King's Dark Tidings discussion

I've been thinking about the original Kings Assassin and that maybe Rez is his replacement for the King.

Throughout the books especially in the second, there are lots of hints that there is the Kings Personal Assassin, and the major hint is at the end of the first one when the General decides to reach out to his contact while Rezkin goes away. He thinks that it will be his most dangerous venture in meeting the contact and fears what would happen if they decide to join up.

There are a couple of reasons why I think this, the first one is rules 1 and 2, which Rez was told incorrectly. He was meant to be a programmed killer for the King. He was meant to kill without conscience and protect him and that King would be the Caydean.

The second one is that after killing the 14 strikers, his dying master tells him that no one but one other knows about him. This could have been the person who gave that final order to kill the Strikers but I believe that order was going to be final order from the beginning of the training. So I believe it is the King Caydean, as he would have found out about Rez when he took the Throne. Maybe the masters have a Mage relay or something. I'd imagine that Caydean believes Rez was killed during the final task which is why he never reported back.

I am looking forward to when the Kings Assassin and Rez meet. It will be interesting to see if the older one is still under the control of the King or he appreciates Rez's position. I'd imagine that one of Rez's friends would not survive the conflict. Maybe Tam will be killed by his favourite character?

Thoughts people?

Oh, dear! No, we can't have Tam killed by his favorite character! -- Although Tam definitely has too romanticized views of the world, so maybe he'll find out that the other Rezkins are nasty and evil (and his Rez has a very dark side, too--what with all the Raven business).

It does seem there might be other King's Assassins...

It could be possible that there is a tradition of this in other countries (the Masters were foreigners)... but the whole Rez story is set in Ashai---or is it? Gah, I have such a horrible memory... I'll need to re-read the books!

If the guy the General is thinking of is a King's Assassin... he should still be alive. Of course, the General might be thinking of someone dangerous who MIGHT know something about Rez... Agh... too little information! But definitely someone dangerous to know... so that would point to someone LIKE Rez...

"King", as someone pointed out, might also refer to some foreign King who might be influencing things...

It is certainly the most probable situation - the person the general referenced being the "current" Rez.

I actually thing we have seen this person already. Although it is just a theory based upon suspicion with little support. During the second book in Teurning the morning after Kai's trial Rez meets with the Baron in the inn's common room. In the scene, the room is described to be empty with the exception of a lone man in the corner who seems to be oblivious to them. It seemed odd to me that KK would make such a mention unless there was a purpose.

There are a couple of times I consider suspicious as well. The Bard that performs in Port Mannai and an old lady in skutten when Rez avoids the Strikers. Admittedly these are all loose contrivances but i am rather confident in my theory.

Thoughts?

I would think that Caydean has nobles propping him up, as well as Strikers, and mostly likely some Royal Assassins...

I'm not sure if we've seen any Assassins or not... We might not have, if they are working for Caydean and Caydean doesn't know about Rez yet... but who knows?

And if there are other powers involved, with other assassins... I REALLY don't have a clue.

Spoilers ahead in this if book and and 2 have not been read







I would say it is more likely that the orders to kill them all were given with the original instructions. Remember when Rez left he did not know that Caydean was king. the others in the fortress might not have either. in regards to the general, i believe he thought he was the kings dark tidings or a striker, because both have no problems killing anyone, and the striker would make more sense from original meeting. The KDT would be the second guess because of what he said at the end of book 1.
If i was to guess, i would say king boran? (is that how you spell it) intended to have him be his assassin and maybe later become the king, but he died to soon. Due remember that in book 2 the striker Rez adopts said that the king was killed.

Im Sorry but i believe you are mistaken. Rez and the strikers would have known of King Bogran's death and Caydeans crowning. It happened 2 years before Rezkin left the fort so they would have been aware of the change in leadership, especially when the strikers would leave the fort to get more information.

It is highly implied that Caydean killed his father to take the throne, though nothing is proven. Kai certainly believes it.

I can not imagine that the General would be terrified for simply meeting a Striker. Strikers are meant to be men of honor and in service of the kingdom, like the general himself, whereas the Rez is meant to be a shadow with no conscience.