AA: A Question About Shrewd's command -spoilers!

[Bryek]

So in the end August informs us that he spoke with the King via Skill and told Fitz to listen to Regal. To me this seems out of context with Shrewd's character. I was wondering if anyone else thought this.
My thoughts are that August never actually contacted the king and really got his orders from Galen. I am thinking this because Fitz was unable to contact Shrewd when he was in the pool and we do know that Fitz is a lot more strong with the skill than August.
I assume that August asked Galen to ask the king but he never did because he was in league with Regal and also wanted Fitz gone because Fitz was so much stronger in the Skill than Galen was.
So does anyone else think that Shrewd was never contacted about the mountain prince?

[Stan]

Good point.

They do make it a point to mention how Shrewd has been burned out from using the Skill - so how could a low level communicator like August have contacted him ?

[Bryek]

its not so much that Shrewd was burned out from using the skill, it was that he never used it. I was about to try and quote the line but I can't seem to find it. I could have sworn it was when fitz was in the hot spring...

[Valerie]

I just decided to go under the assumption that Shrewd never got the message. It does seem more in character for Shrewd to have given more instruction, The response was so glib that I assumed August made it up to get Fitz off of his back.

[Stan]

Kp wrote: "its not so much that Shrewd was burned out from using the skill, it was that he never used it. I was about to try and quote the line but I can't seem to find it. I could have sworn it was when fitz..."

Page 424 of my Kindle edition

"And Shrewed, in crown and robe upon his throne, was all unknowing, his Skill burned and dulled away years ago by misuse, and him too proud to admit it"

[David Sven]

Shrewd's plan was always to assassinate Rurisk. The question is, why send Fitz and not Lady Thyme? Because I believe Fitz is the patsy. The fall guy, or at least it was kept open as one option. Of course Regal being there made sure that was the only option. Its not implicitly stated, but implied as a possibility leaving the reader wondering if Shrewd isn't trying to kill two birds with one stone.
Fitz is a problem for King Shrewd. A potential traitor. Its why he more than once calls Fitz to reaffirm his loyalty, and why the King keeps him close. The bottom line being Fitz is disposable.

[Ria]

Kp wrote: "My thoughts are that August never actually contacted the king and really got his orders from Galen."

This makes so much sense. I was utterly confused as to why Shrewd would side with Regal, and didn't even cop that August had spoken to Galen and not Shrewd. I'd say you are absolutely right in your thinking.

[David Sven]

@Adrienne - You are probably right. But I never fully trusted Shrewd. My explanation would also make sense of why Chade was kept in the dark. Can't have the patsy tipped off by his master. Or have Chade directly intervene to protect the boy. Anyway, there's enough that goes unsaid as to put doubt in the readers mind. If that was deliberate then it was masterfully done.

[Susan]

It was mentioned in the book that after Queen Desire's death Shrewed was spoiling/trying to buy Regal's loyalty. Maybe he promised Regal full control of the situation to prove to Regal that he had nothing to worry about in terms of loyalty from the throne.

[W.R.]

Stan wrote: "Good point.

They do make it a point to mention how Shrewd has been burned out from using the Skill - so how could a low level communicator like August have contacted him ?"

This was my thought. It seemed to indicate that August did not actually contact Shrewd. I suspect that he didn't actually Skill anyone.

[Joe Informatico]

Valerie wrote: "I just decided to go under the assumption that Shrewd never got the message. It does seem more in character for Shrewd to have given more instruction, The response was so glib that I assumed August made it up to get Fitz off of his back."

I felt the same way. I'm almost certain that's exactly what happened. (It's been so long since I read the sequels, I don't remember if more information on this incident is ever revealed.)

[George]

Joe wrote: "Valerie wrote: "I just decided to go under the assumption that Shrewd never got the message. It does seem more in character for Shrewd to have given more instruction, The response was so glib that ..."

I'm adding some heavy spoiler tags, but it was explained in the sequels.

(view spoiler)[Galen imprinted loyalty onto his coterie to Regal. Verity's coterie is never loyal and is intentionally passing late or incorrect skill messages back and forth to Verity. (hide spoiler)] <- Revealed in Book 3.

Galen's behavior is strange. I don't really understand how he could get away with what he did since (view spoiler)[Chivalry imprinted loyalty to himself and Verity into Galen. Shouldn't that have stopped him from essentially betraying Verity? (hide spoiler)] <- Revealed in book 2.