JeffEngel wrote:n7axw wrote:Larry, the choice to go into cryo will be Sandaria's. She has been promised that and Merlin won't go back on his word.
Don
For that matter, they wouldn't be speculating about her ability to adjust if she were put in cryo: it'd be a simple non-issue. So she's conscious and interacting and with an opportunity to adjust, now - just in confinement.
It doesn't speak poorly of her. Just about everyone else introduced to the falsehood of the Writ - either through Merlin or St. Zherneau - has been prepped for it and not told til there was reason to think they could handle it. Even Nynian was self-prepped in a way, figuring out how much outside Safehold's capabilities, even for seijin, Merlin had.
Sandaria wasn't picked for special ability to handle it - SSK background may help there, but as others have said, it may just make someone more sure they can't be further surprised. And even other "emergency" subjects of revelation - Cayleb, Sharleyan, Edwyrd Seahamper, Hector, Irys - had a whole lot more familiarity with seijin Merlin's repertoire and credit as one of the good guys, and in several of those cases (Sharleyan particularly) were due to be told soon anyway.
So she's experiencing something a lot like what the Brotherhood has been doing for generations: after you tell someone, you spend a good long while keeping an eye on them and making sure they can't spread the word or do anything drastic.
Just two points here... Actually Sandaria had been exposed to a similar experience when she was first recruited for the SSK. She had been asked to submit to a viewpoint that was not approved by the church and had a perspective that is deviant from the mainstream orthodoxy. That included knowledge that the Testimonies had been "creatively edited" and committed her to the reverance of a saint not on the "approved list." While certainly not insignificant, this obviously was not as sweeping as Merlin's revelation. But it was still preparation, of a sort, for being exposed to what Merlin had to say.
Secondly, Sandaria shouldn't be written off yet. Time and exposure to other members of the inner circle as well as being treated respectfully could well have their impact. I still would like to see Father Paityr visit the cave. I think that could have a very beneficial effect.
Otherewise, I am gloating a bit. I turned out to be right about Nynian. Sandaria not so much, although my prediction there wasn't made with much confidence.
Finally the description of the scenery made me homesick for the mountains of Southwest Montana. I remember the Spanish Peaks almost due south of Bozeman.
Don
