Robin Hobb comments

[mindstalk]

I've read the Farseer Trilogy and the Tawny Man trilogy. Pretty cool.
Nighteyes has the best snarky lines.

Spoiler question for Farseer



So, Burrich has the Wit, and likely the Skill -- indicating, btw, that Fitz isn't a unique thing. Chivalry sealed Burrich against outside Skill use, to prevent him being used as a link to Chivalry.

Uh, used by whom? The Skill-universe as known to that generation of Farseers seems to be Shrewd, Chivalry, Verity, and Galen. Galen's a prick but loyal to Chivalry. So who's the threat?

I guess there's the various older coterie members, the ones who'd faded away or been assassinated by the time someone looked for them later. And Chivalry's perfection seems likely to include covering his defenses even if there's no known threat. Still, struck me as odd.

As opposed to sealing Burrich so he could never learn to use the Skill himself. :p

Comments

[phoenix-hawk.livejournal.com]

A fair question. It may have been that that was standard royal practice, though it gives to the official belief that the Skill is the sole province of the royal family alone.

Having said that, given conflicts like the one involving Kettle, it's not *completely* out of the picture.

Having said that, it seems out of character for Chivalry, given that his emotional desires take precedence over his ability to logic through long term dangers (implied to have lead to his death by renouncing, in the long run).

[mindstalk.livejournal.com]

Official belief, or official line? I don't remember any impression that the Farseers had believed they had a monopoly on the Skill. Just a monopoly on the training, and varying willingness to extend it outisde the family; part of the whole thing was Shrewd deciding not to call up coteries from outside the family.

Well, if Burrich isn't going to be trained, sealing him protects him as much as it protects Chivalry, I guess. No one's going to casting illusions on Mr. Impervious. (Better not say more; Tawny Man spoilers.)