Others' Island (spoilers all books incl RWC)

[BeachRose]

Am I late to the party! But I really, really needed to share a theory I just came up with while listening to the first chapter of Ship of Magic and especially the part about Kennit's findings on Treasure Beach. (Also, I am sorry if this isn't a new one, I have not read all the fourteen pages of this thread.)

A litter of kittens, one the runt of the litter, with a red ruby earpin which Kennit manages to bring with him.

Then: the scene shifts to Wintrow and his chat with Berandol at the monastery. In the conversation, Berandol talks about having a shrunken arm and uses the *actual* words "litter of the runt" about himself!

So: the small, dead kitten might be symbolizing Berandol and the earpin of course Wintrow himself. He is removed from Berandol and the monastery and found by Kennit, who later passes him on in a haphazard way to Etta, just as he does with the ruby earpin.