Fantasy Book Club Series discussion

I hated Dakar in this book. His continual retreat into drunkenness is annoying to me. The vicious ways he sets up Arithon to be killed are horrifying. I just kept trying to fathom why Asindar would trust him to protect Arithon.

I thought the same. But I do think it is really good of Arithon to keep hauling him around even when he causes so much trouble. It is a really hard thing to be misjudged. It's happened to me before, so I really applaud Arithon for keeping Dakar around (not that he had much choice).

Amelia wrote: "I thought the same. But I do think it is really good of Arithon to keep hauling him around even when he causes so much trouble. It is a really hard thing to be misjudged. It's happened to me bef..."

Oh, I know! I mean, like, I'm saying to him - Dummy! Dump this guy, already! Instead he is amazingly tolerant.

I believe Asandir forced Dakar to travel with Arithon as a kind of punishment(for Dakar) but also as a way to get this immature, selfish, drunken weasel to see how an inherently honorable man acts under extreme pressure. Dakar is so sure Arithon is unrepentantly evil all throughout SoM, but the seeds of doubt are sown after a tragic incident forces him to work with Arithon in a very intimate way.

For me, the jury is still out. At this point, I dislike him intensely but I understand a lot of what motivates him. He drinks to keep his visions at bay and to numb his overall feelings of helplessness. He is essentially the slave of the F7 with no real control over his life and has suffered this sorry state for centuries. He has no hope of changing his circumstances. He is a very tragic character.

Leslie wrote: "I believe Asandir forced Dakar to travel with Arithon as a kind of punishment(for Dakar) but also as a way to get this immature, selfish, drunken weasel to see how an inherently honorable man acts ..."

Wow, Leslie, I'm impressed. I have to say I agree with you and it's a very insightful analysis. Thanks for putting my jumbled feelings about Dakar in this book into words!

Leslie wrote: "I believe Asandir forced Dakar to travel with Arithon as a kind of punishment(for Dakar) but also as a way to get this immature, selfish, drunken weasel to see how an inherently honorable man acts ..."

Interesting post; what lent the impression that Dakar is enslaved by the Fellowship?

Perhaps 'slave' is too harsh a word. Maybe more like indentured servant? Bondsman? He has no control over the major aspects of his life. Asandir dictates where he goes and when. At the F7's order, he must poison himself to provide them with visions of the future. They don't ask him, they tell him. If he dares to refuse, I'm sure they'd force him. I know technically he's an apprentice so that implies eventually he could become a full-fledged Fellowship Sorcerer. I'm not sure he ever will, though. At this point, I don't know if Dakar was even given a choice as to whether or not to be a Fellowship apprentice. Perhaps that tale is told elsewhere?
Dakar's only freedoms are he can drink and have commercial sex, that's it. Not much of a life.

I'm not sure we know the nature of Dakar's apprenticeship to Asandir at this point. I know that his visions make his life miserable and that he has a hard time fitting in anywhere else because of them. I don't think the sorcerers would force Dakar. They ask rocks for permission to move them. Forcing isn't in their lexicon of tricks. I think Dakar is very reluctant, but he does it because he believes in the importance of it even though he hates his ability. And during this book he is very angry with them for making Lysaer take the brunt of the Mistwraith attack. He was always more fond of Lysaer and started out thinking Arithon was a criminal because he made assumptions based on the scars around Arithon's wrists and ankles.

I'm rereading Curse of the Mistwraith and noticing things I missed first time through, in particular about Dakar, as we've been discussing him. I don't think I caught Lysaer's scorn for him, which makes Dakar's hero worship of Lysaer pretty pitiful. I'm noticing other things about Lysaer, as well. Like his scorn for the clan the first time he meets them because they rob the town caravans.

Sandra AKA Sleo wrote: "I'm rereading Curse of the Mistwraith and noticing things I missed first time through, in particular about Dakar, as we've been discussing him. I don't think I caught Lysaer's scorn for him, which..."

I'm a little late on this, but I just finished the book last night. I am completely with you on this one Sandra.. When I was reading CoM I couldn't understand why Dakar was so in love with Lysaer, and one of the big things that went into not being able to understand it was the way Lysaer treated him with such disdain. I couldn't believe Dakar could be so blind! I was young and naive then, lol. But then, when reading Ships, there was a line where Dakar said that Lysaer had been his best friend... Totally blew me away that he was so deluded and drunk that he interpreted his relationship with Lysaer as being on that level.

Dawn wrote: "Sandra AKA Sleo wrote: "I'm rereading Curse of the Mistwraith and noticing things I missed first time through, in particular about Dakar, as we've been discussing him. I don't think I caught Lysae..."

Just sucked in by that charisma, wasn't he?

Dawn wrote: "Sandra AKA Sleo wrote: "I'm rereading Curse of the Mistwraith and noticing things I missed first time through, in particular about Dakar, as we've been discussing him. I don't think I caught Lysae..."

Dawn - there is an upcoming scene in the next volume - look VERY carefully for it - that details why Dakar fell for the illusion; it says quite a bit, in retrospect, and sheds light on exactly the point you are making right now: why.

Dawn: that "best friend" comment blew me away, as well. I am pretty sure I gasped out loud over it. That, combined with the murder attempt, really leaves me wondering what is wrong with the guy. Excited to find out.

Yes, Dakar is a very aggravating and mystifying character. Glad you're continuing to read with us Mawgo