Yeah I always though it was just a story and considering Ariel's mutterings concerning Alexi at the end of Obernewtyn it just seems unlikely unless Ariel wasn't aware of it at the time or whatever.
14 years ago
Tue Aug 04 2009, 04:13am
This thread caught my eye because, as far as I knew, there was nothing sinister about Alexi's death. Having read it through, I've found some facinating theories, but I think Carmody's already answered a bit of this question.
I don't want to put a dampener on all these facinating theories but my copy (the north american edition, which apparently was editied to clear up some of the confusions) sheds a bit more light on the 'battle.'
"Matthew had told me that Louis and the others had freed Rushton and he had beaten and smothered the flames that had engulfed my lower legs. Both Alexi and Madam Vega were dead --- Alexi with an arrow to the heart and Vega without a mark on her. Louis guessed she had fallen and hit her head in the commotion. Ariel had fled, and had surely perished in the savage blizzard that had come that night." (Page 354).
I'm guessing this is one of the rewrites Carmody did for the North American edition. It sort of restricts the question of who killed Alexi to 'who shot Alexi,' and it could have been anyone.
As much as I would like to credit Ariel for the kill (he does have a crossbow --- he used it on Selmar) I don't see him taking the time to kill someone when he needs to focus on getting away. Then again, isn't it odd that everyone seems to convieniently be killed by someone else when Ariel moves on? Henry Druid, who supposedly perished in a fire storm, the council was overthrown by the rebels, helped by the misfits, who would not have been there if Ariel hadn't kidnapped Rushton and orchestrated their cooperation, the One, killed by his own servants.... It makes you wonder how involved he really is in the deaths.
And as for the Alexi/Ariel thing, I think I've mentioned this before, but I don't see Ariel telling anyone the truth about who his parents are, even if it would suspend suspicion of his misfit status. Knowing where he comes from might give someone leverage over him. No way does he let that happen.
Personally, I've always just assumed it was Louis Larkin. I envisioned him charging in, shooting Alexi, and freeing Rushton and Elspeth.
Of course, you only have to believe what's in your own edition, right? Maybe there is something odd, and maybe it was still Rushton: if he had the strength to smother the fire aroud Elspeth, he would surely have been able to shoot Alexi. Maybe he was making a run for it while they freed Rushton, he grabbed a crossbow from Louis, and shot Alexi as he fled, then saved Elspeth.
Mystic Ward
14 years ago
Mystic Ward
Twentyfamilies Gypsy
Gotta love that US version don't you. I think it was one of the misfits; Domick, Alad, Roland; most likely domick as they were gettng weapons before they followed Elf. I can't see Roland shooting anyone but Domick... yes.