#terapsina reads thick as thieves

[terapsina]

After some thought I’ve decided I’m actually fine with there not being like an absolute moment where it’s clearly stated that Kamet and Costis share a romantic love story (even though their journey was absolutely the romantic sort). 

You know why?

[spoilers]

First, because of the perspective the story is written from.

It’s written as an account of events that Kamet puts to paper with the intention of sending it to someone else. For a former slave just outright saying that he’s in love with Costis would be far too personal, hell it would probably be far too personal for just about everyone.

And second, because of the way these entire series are written.

I mean we know Eugenides has loved the Attolian queen since childhood, but during Gen’s account of ‘The Thief’ we never actually guessed that. And that’s because like for Kamet, Gen just never added that to his account of the events.

Actually Kamet puts a lot of stuff in that paints the picture of what Costis means to him (like for example referring to him as ‘my Attolian’ on one occasion and ‘my Costis’ later on another).

That’s not even touching on the fact that through the entire story they compare themselves to Immakuk and Ennikar on multiple occasions (who I might point out at one point share a happier version of the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, I mean going into the Underworld to fetch back their other half because living without them was impossible? Exactly).

And the fact that Immakuk and Ennikar seem to share that view of the comparison (after all the Gods in this series tend to interfere in the lives of the people that are ‘theirs’ in some way) rather proves the point.

Also Kamet describes Costis as handsome at one point I think?

Hell at the end of the book he actually tries to take the full fall to protect Costis, which is huge.

Plus there’s the notable moment with Goddeker right after he figures out that Costis isn’t an escaped slave like him and Kamet, where he starts spitting out all those ugly insults and thinks that Costis has been lying to Kamet and promising him love.

And not once is there a line that would imply that Kamet doesn’t ‘see him that way’ or anything like it.

And anyway, this series follows a certain pattern.

The Thief introduced Gen, while The Queen of Attolia introduced his love story with Irene.

The Thief also introduced Sophos, while A Conspiracy of Kings introduced his love story with Helen.

The King of Attolia introduced Costis and Thick as Thieves DEFINITELY introduces his love story with Kamet.

(but I do feel that a future story should at some point confirm the relationship to make this feel complete)

[terapsina]

I love that we finally find out why Eugenides kept being fed sand and that it was not for the reasons he thought he was being fed sand.

[terapsina]

Also that scene in the gardens between Kamet and Irene where she asked him to recite that poem almost made me cry.

[terapsina]

Eugenides wasn’t the Attolian (on reflection I don’t know what I was thinking there), but I’m pretty sure I’m right about my new prediction.

That ‘work-dogging kitchen boy’ that Kamet described was DEFINITELY Eugenides.

When he made it home, he recopied one of his brother’s scrolls and sent it to me.” The handwriting had been atrocious—I could see why the scribes hadn’t let him work with the rest of the queen’s indentured—but the text had been by Enoclitus, and I’d never seen it before.

^^^ that part totally clinches it.

First of all the handwriting, because this would have been right after he lost his hand and was writing with his left one.

And that copy being unfamiliar would make sense considering the fact that the scroll was coming from the Eddis library.

[terapsina]

“If you like. First, tell me—how did you come to Ianna-Ir?” 

He misunderstood. With a tilt of his head and a wince, he said, “I punched the king in the face.”

Oh thank god, I can finally stop circling this question.

Hello Costis :)

(though I was already pretty sure when the Attolian was fondly remembering his King’s habit of walking on palace walls (sometimes drunk) and Kamet misinterpreted it as him wishing for the King to fall to his death)

[terapsina]

The fact that the Attolian isn’t being called anything other than the Attolian is suspicious and probably important.

So I’m guessing it’s either Costis or Teleus? Or Gen himself (though I can’t really see it being Gen himself).

[terapsina]

And the more I read the more certain I am that my first first prediction is right and Nahuseresh wasn’t actually assassinated.

Because Kamet keeps fearing that the Attolian will come across the information about him having ”killed” his (!former!) master, but doesn’t seem to realize that very suspiciously there’s actually no such information floating around.

And also this is why Costis keeps apologizing.

Also Kamet seems to have forgotten that guy at the beginning who was acting all strange, who brought him to Costis and the initial meeting spot in the first place so... yup.

[terapsina]

I am now reading Thick as Thieves (The Queen’s Thief #5) and I wanted to make a prediction to see if I turn out to be right or not.

(it contains spoilers though so)

So I’m up to where Kamet is just now leaving the city with the Attolian, because his Master was just poisoned and he doesn’t really have a choice.

My prediction: Nahuseresh is FINE. Gen is pulling a trick because Kamet wouldn’t have come willingly for anything other than self preservation.

[terapsina]

I’m back to guessing that the Attolian is Costis.

[terapsina]

No, the Attolian is starting to feel suspiciously more Gen-like. If it IS Eugenides, then what the HELL is he doing all the way in another empire? Isn’t he kind of busy being king? Doesn’t he have spies for this sort of stuff?

I mean, Irene can take care of the country herself, yes. And this IS exactly the kind of stuff he did for Eddis too. And the name of the book IS Thick as Thieves.

Okay, I’m rapidly convincing myself that it’s Gen. If I’m wrong I’m gonna end up being so confused, because I’ll have projected too much onto the Attolian.

-

On the other hand wouldn’t Kamet have noticed a missing hand by now?

So it’s not Gen?

I seriously need to stop trying to guess, I’m just going around in circles.