At first...I thought he didn't. But, then two things happen that changed my mind:
1.Laurent goes into detail about how the Regent and Trators (Damen's half-bro) worked together to kill Damen's father and do away with Damen (note he doesn't say killed Damen). Something he waited to tell Damen about and clearly knew all along. If he knew this all along...then why wouldn't he have figured out what his uncle was up to with Damen?
2. Laurent's deal with Nik. Which would not have worked if Damen, a) hadn't stuck around, and b) wasn't Prince Damianos. An Akielion solider would not have gotten that result. Also note that Laurent has Damen dress as a Lord when he meets the Messenger, hiding Damen's slave collar, and he goes out of his way to learn better Akilieon with Damen, and keeps Damen a bit out of sight of the messenger. If he didn't know - he wouldn't have done that. Also, Damen makes it clear that Nik is the way back to his throne on more than one occassion. And the people who are brought in, the Akilieon prisoners tell Damen and anyone else within hearing that Nik would put Damen back on the throne.
So Laurent probably knew, but didn't know what to do about it initially. I'm sure he flirted with killing Damianos and definitely tortured him. He also makes a point of telling him how much he hated Damianos and why - explaining the reason he's torturing him.
There's also other bits that stick out:
* When Damen asks why Laurent didn't tell him about his plan up in the Vaskan camp regarding Aimeric's set-up. Laurent explains that he didn't know it was Aimeric. (He didn't trust Damen completely.)
* Laurent makes a point of examining the scar Damen got from August.
* Laurent puts Damen in charge of the troops but not completely, he's careful. And does it gradually, letting Damen win over the men. He sends Damen after Touras, while he goes after Guinon, telling Damen to essentially do the same thing he did in the Marlas battle.
He does attempt to send Damen away...giving Damen the choice to stay. Note he goes out of his way to make Damen's choice to stay and NOT as a slave but as Laurent's Commander, in charge of the army.
But he may not have thought it would work - because I think he's telling Damen the truth when he says that Damen is the wild card. Neither Laurent nor the Regent knew what Damen would do. Would Damen join the Regent or try to escape or kill Laurent, or would he join with Laurent against the Regent? And I don't think it is until Damen saves Laurent's life at great risk to his own in the mountains - that Laurent realizes he has Damen's unconditional loyalty. He plays it very close to the vest up to that point.
Laurent probably realized after his uncle made the second attempt on his life - that he had a choice, he could either risk everything and trust Damen or leave him to rot. He decides to risk it. By risking it - he basically joins forces with the betrayed prince to best the Regent and Trators (Damen's bro).
It doesn't quite work for Laurent not to know. Although it would be incredibly ironic - because Laurent knows everything and for him to be that blind about Damen...LOL! But if he didn't know - why the whole deal with Nik? And he'd have to have known a while back or he wouldn't have risked that deal.
The original plan to send Damen away before reinforcements arrived was actually a decent move on Laurent's part as it would have let Damen get off the playing board.
Agreed. Laurent doesn't change his mind and try to keep Damen there until he realizes that Damen's loyalty to him is unconditional - note he does everything possible to piss Damen off and push him away.
If Damen had his own agenda or was putting his country first - and Nik arrived, Damen could turn his army against Laurent. He had to be sure he could trust Damen to not betray him with Nik's troops.
Laurent would have to be a complete fool not have seen it. And he's written too crafty for that. I also think Laurent may be worried about losing Damen...Damen's straight-forward and doesn't like deception. So it's a risky game he's playing.
Yeah, dang it, I want the next book. Now I'm hunting something similar and can't find anything. It's annoying.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2013-04-02 03:12 am (UTC)do you think Laurent knows who Damen is?
At first...I thought he didn't. But, then two things happen that changed my mind:
1.Laurent goes into detail about how the Regent and Trators (Damen's half-bro) worked together to kill Damen's father and do away with Damen (note he doesn't say killed Damen). Something he waited to tell Damen about and clearly knew all along. If he knew this all along...then why wouldn't he have figured out what his uncle was up to with Damen?
2. Laurent's deal with Nik. Which would not have worked if Damen, a) hadn't stuck around, and b) wasn't Prince Damianos. An Akielion solider would not have gotten that result. Also note that Laurent has Damen dress as a Lord when he meets the Messenger, hiding Damen's slave collar, and he goes out of his way to learn better Akilieon with Damen, and keeps Damen a bit out of sight of the messenger. If he didn't know - he wouldn't have done that.
Also, Damen makes it clear that Nik is the way back to his throne on more than one occassion. And the people who are brought in, the Akilieon prisoners tell Damen and anyone else within hearing that Nik would put Damen back on the throne.
So Laurent probably knew, but didn't know what to do about it initially. I'm sure he flirted with killing Damianos and definitely tortured him. He also makes a point of telling him how much he hated Damianos and why - explaining the reason he's torturing him.
There's also other bits that stick out:
* When Damen asks why Laurent didn't tell him about his plan up in the Vaskan camp regarding Aimeric's set-up. Laurent explains that he didn't know it was Aimeric. (He didn't trust Damen completely.)
* Laurent makes a point of examining the scar Damen got from August.
* Laurent puts Damen in charge of the troops but not completely, he's careful. And does it gradually, letting Damen win over the men. He sends Damen after Touras, while he goes after Guinon, telling Damen to essentially do the same thing he did in the Marlas battle.
He does attempt to send Damen away...giving Damen the choice to stay. Note he goes out of his way to make Damen's choice to stay and NOT as a slave but as Laurent's Commander, in charge of the army.
But he may not have thought it would work - because I think he's telling Damen the truth when he says that Damen is the wild card.
Neither Laurent nor the Regent knew what Damen would do. Would Damen join the Regent or try to escape or kill Laurent, or would he join with Laurent against the Regent? And I don't think it is until Damen saves Laurent's life at great risk to his own in the mountains - that Laurent realizes he has Damen's unconditional loyalty. He plays it very close to the vest up to that point.
Laurent probably realized after his uncle made the second attempt on his life - that he had a choice, he could either risk everything and trust Damen or leave him to rot. He decides to risk it. By risking it - he basically joins forces with the betrayed prince to best the Regent and Trators (Damen's bro).
It doesn't quite work for Laurent not to know. Although it would be incredibly ironic - because Laurent knows everything and for him to be that blind about Damen...LOL! But if he didn't know - why the whole deal with Nik? And he'd have to have known a while back or he wouldn't have risked that deal.
The original plan to send Damen away before reinforcements arrived was actually a decent move on Laurent's part as it would have let Damen get off the playing board.
Agreed. Laurent doesn't change his mind and try to keep Damen there until he realizes that Damen's loyalty to him is unconditional - note he does everything possible to piss Damen off and push him away.
If Damen had his own agenda or was putting his country first - and Nik arrived, Damen could turn his army against Laurent. He had to be sure he could trust Damen to not betray him with Nik's troops.
Laurent would have to be a complete fool not have seen it. And he's written too crafty for that. I also think Laurent may be worried about losing Damen...Damen's straight-forward and doesn't like deception. So it's a risky game he's playing.
Yeah, dang it, I want the next book. Now I'm hunting something similar and can't find anything. It's annoying.