[Mob]

Long-time lurker making a first post here. Apologies if I'm repeating existing analysis. I haven't yet read Forge of Darkness (I want to wait until the trilogy is complete) but about 20 minutes ago I picked it up off my shelf, and just happened to read the first appearance of Arathan. Something immediately made me think of Quick Ben, and had me scrabbling for The Crippled God, pp. 93-94 in the UK edition, where QB speaks with Mother Dark at the Spar of Andii while Shadowthrone lurks.

It struck me that Arathan is QB or, at least, part of him. And thus, QB is the son of Draconus.

Arathan's inner monologue (pp. 30-3 of FoD) references his thin blood, the fact that this was only part Tiste, that it 'hides deep within us' (perhaps part of his blood is from those older than the Tiste). When thinking of Draconus, and speaking of him to Malice, he calls him 'Father'. And on p. 33, he thinks that he will one day have revenge upon Draconus: Father, I believe I am your weakness.

Perhaps I am reaching with the last bit, but to me that reads like QB, and also the way he plots.

Anyway, in The Crippled God, when QB uses the sceptre to inscribe a symbol on the ground, he says 'Ah Mother, it's old blood, I don't deny it. Old and thin'. Which fits with Arathan's musings re: blood. He goes on to say 'Tell Father I make no apologies for my choice'. Of course, by this point, Draconus has been released back into the world. He continues that 'You do your part, Mother. Let Father do his, if he's of a mind to'. Later on, Draconus becomes involved and takes out Kilmandaros.

The stuff about blood being 'thin', and 'old', as well as the references to 'Father', all piqued my interest. It would also explain his telling Rake not to probe him in Memories of Ice - Rake would presumably detect a hint of Draconus, or one of Arathan/QB's wicked sisters. Draconus is also clearly something of a creative, outside the box thinker - Dragnipur, for example - which is the defining trend of QB. Being the son of the uber-powerful Draconus might also partly account for QB's growing power in the series (fighting Icarium, blasting Silchas Ruin and so on).

So is QB the son of Draconus - either directly as Arathan, or with Arathan being a part of him?

[worry]

Arathan gets eaten by a bear in the next chapter, so nope. In 3 or 4 years when you finally start the trilogy, you'll see how silly this theory was.

[Mob]

LOL, thanks!

[nacht]

Silly Mob. Whatever gave you that idea.
Arathan is Ruthan. Nothing can be simpler than that.
The 'AR' is pronounced like the rolling 'r' and the the 'u' is a schwa.
Just say both words one after the other loudly and you will get it.

[Mcardle]

Wait I thought he was clearly transfigured into that mule and we finally had a long awaited answer to who was Iskarul Pust's sturdy steed!