In which Ochin has been thinking.
I am curious about whom Cheladin intends to quote Ochin’s assessment to. I can’t think of any regulatory body that would be able to claim and enforce jurisdiction if he’s right about what’s going on.
I had not seriously considered the possibility that the Liadens might simply be Liadens. We’ve had a few individuals or small groups having a go at Korval, but nothing on this scale before.
I notice that while Ochin is very definite on the point that High Command would only take on Korval as a way of going out in a blaze of glory, he doesn’t seem entirely confident that that’s not what High Command will choose to do.
(Furthermore, if they don’t, why is the title of this story what it is?)
(Perhaps instead it’s the mastermind behind Perdition Enterprises who is going out in a blaze of glory.)
Paul: Ochin is very definite on the point that High Command would only take on Korval as a way of going out in a blaze of glory
Well, since I’ve actually finished the entire book, I found myself thinking that this part is indeed a set up for what High Command may choose to do…on their own…in the very near future.
During this reminder of the power of Clutch songs, for the first time I also thought of the singer in “Voice of Naratha,” leading me to wonder whether the Clutch will be called upon to confront sheriekas or their work in this universe. In that story, the main POV character was charged with going back out among the stars to discover what has happened—to the rest of us because “there were many, once.” Maybe those “many” somehow became the Clutch in this Universe?
I just loved Ochin’s analysis. I wonder how much of that went beyond anything Vepal had guessed himself or if Vepals analysis would even have gone further.
Vepal having meet all these other merc commanders might be a set up for him gaining real power and leading at least part of future Yxtrang.
I also wonder which crèche Ochin grew up in. Might he be also one of Jela’s – like Nerelik?
(@Othin: just a reminder, the character you refer to is “Nelirikk”)