I remember noting during the third person bits that Sophos was always Sounis even when he's addressing Attolis as Gen. And during KoA, I think the first mention of 'Attolis' is really during the scene when Attolia is very angry at him. Costis made note that it was one of the few times she used his title, but that was a ways into the story.
And about Eddis, there's a short story extra at the end of my copy of KoA regarding Eddis' choice of title. I'll quote the important bit, which is the very end:
"My Queen," said Xanthe, "you are Eddia."
[Snip for potential spoilers for said short story]. Knowing the consternation it would cause, and knowing she would overcome it, she said, "No, I am Eddis. The gods have told me so."
Which seems to imply that calling herself Eddis caused more controversy than it quelled. But I do think that maintaining that sort of androgyny after the initial kerfluffle did give her an image of competence, and maybe helped differentiate her from Attolia, about whom there would have been stories about cruelty and whatnot, which could have been linked to her gender and been made into a concern.
I'm noticing a pattern where both kings are trying very hard not to tread on the toes of their queens: Gen in wanting to hand the reins of rulership over to Attolia rather than challenge her position; Sophos in wanting Eddis to retain autonymity rather than hand over everything. And the both of the queens being frustrated by this because they are both up to the challenge posed by these positions, even though the concern is touching. It's the same thing as how Sophos was worried Eddis would judge him for breaking the truce at Elisa, and she has to remind him that she sent Gen to get his hand chopped off.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2010-04-02 04:24 am (UTC)And about Eddis, there's a short story extra at the end of my copy of KoA regarding Eddis' choice of title. I'll quote the important bit, which is the very end:
"My Queen," said Xanthe, "you are Eddia."
[Snip for potential spoilers for said short story]. Knowing the consternation it would cause, and knowing she would overcome it, she said, "No, I am Eddis. The gods have told me so."
Which seems to imply that calling herself Eddis caused more controversy than it quelled. But I do think that maintaining that sort of androgyny after the initial kerfluffle did give her an image of competence, and maybe helped differentiate her from Attolia, about whom there would have been stories about cruelty and whatnot, which could have been linked to her gender and been made into a concern.
I'm noticing a pattern where both kings are trying very hard not to tread on the toes of their queens: Gen in wanting to hand the reins of rulership over to Attolia rather than challenge her position; Sophos in wanting Eddis to retain autonymity rather than hand over everything. And the both of the queens being frustrated by this because they are both up to the challenge posed by these positions, even though the concern is touching. It's the same thing as how Sophos was worried Eddis would judge him for breaking the truce at Elisa, and she has to remind him that she sent Gen to get his hand chopped off.