the place of kings

[marycatelli]

So I observed at one point that a status in a land is granted by the king. . . .

Kinda important what the king can do if I don't decide to revise it out.  Could be a pure constitutional monarch with a figureheard; could even rip off Cordwainer Smith and have them all loyal to a king who vanished centuries ago, as there's no knowing, he might come back.  Could be an absolute monarch, though not likely in other details of the society.  Could be -- a magical position where the big job is keeping the land safe and prosperous.

A magical position, like that of absolute monarch, requires some capabiliities of the monarch -- though very different ones -- probably.  You could just have a spell where the land is dependent on their being a person of the royal blood.  (Which would explain why the evil usurper locks the monarch in a tower and blinds him without kililng him.)  But such inklings as I have had point to this king needing to be a wizard, though not a great master wizard.

Still up in the air on it.  It's only in the latter books that it may come to the front.

Comments

[whitefangedwolf.livejournal.com]

If the position of monarch is magical and the effects of there being no monarch are visible, being loyal to a long-vanished king makes sense as it would be possible to tell that he's still alive even though he's not around.

[marycatelli]

Whether he will return In His Country's Hour of Need is up in the air, though. 0:)