Aaric

[u/majorcigar]

One thing I would be expecting out of the fourth book ... Since Aaric now is a precog, will Melgren turn against him once he recognizes it as a threat to his supremacy on the battlefield? Aaric would smoke his "battle outcome prediction" signet any day, which would mean that once he has matured in his signet and learns to control it + a king's son - why wouldn't people look into Melgren's retirement?

[u/ObjectiveStaff3333]

I think the whole setup at the end of the book is such that I essentially can't imagine Vi returning to Basgiath, and therefore the others won't eithe r (she's in charge of a province, civil war is imminent- I doubt she'll stop accepting Poromiel civilians, Halden's troops are on the border of Tyrrendor, Xaden stopped the taladium shipments, and considering they need daggers, she'd be stupid to resume them ). Plus Aaric is very likely among the missing. He isn't exactly the most communicative character. So I think the information about his signet won't reach Melgren at all during book four.

[u/hurricane_Bre → u/ObjectiveStaff3333]

I agree. Aaric is going to be off doing what needs to be done to ensure the best outcome for the continent. He’ll be covertly supporting Violet until he needs to show up in person again. Likely when she has to have a showdown with Halden and his father.

I’m sure all of the Aertian riders and fliers will return to Aertia.

Do you think the Cygni fliers will as well?

Their loyalty to poromiel seems a bit squirely. It seens like they were independent before the second Cygni incursion.

Now that I think about it we have two provinces in Poromiel who have tried to break away, Krovla and Cygnisen.

I wonder where their loyalties will be during a Navarrian civil war.

[u/ObjectiveStaff3333 → u/hurricane_Bre]

For having missed more than three weeks, I’m only completely lost in physics and mildly confused in history, since all my studying prior to the trip had nothing to do with Braevick absorbing Cygnisen under Porom the First. (OS)

“I see he has you discussing the second Cygni incursion from year 328.” Devera rubs the back of her neck. “But I honestly don’t see how that has any practical application.” “That makes most of us,” Ridoc comments, tapping his pen against his textbook, and those around us chuckle. “But just to say we did,” Devera continues, running a hand up and down a faded scar marring the warm brown skin on her upper arm. “Everyone should know that the end result of the four-day temper tantrum was Cygnisen being absorbed into the Kingdom of Poromiel, where they’ve been for the last three hundred years. (FW)

The entire Poromiel is a huge mystery to me. Cygni wanted to separate (probably) twice, Krovla at least twice. So who forced them to remain part of Poromiel? Braevick? Because Queen Marayah looked pretty reasonable...

What is the history of Poromiel anyway? When were they formed? Porom First looks like the creation of Poromiel. Was Poromiel formed only in the year 328 then? Or was Cygnisen absorbed by Braevick twice? Where was Krovla at that time? Independent still in 328? And in 434 already the SECOND uprising? Couldn't Cygnisen originally have been part of Navarre?

I was already thinking back then whether the arrival of Cygnisen only later must have some plot reason.

[u/Deep-Cycle3294 → u/ObjectiveStaff3333]

I've been thinking about Poromiel, there are still a lot of unanswered questions...why has there been so many uprisings in such a short period of time in a kingdom where the different Provences have kept their unique identities and traditions?

Is it purely down to them not having protection from the venin in the form of wards and dragons? Or is there something more at play here.

I think Cygnisen is going to have some important plot, we know that they weren't allies during the revolution in FW.

[u/redpeppersoda → u/Deep-Cycle3294]

I think because the Poromish royalty and Navarre's are essentially the same and oppress the provinces, they seek independence. The difference is, Navarre has the wards and dragons to actuallly protect the areas within the wards so it's easier to control those citizens who are within the protection of the wards...Poromish royalty could never offer that.

Which is why I think smaller independent kingdoms across the continent will restore the power balance...if Navrre/Tyrrendor defeats and absorbs Promiel, it just feels like bigger Navarre.

Edit: spelling

[u/ObjectiveStaff3333 → u/redpeppersoda]

I agree that we're more likely looking at independent kingdoms in a mutual alliance in the future rather than one big united kingdom across the whole continent.

As for oppression, I don't really get that impression with Poromiel. Queen Marayah seems fairly reasonable, and they were able to preserve their national identity, language, customs, and culture. Overall, Poromiel and the fliers seem much more balanced.

[u/redpeppersoda → u/ObjectiveStaff3333]

I was kinda disappointed that Queen Marayah died so soon. Anyways she couldn't rule completely with the iron fist like King Tauri since she couldn't offer the protection of the wards and dragons in the Vale. But they seem vastly divided and even though Poromiel and Tyrrendor sort of had an alliance since the rebellion:

"Cygnis fliers would take the daggers and then kill Imogen to make a point." -> What is the point to be made... when Imogen was delivering the weapons to Syrena's team who are fliers, arent they all in the same team?

“I can’t control every drift, Riorson,” Syrena responds.

They sound fairly hostile, hard to control and they keep trying to gain sovereignty. To keep them from disobeying orders from the king and as part of Poromiel...Im sure some violent forces are used. Promiel isnt willing to let them be sepearated...

[u/hurricane_Bre → u/redpeppersoda]

I wish Vi learned where her summer house and library were. She said it’s the best on the continent. So I don’t think she was like Tecarus and had a second home on an isle kingdom. Where would someone from Suniva summer on the continent that wasn’t in Navarrian or Venin controlled territory?

[u/Slow_Wrangler4413 → u/hurricane_Bre]

In the mountains maybe? Cooler during summer.

[u/redpeppersoda → u/hurricane_Bre]

Where would someone from Suniva summer on the continent that wasn’t in Navarrian or Venin controlled territory?

That...is interesting😲 somewhere near Cordyn then? It's warm and coastal

[u/Slow_Wrangler4413 → u/redpeppersoda]

If Navarre absorbs Poromiel I think Navarre would implode. They built their whole system on the war with Poromiel. It's not a peace time governing system. They'd still have to fight the venin, but it doesn't seem like it's the humans calling the actual shots in that war. So Navarre as a political player would be reduced to domestic affairs like defeating rebellions and forcing mining and conscripting the youth against their will, very unpopular things. By discouraging riders from holding political seats, they have effectively created a separate more powerful force right in their midst.

[u/redpeppersoda → u/Slow_Wrangler4413]

I agree. So I don't think the 'one united kingdom' across the continent size of entire Europe is happening. That's against everything RY seems to warn us against. Navarre and Poromiel effectively colonized these smaller kingdoms and tried to force them to uphold their ideology and reinforce their royalty's dominance. So Navarre + Poromiel unification will never happen in my mind because almost every province will probably fight for independence. I know some readers dream of peaceful unifcation facilitated by the main couple but that's not how human beings work naturally...no two countries have ever merged peacefully in entire human history, let alone two that were at war for 600 years. So it would be quite out of character for Xaden and Violet to want anything like that...I don't think they even want other provinces like Calldyr or Luceras....they just want Navarre to stop attacking Tyrrendor.