Blue Boots in Songs of Love and Death, SPOILERS for everything

[Farseer]

I didn't bother with the intro until I'd finished !

Now, I also have to disagree with you, joost. While the concept of gods may be present in any world, it could also be said that Elderling-like races and the use of prophecy and thought/mind-to-mind communication are also present in many, if not most, fantasy worlds (does that detract from my rant regarding other authors sharing these elements of RH's works ??!!). El and Eda and their connections to the land and sea/water were clear as part of the SD story, as was Timbal's true belief in their existence.

The hair and eye combination was firm (you know that's a post for another thread, and I'm glad you noticed it too Mervi !!) as well as the role of minstrels etc. Actually, I found it an interesting addition to learn that the role of a minstrel was to also be a "keeper of dreams". I connected this immediately with Starling's relationship with Fitz, and have to admit that I viewed her actions toward him from a slightly different, and less hostile, angle afterward. She knew his dreams of home and hearth etc and he was as close to living them with her as anyone, prior to his discovery of her marriage. Her presence in his life, though fleeting and irregular, still allowed him to dream and it was only this discovery of Starling's extramarital affair that fully and finally shattered his dreams in a way, even more so than even Molly and Burrich's unity had (at least for the time that he was able to continue not truly participating in his life). Still thinking on that one though!

What else? Ah, the relationship between Azen and Timbal made me wonder about Garetha and her feelings for Fool/Lord Golden. Did she fall in love with Fool in a similar fashion? Did she ever discover his true role? Azen's gabbling on with "nonsense" at the beginning of his tryst with Timbal put me in mind of Fool, and sharpened my sense that Fool truly had placed himself in a role when he played "the King's Fool".

The funny children's song performed by Chrissock (about an old man who lived up a steep flight of steps and who had numerous late night visitors) made me think of Chade and the late nights he'd shared up in his room with Fitz and others. Not to mention Timbal's recalling that there there had been songs sung about "such things" as Azen's "affair" with Lady Lucent to produce an heir ... while I can't recall anything specifically mentioned in AQ, there was no doubt a song or puppet show that did the rounds regarding the rumours that Regal started regarding Fitz having fathered an heir for Verity with Kettricken, in the same way it was assumed that Azen would give an heir to Lord Just with Lady Lucent. Possibly it was one of these that Timbal had heard of.

I imagined that the many songs of warriors and their bravery shared by Chrissock may have included Anter Island Tower, or even a retelling of Dutiful's tale while in the Out Islands !

Lord Spindrift's cruel treatment of his horses and dogs showed us that he obviously was not Old Blood, but what of Lord Just? Ah, the plot thickens !! Did we know for certain that Burrich's Just was not Witted or Skilled? He was only young when we knew him so may have shown traits of either of these later on? Due to his reaction to Spindrift's cruelty, possibly he was Old Blood himself or was, if not Witted, more "aware" of animals than most ... if he is Burrich's Just, either of these would fit as the latter could be attributed to having lived with Burrich, been raised by Fitz and having Swift as a brother. Of course, he may not be Burrich's but is merely "just" in all things, including the treatment of animals.

If he IS Burrich's, how did he come by the title, as Mervi questioned? Molly was justifiably given the title of "Lady" when she went to court but would Just be entitled to taking on the mantle of "Lord"? Did the lands that were given to Burrich (really Nettle but you know what I mean!) give him and Molly the titles of Lord and Lady, and so their children would thereafter be entitled to become lords and ladies also, particularly given that their lands were those once handled by Prince Chivalry himself? Being raised by Lord FitzChivalry as a step-father may have also helped with his title as well but nobody else is aware of that status but possibly, as warden of Withywoods, Fitz could legitimately take on the title in the role of Tom anyway?

While Blue Boots may not have contributed as much to the overall "understanding" of the main tale, such as what happened with The Inheritance, Words Like Coins and Homecoming (at least that I can think of for the moment), it most certainly hinted at these lesser elements and also detailed more of the Six Duchies region for us. Now to look back over the clues for various new locations we've been given eg Timberrock Keep; Smithfield; high, forested land; high sheep pastures; a location that could require a couple of days for the King's Patrol to reach and a forested region beside a river, and then apply them to our map!!

I am probably looking at it through rose-coloured glasses but I loved it simply because it was another crumb of the RotE cake .

Oh, Mervi, I think I agree with your "the young Timbal being overly impressed by her new surroundings" thought re the use of her words "king" and "queen" for Just and Lucent. The mention of an "aristocratic couple" who had come to visit, could just as well have been Fitz and Molly , if not Dutiful and Elliana.

I must go to participate in Operation Christmas Tree with my family!