Sextus's 1st Wife

[belgarion]

You're probably right about the Aquitaine confrontation. Depends on what Aquitaine does I guess.
He seems a lot more sophisticated and less crazy than Kalare, although they both seem equally conceited.
Aquitaine might feel so secure in his power that he could try to off Tavi thinking there wouldn't be any repercussions.

[kokolores]

It's hard to tell what Aquitaine will do all of his schemes are aimed at taking over with as little opposition as possible. Her plans to isolate Gaius by making him look incompetent, but Tavi's heritage will destroy all of his current plans. He basically has three options if he still wants the throne: assassinate Tavi, discredit him or strike with his legions like Kalare did and if you ask me he probably will choose all three of them.

[Yshyr]

Thing is Aquitaine has struck me as the type that wants direct confrotation.  It seems to be Invidia who is pushing him to use indirect tactics.  The announcement of Octavian as princeps may just push him into open conflict much as the fake letter adopting Aqutaine pushed Kalare over.That being said we still don't know how he intends to use Caria. 

[kokolores]

If Sextus is to die Caria is the most likely means for that end.

[TK]

I see Caria more as a source of information, not as an assassin. But, we havent really seen a lot of her or gotten a real handle on what type of person she is, so I could be wrong.

[belgarion]

I'll have to look it up, but weren't there a couple or more high ladies that were killed by Kalarus's blood crows? I'd think that would sway their husbands/widowers to be Tavi's camp?

[TK]

High Ladies Rhodes and Phrygius pg. 135 Hardcover CuF

[kokolores]

I'll have to look it up, but weren't there a couple or more high ladies that were killed by Kalarus's blood crows? I'd think that would sway their husbands/widowers to be Tavi's camp?

Not necessarily, they are probably against Kalare, but that doesn't mean they have to support Tavi. They have more choices than just the two. They can support Aquitaine or keep out of the whole struggle as well.

[TK]

In FoC High Lord Rhodes was providing "support" for Aquitaine's illegal Legions by allowing them to gather in his lands and had sent a noble to Aquitaine to "help" but was really there to kill High Lord Aquitaine. I got the impression that High Lord Rhodes wouldnt mind making an attempt for First Lord himself....

[pdqsport]

I see Caria more as a source of information, not as an assassin. But, we havent really seen a lot of her or gotten a real handle on what type of person she is, so I could be wrong.

Another little detail is that Sextus confided in Miles (before his collapse) in AF that he had treated Caria porly and felt very regretful about that.  Couple that with the prolonged effect that Max's little "improvisation" with Caria (when he poured on the Earthcraft at her) and I think that Caria may not be quite as receptive to helping Aquitaine as she was at the end of FoC.  (Imaine that, Antillar Maximus saving the First Lord's marriage)

Having given the above opinion, a question I have not seen posed yet (but that I think does require some attention) is this: How does Caria react when Octavian is revealed and she gets pushed off to the side?

After all, when she was married to Sextus the plan (at least in the eyes of the other high lords) was for her to bear the child who would be the next First Lord.  I cannot imagine that she would take Octavian's apearance and elevation to the title of Princeps very well...