Discussion Questions (PART THREE)

[Kushti, Conquering YA One Book at a Time]

Here's the final part of the discussion questions! Spoilers for entire book = OKAY!
8. What clues foreshadowed Sage’s true
identity? How did Mott fi gure it out? What
might have happened if Conner found out
Sage’s true identity before he was ready to
reveal it?
9. Sage insists that Imogen, Roden, and Tobias
follow him to Drylliad. Why did he insist
on their company? How did they feel about
accompanying him?
10. Conner beats Sage to try to ensure that
Sage follows his orders once he is king. Why
doesn’t Sage tell Conner the truth and save
himself the beating?

Full list of questions can be found here: http://www.scholastic.com/motherdaugh...

[Kushti, Conquering YA One Book at a Time]

8. He kept telling Conner that he was the prince. He made sure that no one else stood a chance at winning. Conner would have blackmailed Sage had he known beforehand.
9. He knows that they are in danger from Conner. They are his friends.
10. See answer 9.

[LauraW]

I think it is not just that they are his friends; it is also his sense of justice. They did not ask to be put in this position. It isn't their fault. It isn't fair that they be punished by death for things that they could not avoid or for responding reasonably to an impossible situation.

He understands also that his country and his family are important to him and trying to figure out how to honor them in this difficult situation is more important than sparing himself a beating.

[Shaun]

8. Sage was so confident. Initially I put it down to arrogance. I wish I could say I picked it, but I only started to think of the possibility he was the Prince when the haircut came around - not long before the reveal.
9. Because he is a Prince and if he has to be a King, he wants to be a good King. In his conception a good King is one who protects his people when he can.
10. Because if he told Conner, while Conner might proceed with the plan, it would still be Conner's plan - he would try to force Sage into being his puppet still. By not letting him know the truth, Sage maintains something up his sleeve that he can use to control the situation. Also - he does not actually want to be King. I think he hopes that, just maybe, Rhoden or Tobias might prove to be people who could take the role - or even that Conner, if his intention really is the good of the Kingdom, might even be a good puppet master for one of them. Also, given his experiences in the orphanage where he has been beaten, I just don't think he fears the idea enough to break. Finally - he is stubborn enough that he does not want to give Conner the satisfaction. Or Creegan. Or Mott, for that matter.