[ubermosher]

Greetings all. I've been lurking a while, but this is my first post.

Captain Keneb chews on the word jhistal before realizing that Mallick Rel is a traitor and goes to find Blistig. Was any information revealed in DG that enabled Keneb to make the connection? Did I just miss it or is Keneb's logic revealed later in the series?

Thanks.

[Aptorian]

I remember the little mystery. It's been over a year since I read DG, but my impression was just that Keneb had the name in the back of the head and by the end the truth of Jhistal priesthoods past returns to him.

I don't actually remember if Rels past is mentioned in DG or HoC, so here it is in a spoiler:

Spoiler

Apparently Rels people, tribe, cult, what ever, was wiped out by the Malazan empire. Rel was out to get revenge the whole time.

[Dolorous Menhir]

There's a chain of events.

When Kalam is travelling alone after dropping off the book, he meets some bandits. He sits down to have a chat with them, before he kills them all, and they casually mention that the Malazans are doomed because of "the Jhistal inside".

Kalam doesn't know what that means. He meets Keneb a short time later (the bandits were hunting down Keneb's party), and asks him if he knows what a Jhistal is.

Turns out Keneb doesn't know either, and he doesn't work out that it's Mallick Rel until the scene you describe in the first post. When it was too late.

[Skywalker]

ubermosher;260709 said:

Captain Keneb chews on the word jhistal before realizing that Mallick Rel is a traitor and goes to find Blistig. Was any information revealed in DG that enabled Keneb to make the connection? Did I just miss it or is Keneb's logic revealed later in the series?

Actually Apt... I think he was asking HOW the Captain made the connection...

Here is the whole story:

First, when Kalam runs into the bandits that eventually plan to attack Keneb, Minala et al, the bandit tells him...

Quote

Hissar is now in Kamist Reloe's hands. As are all the cities but Aren, and Aren has the Jhistal within. The Wickan flees overland, chained with refugees by the thousand - they beg his protection even as they lap his blood

Later, when Kalam meets Keneb for the first time, he asks him:

Quote

"Tell me, Captain… you ever heard the word 'Jhistal'?"
"No, not Seven Cities. Why?"
"The bandits spoke of 'a jhistal inside' Aren. As if it was a shaved knuckle."

Having heard all this, when outside the gates of Aren, Keneb hears Duiker say this to Pormqual/ Mallick Rel:

Quote

Duiker sneered at the man. "You've already convicted me as an executioner. What's one more, you craven pile of dung?" He shifted his gaze to Mallick Rel. "And as for you, Jhistal, come closer—my life's still incomplete."

The historian did not notice — nor did anyone else — the arrival of a captain of Blistig's garrison. The man had been about to speak with Duiker, to inform him of the safe delivery of a child to a grandfather. But at the word 'Jhistal' he stiffened, then, eyes widening, he took a step back.

And that, in a nutshell is how Keneb realized Mallick Rel is a traitor.

And welcome to forum activity ubsermosher!

EDIT: DM beat me to it, but I had quotes... muahahahaha

[ubermosher]

Ahhh, many thanks all. I had forgotten the Jhistal line from the bandits. I have to admit, I do enjoy SE's style of important details being rather subtly revealed.

[Salt-Man Z]

That's one of my favorite (and least favorite!) aspects of SE's writing. When you make the connection, it's like a cool "holy crap! now I get it!" epiphany moment, and those are awesome. When you miss the connection, though, it can be downright frustrating.

I think of it as incentive to reread the books.

[Holsety]

Salt-Man Z;267936 said:

That's one of my favorite (and least favorite!) aspects of SE's writing. When you make the connection, it's like a cool "holy crap! now I get it!" epiphany moment, and those are awesome. When you miss the connection, though, it can be downright frustrating.

I think of it as incentive to reread the books.

Sometimes it isn't even important to the overall story, which makes it seem more interesting. Maybe adds a sense of verisimilitude (spelled right? sense of realism) in how some of the stuff that goes on just happens, isn't necessarily related to the plot-at-large.

[Macros]

I'm doing a re-read and it was reading the scene with Kalam and the raiders and the "jhistal inside" caught me, and then I realised how Keneb knew.
Someinthg else jsut hit me (although I'm sure its been discussed and discarded already)
What if laseen (this struck me when I saw a user named I hate Pormqual and I thought infairness promquals an idiot, it should be the jhistal or laseen you should be hating) Knew about the jhistal all the time, she had faith coltaine would prevail but didn't want another cult hero fist like dujek running around and so used the jhistal to let him die. the jhistal then betrayed her and got the aren gaurd slaughtered

Spoiler

(although we later know dujek remained loyal laseen does seem fit to paranoia)

[GardenGnome]

Crazy theory with nothing to back it up. Not that there's anything refuting it either, but it seems unlikely.

[Macros]

most my thoughts are crazy theories with no backing

[GardenGnome]

Yes, I've seen you play mafia.

[Macros]

hold on whilst I push my intestines back in, damn you for making my sidesplit with your cutting humour!

[Raymond Luxury Yacht]

GardenGnome;303897 said:

Yes, I've seen you play mafia.

I think we need a ban on discussing Mafia in the book threads! Anyways, to remark on the subtle revealing of important points. It one of things that really sets SE apart. You really have to pay attention, or you will miss huge things. You probably will some anyways.

This is the only series I am aware of where i feel rereads are absolutely necessary to fully understand and enjoy the books. Probably, one reread won't be enough, especially with the wait between books. I think a reread before each new book is a good cal, but that's just me.

[Raymond Luxury Yacht]

What's with the spambots!?!?! Go away, evil grill man!