Malta *spoilers all Hobb books*

[Farseer]

I know my thoughts jump around "like fleas" but...

One thing these beings wonder about is whether Tintaglia ever gave her any blood/scale to hasten the transformation. Selden/reyn most likely got theirs upon the hatching, though not fully intentionally. It probably just happened.

...I remember that Tintaglia seemed somewhat surprised by the presence of Malta's scarlet crest when she and Malta first came face-to-face (outside of the dream-box environment etc) on the island, ah, Muck Island (?)...no, Stink Island? Tintaglia noted that Malta had been well rewarded with the crest for her role in freeing her.

I don't know but I recall thinking that it was odd at the time, as though it had taken place without Tintaglia's real knowledge or contribution in any way. Quite unlike how the dragons of the Kelsingra expedition were continually guiding their keepers' changes/transformations into Elderlings. I seem to remember that Thymara's wings weren't completely intentional on Sintara's part, especially initially. As well as Sintara's guidance, Thymara's dreams of flying assisted in their formation but Sintara was still aware of them long before Thymara was? Still, as rare and exceptional as wings on an Elderling are, they weren't a reward (that we are aware of, at least?).

As for Malta's crest, it was almost as if Malta were being rewarded from either an outside source eg Sa (??) or just as a direct physical consequence of assisting or being near the cocoon...but I can't see how the latter could occur without someone or something providing guidance of some kind? Certainly Selden and Reyn were present when Tintaglia emerged and so were 'exposed', I guess, and inevitably underwent an increase in transformation, but Malta was kind of rewarded after the fact?

If Tintaglia herself said the crest was a reward for the role she played, surely someone or something therefore must have bestowed the reward upon Malta?

Help!