[theocean]

What came with the title or does it mean nothing at all really other than she likes the Rake? Never understand it really.

[nacht]

I think of them as "hatamoto" samurai, i.e retainers in direct service to the Queen and the right to an audience.

[Aptorian]

Like Nacht says, it's just a title. Some kind of quasi political religious position that marks Rake as her chosen representative or some such.

As for what WILL come with the title, time will tell. A lot of the more mystical things we suspected about the Tiste and their origins have been proven wrong. How much power will come to be vested in the Tiste of the Andii as Mother Darks power grows we will have to wait and see.

[worry]

Mostly agree with above, but possibly worth noting that MD doesn't have any biological heirs, so I don't want to be too definitive in claiming it's "just" a title/position. I mean she disappeared, and he became the leader of the Tiste Andii in her absence, after all. The revelation is basically that the sons of MD aren't biological sons or direct creations of an EG, but "time will tell" are some wise words.

[Felisin Fatter]

It seems to me sorta like a 'prime minister', which in an absolute monarchy is a mostly symbolic title. But he would (or could if he wanted) be one of her most important advisors. I'm not sure if he's been using that power before the events of the book.

Really good point made by Worry - yes, I suppose it also makes him the heir, hence probably the urgency felt by many (who don't like/trust Rake) for a husband for MD.

[Iamme]

Anomander perhaps was the first Tiste Andu. Silchas Ruin inherits the Andu sorcery/realm but never embraces the darkness?

[DaddyDraconus]

Definitely held weight in the feudal hierarchy of Karkanas at the time which was a very class driven place. But although not biological it was deeper than just politics as even in the arguing one can sense the amount of care and dare I say love that MD shows for Anomander. Her feeling at the end of TtH would also point to a more personal relationship.

[paradanmellow]

DaddyDraconus, on 04 October 2014 - 02:08 PM, said:

Definitely held weight in the feudal hierarchy of Karkanas at the time which was a very class driven place. But although not biological it was deeper than just politics as even in the arguing one can sense the amount of care and dare I say love that MD shows for Anomander. Her feeling at the end of TtH would also point to a more personal relationship.

Yes, in TtH Rake does prepare the Black Coral new palace as if to please Mother Dark and nobody understands why. And in FoD, when she offers to speak of his real mother, he rejects the idea because MD has that role now.