Malta *spoilers all Hobb books*

[Farseer]

I do have a spoiler tag in the thread name but, just in case you are drawn in by 'Malta', herein lies some major spoilers for the Liveship Traders books, not to mention Farseer and Tawny Man...!

Amber had been speaking to Malta: " '...Your time will come to fly. And when it does, you must be strong, not bloodied and weary.' Amber's eyes went suddenly wider. 'Beware of one who would claim your wings for her own. Beware of one who would make you doubt your own strength..."

I get the feeling, from Robin's comments regarding Malta's dramas within 'the Next Book', that more light will be shed on this soon!

In such a rush so no time to expand on this thought but we know that Fool and Fitz shared a Skill-link until Fool 'took back' the Skill-imbued fingerprints in FF, right? Ah, but what of Amber and Malta?

During The Mad Ship, after Malta had 'fainted' aboard Paragon, we are told of a mark on the back of Malta's neck that was the size of a fingerprint (I don't have the book at present but will quote and reference this passage when my husband returns). This mark is obviously left over from Amber's Skill touch, after she'd helped Malta with ungloved hands. I knew this at the time of reading but it wasn't until my husband pointed out that I hadn't even underlined the quote in the book (unusual given the notes and underlines throughout my RotE books! ) that the possible consequences of this mark and Skill touch finally occured to me...amazing what a quick re-read of something can do!

Does this mean that Amber and Malta shared a tiny Skill-link from that point and, as it was never removed, they share it still? While Malta may not have been strong in the Skill before, she is no doubt increasing her ability given her linking with Reyn in the latter stages of Ship of Destiny?

Fitz and Fool did share a Skill-link before Fool touched Fitz with (three?) of his silvered fingers though, so possibly the one touch is not enough to link Amber and Malta? That begs another question that I've never thought of before....doesn't really belong here but it carries on from the question so?...

Why did Fool's removal of the fingerprints totally delete the Skill-link he'd had with Fitz for so long, if they'd shared a Skill-link prior to the fingerprints being placed there? Wasn't it the event at the plaza that had first joined them in the Skill? Interesting...