FOREIGNER: Discussion Post #4, Spoiler Edition

[krait]

If you have discussion points for Chapters 5-6 you wish to bring up but which include spoilers, please post them here. Then link your comment in the general post, so those who want to avoid being spoiled can do so!

Comments

[krait]

SPOILERS for later books in the series; this comment is part of this thread about the dowager's invitation.



I was struck by the huge difference in the way Bren's security works here, compared to later books!

The Banichi/Jago/Tano/Algini quartet would NEVER leave Bren unsupervised and unprotected (personally, not just by wires/surveillance) in, say, Book Seven.

It's really shocking and strange to me, when rereading, to see this big gap in the paidhi's security! Are Banichi and Jago et al newer at the idea of having to continuously cover someone? (It seems Tano and Algini were brought in because they have appropriate security clearances, so if Bren's old servants were also security, this would be a new partnership for B&J to adjust to; or, if the old servants weren't security at all, Banichi and Jago might not be accustomed to working as a foursome -- maybe there's some friction over the added numbers?

Maybe Tabini hasn't made the entire situation clear to them, regarding just what Bren might or might not know (and how vital it is to find out)?
There's some deep shifting of man'chi going on with that transition! I can't imagine Tabini's guards ever letting anything create a security gap of any duration; are Bren's security team just not accustomed to thinking of their mild-mannered, kid-sized charge being important enough that ducking out for an hour or two could have significant consequences? But Tabini's guards have man'chi directly to him; Bren's just informed us that his servants (and presumably his security is included) don't have man'chi to him, but to Tabini... whereas they seem to regard him as their direct authority by the middle of the series-so-far, to the point that Tabini tells them not to come back from a mission if they'd be coming back without Bren.

Can a human really inspire/hold man'chi? What a fascinating research paper THAT would make for Bren... :D

Maybe because they themselves don't know exactly what the fuss is? How well-informed are they regarding the issues that have dragged Bren across the continent?

[spaceoperadiva]

In retrospect, there are so many hints here, both that something "truly catastrophic" as Bren puts it, is going on, and exactly what 'Sidi is up to as well. It's all about the man'chi, isn't it? Though I never guessed even with the great foreshadowing sprinkled in from the very beginning what the "catastrophic" happening really was.

I loved: "Nadi Bren. I wish you'd consult before decisions."

the repeated WTF of this book:

[cheyinka]

Tano isn't licensed? How in the world is that possible, given what we know about him later? It *must* be either Jago lying (permissible, and possible), or a retcon (understandable), or there's a way to be an Assassin and not, you know, eligible to take contracts, or something. Don't we learn later that Tano and Algini's man'chi was to the Guildmaster first, Tabini second, and then was to the Guildmaster first, Bren second, and only much later was to Bren first?

[cheyinka]

Reading about bihawa (the aggressive impulse) really makes me wonder about the intruder in Bren's garden apartment. If a "bracing" tea that might have made an ateva a little queasy was a test, then I am left with the possibility that Tabini might have arranged a fright for Bren, too.