The Queen controls Korvosa. Or most of it, anyway. Old Korvosa is quarantined, and one can only assume the siege tactics of the Grey Maidens will bring the place to heel in a week or two when the food, and perhaps the liquor, runs out in old town. Is it tyranny? Perhaps.
But perhaps not. I confess to a growing unease regarding the current state of affairs in Korvosa. The Queen has demonstrated command of magics far beyond anything that any rumor had heretofore indicated. And she used it to immediately slay a would-be assassin. But then what? She did not immediately institute martial law. A tyrant would certainly have done so. Old Korvosa has attempted secession. A tyrant would have put the rebellion down quickly and brutally. Avoiding a bloodbath by blocking the place off until its inhabitants calm down, and then mercifully retaking control--are these the moves of a tyrant?
Is she, in fact, a tyrant? Is she, in fact, worth fighting? Korvosa has had its share of poor rulers, and she may number among them, and she may have had a hand in the King's death. But she would not be the first to take the throne across a pool of the previous occupant's blood. Is she worse than any other who has sat upon the Crimson Throne?
She appointed a new Seneschal, probably a puppet. But the old Seneschal was missing and presumed dead--would any new ruler have done differently? She has replaced the Abadarians with the Asmodeans in her confidence. But the grand bank was in the grip of plague and unable to do its work--why should it not be replaced?
No, the Queen is no tyrant. At least, not a tyrant worth fighting, for she is not a tyrant any worse than the myriad others who have ruled Korvosa (and perhaps is better than some). Has she done questionable or vicious things to solidify her rule? Probably. Is she a threat? Except insofar as she jealously guards her rule, no.
And yet, she commands those magics. Magics well beyond her. Magics of which she should have no inkling. Magics one does not simply find. Where, then, did those magics come from?
Could Ileosa have a patron? Could there be forces at work beyond her? Could there be an agenda beyond hers? Could she be serving a secret master? And if so, what is the master's agenda?
Therein lies the real threat. And therein lies my fear.
But perhaps not. I confess to a growing unease regarding the current state of affairs in Korvosa. The Queen has demonstrated command of magics far beyond anything that any rumor had heretofore indicated. And she used it to immediately slay a would-be assassin. But then what? She did not immediately institute martial law. A tyrant would certainly have done so. Old Korvosa has attempted secession. A tyrant would have put the rebellion down quickly and brutally. Avoiding a bloodbath by blocking the place off until its inhabitants calm down, and then mercifully retaking control--are these the moves of a tyrant?
Is she, in fact, a tyrant? Is she, in fact, worth fighting? Korvosa has had its share of poor rulers, and she may number among them, and she may have had a hand in the King's death. But she would not be the first to take the throne across a pool of the previous occupant's blood. Is she worse than any other who has sat upon the Crimson Throne?
She appointed a new Seneschal, probably a puppet. But the old Seneschal was missing and presumed dead--would any new ruler have done differently? She has replaced the Abadarians with the Asmodeans in her confidence. But the grand bank was in the grip of plague and unable to do its work--why should it not be replaced?
No, the Queen is no tyrant. At least, not a tyrant worth fighting, for she is not a tyrant any worse than the myriad others who have ruled Korvosa (and perhaps is better than some). Has she done questionable or vicious things to solidify her rule? Probably. Is she a threat? Except insofar as she jealously guards her rule, no.
And yet, she commands those magics. Magics well beyond her. Magics of which she should have no inkling. Magics one does not simply find. Where, then, did those magics come from?
Could Ileosa have a patron? Could there be forces at work beyond her? Could there be an agenda beyond hers? Could she be serving a secret master? And if so, what is the master's agenda?
Therein lies the real threat. And therein lies my fear.
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Posted on August 17, 2012 15:33
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