The Fool (spoilers for all RotE books, including LST)

[Rendezvous]

Random Fact, I have a bottle of Apricot Brandy, It is very nice.

[Nuytsia]

oh i so want to try it!
i really should check the liquor store.....

[Mervi]

I could *swear* Robin mentioned Apricot Brandy in her newsgroup recently, but can't now find the message. Something about it being one of the rare alcoholic drinks she can tolerate. Nuytsia I've noticed you hang around there a lot these days too, can you remember anything?

[Nuytsia]

Hmm I don't read all the messages (some people seem a bit too serious...and they rarely talk about the books!) but I DO try to read all Robin's!! I must have missed that as I can't recall it. Sorry!
Gee it does sound rather interesting too!

[Farseer]

Or maybe he just likes apricots?

That’s possible , particularly as Fitz also had his own brandy preference early on (and it was this little link that turned out to be the opening Verity needed to bring Fitz back to himself).

But I did worry that he had a bit of a drinking problem for a while there.....

I went on a RotE ‘brandy’ search and couldn’t quite believe just how many instances there were where people sat around and drank it throughout the entire series! Still, isn’t this sort of thing common in some parts of the world eg though we are known beer drinkers etc here in Australia, we do tend to have an abundant supply of drinkable water whereas, in countries not so well sourced, water may more often be substituted for other beverages? I have absolutely no idea so this may be prove to be a typical example of ignorance, misinformation or stereotype, of course!

Random Fact, I have a bottle of Apricot Brandy, It is very nice.

Good to know, Rendezvous…I will have to add it to my list of “RotE things to try…”, right beneath Elderberry Wine!

Ok, I’m still thinking about the apricots but, in the meantime, here’s another ‘Fool’ question…

In SOM (Chapter Eleven – ‘Consequences and Reflections’), Amber is standing at the docks of Bingtown and she and Althea have a ‘moment’ together. During this time, it states:

“When Althea kept her own features perfectly still, the woman’s smile faded to a look of disdain. That expression did not change as she set her slender-fingered hand to her flat belly. As if those gloved fingers had touched her own midsection, Althea felt a chill dread spread throughout her. She glanced once more at Ambers face; it looked set and purposeful now.”

Was this touch of Amber’s, and Althea’s subsequent feeling, mere coincidence OR did Amber have a reason/purpose for touching her stomach?

[Rendezvous]

Perhaps its foreshadowing of Althea having a child? I have no idea...

[Farseer]

That's all I could come up with as well, Rendezvous.

The fact that Althea and Brashen's child has survived, while *RWC spoilers*

Spoiler

Malta and Reyn have been unsuccessful in carrying a child to term and are still trying

, could add weight to the simple theory though?

It also seems a plausible concern for Amber to have as the survival of 'next generations' has also been of general importance throughout to the White Prophet eg the heir to the Farseer throne (including either Dutiful or Nettle, as well as any offspring such as Prosper) and continuation of the Farseer line; the births of *RWC spoilers*

Spoiler

Paragon Ludluck and the Trell-Vestrit boy (can't wait to find out his name!); the emergence/improvement of the dragons from the serpent/cocooning stages

and also the possibility of Icefyre and Tintaglia’s future brood.

While Amber was not directly involved with anything surrounding the conception or possible future birth of Etta and Kennit’s child, her (very prophetic!) words of advice to Wintrow at the end of SOD (Chapter Thirty-Seven - A Dragon's Will) highlighted her interest in his upbringing: “Yet the child is yours, for this child belongs not to he who makes him but to he who takes him.”

Later, after she and Wintrow had covered the fact that the child is Etta’s as much as Kennit’s, Amber says, “You should remain near to him, for you will be one of the few that know that.”

Ah, Robin, such a wonderful tale you have woven...so many threads and so many possibilities !

As for Amber and her touch, I got the feeling that Amber had removed her gloves prior to the above exchange, and it was this skin-to-skin touch via the Skill that prompted Wintrow to experience the "sensation of power" that he likened to a lightning strike? Before that, he had not felt any connection to Amber whatsoever...

[Nuytsia]

I could have sworn I mentioned this before but I can't find it with Search so I guess I didn't.

Anyhoo, I am re-reading the Farseer trilogy and I was wondering if I am right in thinking the Fool's eyes at this time are totally wihte. As in, no iris or pupil at all??
I didn't really get that the first time I read it, but this seems to be what is indicated.

That WOULD be totally weird, so no wonder a lot of people find him bizarre looking.
You'd have a really hard time trying to read the expression on someone's face if they had no colour at all in their eyes. I'm not even sure why this is.... it's not like the eyeballs change or anything.... I guess it's partly to do with the fact that pupil dilation does indicate interest etc... but that's not much to go on!

His eyes must become more normal looking after he changes , as no-one freaks out over Amber or Lord Golden's appearance (to my recollection). I haven't got to that bit yet though!

[Farseer]

Anyhoo, I am re-reading the Farseer trilogy and I was wondering if I am right in thinking the Fool's eyes at this time are totally wihte. As in, no iris or pupil at all??

I seem to recall when he gave Fitz the "Fitz fixes a feist's fits" prophecy in AA that Fitz noted a tinge of blue in Fool's eyes, like just a single drop of blue had been added. At the time I think he also noted that Fool's skin was actually a soft pink (due to his blood showing through), and not totally white as he'd first thought?

Looking over my husband's shoulder, I have not long re-read the part in FE where Fool tells Fitz that it was only ever he who could look at him fully and meet his eyes, and this scared him...that all of his "ruses" were useless as he was still able to be "seen" by Fitz even though Fitz was only a small child.

Ah, yep, just found the part in AA, Chapter Seven, 'An Assignment': "But his eyes were not as colourless as they were in the dim passages of the keep...I perceived there was a blueness to them, very pale, as if a single drop of pale blue wax had fallen onto a white platter. The whiteness of his skin was an illusion also...I could see a pinkness suffused him from within. 'Blood,' I realised with a sudden quailing. 'Red blood showing through layers of skin.'

I always had the understanding that his eyes were without a firm distinguishing of a pupil or iris, but will keep a look out for evidence to suggest otherwise! I must admit that, when I think of Fool' eyes, I can't help but think of the eyes of an Elderling as they are sometimes described. Same as for his elongated bones.

I think I remember Althea mentioning Amber's eyes at some stage, and possibly even an observation or two was given from Etta and/or Wintrow? Will check those out and confirm/deny.

As for Lord Golden, I just gathered that his use of his "glamour" helped make him more socially, physically etc acceptable to others? Not so much that he actually became more acceptable? As for his eyes and role of Fool, it was only ever Fitz who could see through his Lord Golden glamour.

[Nuytsia]

Geees I just read AA again and I missed that bit! Gah!
I am just starting AQ and there have been a few other references to his eyes so far, but they just indicated 'white' ......... the bit you mention makes sense... ie they do have irises (and presumably pupils) but VERY faint. So to most people's view they appear totally white, and pretty darn strange looking!
Oh yes good point about Lord G , hard to say exactly what he looks like to those other than Fitz.... there's still Amber as you say. I am guessing as the rest of him darkened to amber/gold then the blue eyes became a bit darker too. So just more like regular very light blue eyes maybe.
Thanks for that, I'm off to find that part in AA !