The Robin Hobb Collection discussion

so that last mission went very smoothly again. they can't continue like this right?
and btw, who fed the wolf while he was solving issues?

Hobb is doing a LOT of reviewing book one in this book. I want NEW information. All of the chapter beginnings are reminders instead of the "insights" I loved so much in book one. I hope it stops soon.

I'm curious. If Verity can see so much into Fitz's head, how sick he is, everything he is thinking, even what he dreams at night, wouldn't he know about the wolf- that he feeds him every day, that he is having conversations in his head with him?

I of course remember the problems they were afraid of if they sent Regal away. I think the problem lessens now that the mother is dead and cannot help with her people. I think he causes much more danger there in the midst of them as we're already seeing! Poor Kettricken, I love her spirit and Regal knows just how to take advantage. Verity knew she would be vulnerable and he let her go riding with him! To me that shows that it wasn't really a decision of where will my brother be the least dangerous, but that he doesn't, and never has fully understood how dangerous he can be. I think thats why he left him at the keep. That and the king wants him there.

I Love the Fool. Here we have pages of his double talk. And the most important information we get is

What else is new?

The King's new servant Wallace ,or Wall's Ass as the Fool called him, is a spy for Regal.

And not from the fool, but just from being in the room ,we learn that Regal has brought in remedies for the King. Remedies that are not working. Are they making it worse?. Are they causing the sickness? He never stops!

(ch7) oooo poor Fitz. to be awoken in the middle of the night and be asked by Verity "who is Lady Red Skirts and why do i dream of her every night". the poor lad. having your secrets out to god-knows-how-many skilled ones in buckkeep and beyond. i laughed so hard, and yet i felt very sorry for him.

Candace wrote: "I Love the Fool. Here we have pages of his double talk. The King's new servant Wallace ,or Wall's Ass as the Fool called him, is a ..."

Wall's Ass is a nice find. although i guess only a Fool can get away with saying that out loud.
i was wondering the same about Regals herbs and remedies, but there's Chade. surely if Regal has been poisoning the king all this time, Chade would have noticed??

Candace wrote: "I'm curious. If Verity can see so much into Fitz's head, how sick he is, everything he is thinking, even what he dreams at night, wouldn't he know about the wolf- that he feeds him every day, that he is having conversations in his head with him? ."

I think the problem is that Fitz had no control over his Skill. He seems to block amazingly well during the day, but it's especially his dreams (the drowning, Lady Red Skirts) that he is Skilling out.
So i guess he hasn't dreamed about the wolf at all, because every dream is occupied by something else.

(ch8) ooo Kettricken, that was a brilliant tactical move. even if not intended that way. love her for turning a situation (that Verity didn't have the balls to anything else but ignore, might i hadd) into such a respectful, yet useful, hunt
merry i am, and i didn't need Chade's comment for that!

in the poem she's called 'The Vixen Queen' so i guess this will not be the only bad-ass thing she's going to do.

Hanne wrote: "Candace wrote: "I'm curious. If Verity can see so much into Fitz's head, how sick he is, everything he is thinking, even what he dreams at night, wouldn't he know about the wolf- that he feeds him ..."

I don't think it has anything to do with night or day, except that at night he cannot control his thoughts. But I mean the problem is Fitz consistently, both day and night, blocks what people are trying to tell him and opens himself to danger at all times by what he, himself is thinking. (Id rather have the other problem.) we saw this in book one, but it's also on my p. 120 when Verity says "you block too well... I have been trying to get you to hurry for the past three days."

Hanne wrote: "(ch8) ooo Kettricken, that was a brilliant tactical move. even if not intended that way. love her for turning a situation (that Verity didn't have the balls to anything else but ignore, might i had..."

I love her also. Hobb writes some powerful women. We've had Powerful queens, warriors, healers, soldiers.

Hobb shows us for the first time how much the Wit/ bond can take over Fitz in ch. 9. For the first time I understand Burrich's warnings and fear for Fitz when he bonds exclusively with one animal.

Hanne wrote: "so that last mission went very smoothly again. they can't continue like this right?
and btw, who fed the wolf while he was solving issues?"

I didn't answer this because I knew you would get there. He left the frozen deer carcass with him. I wish he would name him so we would have something to call him, but the fact that he hasn't just shows he still plans on him being temporary for now.

although it becomes interesting in chapter 10 to see what Kettricken does with her wit.

i particularly liked the Fool's warning (warning? or begging?)

Will fate seduce you to her will?
Not if you struggle with all your Skill.
Summon your allies, locate the trained,
Consummate all from what you’ve refrained.
There’s a future not yet fashioned,
Founded by your fiery passions.
If you use your Wits to win,
You’ll save the Duchies for your kin.
Thus begs a Fool, on bended knee,
Let not our darkness come to be.
Let not our peoples go to dust
When Life in you has placed this trust.

it's a powerful warning, but strange that he follows it with such embarassement. i'd remember the embarassement, not the song. which would be a shame

regarding Fitz skill,
"My own abilities with the Skill had been permanently damaged in a battle of wills with Galen. The defensive mental walls I had erected were such that not even someone as strongly Skilled as Verity could always reach me. My own ability to reach out of myself had become an intermittent thing, skittish and flighty as a spooky horse."

This explains it nicely :)

Hanne wrote: "regarding Fitz skill,
"My own abilities with the Skill had been permanently damaged in a battle of wills with Galen. The defensive mental walls I had erected were such that not even someone as str..."

Explains what nicely Hanne? We had a three day weekend here and while I'm caught up on reading, I didn't get a chance to check in here. How just his ability to skill was affected?

candace - about the skill discussion we had in the previous chapters. i thought it might have to do with the difference in consciousness between day and night, but you were closer to what Hobb had in mind, that the difference is more between receiving and sending messages.

Candace wrote: "I Love the Fool. Here we have pages of his double talk. And the most important information we get is

What else is new?

The King's new servant Wallace ,or Wall's Ass as the Fool called him, is a ..."

The fool seems like Kruppe to me, always talking duel but Kruppe took it to the next level at least I get something what the fool is trying to say to Fitz.

Candace wrote: "Hobb is doing a LOT of reviewing book one in this book. I want NEW information. All of the chapter beginnings are reminders instead of the "insights" I loved so much in book one. I hope it stops ..."

I think verity does know that that Fitz has a gift of WIT but does not want him spooked, because Fitz thinks that if somebody comes to know that he has a gift of wit he will be exiled.

that was a nice one, even though it had to be explained to me afterwards :)

Candace wrote: "I of course remember the problems they were afraid of if they sent Regal away. I think the problem lessens now that the mother is dead and cannot help with her people. I think he causes much more d..."

I can't believe that no one is mad at Regal. Hello! It's pretty obvious what he did. Then, to come back to the keep and act like nothing was amiss... when he had to know. I can't believe that they are all so dumb.... And, I agree about Wallace... he's giving the king potions???? And, keeping people away, plus he's obviously Regals man. How can no one see this.... especially since it is on the heels of what he did when he was with the mountain people. I bet it even comes out that he had something to do with Chivary. (sorry for the spelling... I'm doing an audiobook and not sure how they are spelling their names.

BTW, I'm mid way through chapter 7 and really, really want something to happen to Regal... bad people shouldn't be allowed to do bad things while everyone turns a blind eye.

Verity is actually at a loss of what to give Fitz for saving his queen?? What do you give someone who has nothing? If it weren't for Patience, he would have even less. How about the basics, like someone to keep his chambers warm, make sure his room is clean. I just can't believe how they treat him, while thinking they are giving him so much.

Alex wrote: ""Fitz fixes Feist's fits, fat suffices." is one of my favourite Fool lines of all time."

What does this mean? I don't get it.

I just wrapped up Chapter 10. I liked the conversation between Fitz and Patience. It's really cool that she told him she came to the keep for him. She seems to care for him the most.
Interesting that Lady Thyme (Time) not sure spelling as I'm listening to an audiobook, was allowed to be poisoned. And, that the fool let this come out to Fitz with other people around. Fitz doesn't really seem to give it much thought though. I'm not sure why Chad has to go away for a while... Doesn't the king need protection from his own son?
I worry for the wolf... I hope Regal doesn't try to kill it.

No problem. I'm happy to know it's spelled out later. More times than not, the fool befuddles me.