Clynthan inherited a 'family secret' too? And perverted it?

***

Another theoretical possibility opening up now:

Aivah might even really be on the church's side somewhat - or more specifically be a heiress to a 'Langhornite' family secret and actually an anti-techie but bent on reforming Clynthan's excesses and bringing the church back on the track the Langhornites originally put it on.

If that were the case she might end up on a collision course with Merlin and Charis. She might even set a trap for Merlin.

I don't think that's likely - mainly because such a radical shift in a character's perceived loyalty is not DWs style really.

But the great thing about this snippet is that it opens up all these interesting avenues of speculation.

Direwolf18 wrote:Ok thought here.

We heard rumors about SNARCS in control of the temple, the inquisitions rumored ability to monitor any conversation.

What if its not the inquisition that has control of the SNARCs but another descendant of an Arch Angle, one who was able to steal control of them from her Grand Vicar father.
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Re: A Teeny snippet from HFQ (spoiler)
Post by isaac_newton   » Fri Mar 14, 2014 5:08 am

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pablopinzone wrote:Surprised no one pointed this out:
the heavy, utilitarian coat hanging from his coat tree — like the boots and heavy woolen stockings she’d slipped from slim, pedicured feet and set before the fire — was soaked with melting snow

So where are the wet footprints outside Merlin's door? Why did she not shake the snow off downstairs?

Did she come in via the window?


All v good questions, and something I for one had not noticed.

I was more thinking about the actual clothing, which is very different from her normal attire.

BTW I see that was your first post - welcome to the forums! :-)
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Re: A Teeny snippet from HFQ (spoiler)
Post by Randomiser   » Fri Mar 14, 2014 6:15 am

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pablopinzone wrote:Surprised no one pointed this out:
the heavy, utilitarian coat hanging from his coat tree — like the boots and heavy woolen stockings she’d slipped from slim, pedicured feet and set before the fire — was soaked with melting snow

So where are the wet footprints outside Merlin's door? Why did she not shake the snow off downstairs?

Did she come in via the window?


Getting past the guards is one thing. Getting past the guards AND using the bootscraper is quite another. ;)

Merlin assumed the footprints were from the servant bringing in coal for the fire in his room and so paid no attention to them?
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