“A man will suffer misery to get to the bottom of truth, but he will not suffer boredom.”
Truth is a concept that is elusive in the story as the protagonist and narrator affirms the unreliability of the narration. The art of storytelling in the narrative is bound on the idea that truth does not matter if the lies are interesting. As a storyteller, he offers versions of events that are probably fabrications to entertain them through the journey. Similarly, he takes the stories of other characters with a grain of salt for the same reasons. Thus, the path towards the truth about the mysterious boy becomes hectic since no information is reliable. The statement demonstrates that the tracking quest might be difficult but it comes with an interesting value. The theme of truth versus lies creates the basis of the whole story as the inquisitor prepares for two different endings beforehand.
“When kings fall they fall on top of us.”
The excess of ambition is at the core of the tale with people in power seeking to retain their influence. Therefore recruit the mercenaries to do their biddings in order to prevent the rightful person from assuming the throne. Furthermore, the conflict between the two kingdoms displays the greed for power that dictates the motives of the kings and dukes. Tasked with finding the boy intended to take the throne, the mercenaries argue whether they should care about the fate of the kings. In the statement, Tracker responds to the consequences of a power shift, as the commoners will also be affected. This showcases that power is not a problem of those with authority but something that affects everyone.
“You think as they do that suffering from cruelty or escaping it is a matter of choice or means, when it is matter of power.”
There is an imbalance in the gender relations of this society where the patriarchy exerts its control. As such, the characters exhibit misogynistic attitudes that demean and oppress the women around them. Tracker is not an exception as Mossi confronts him about his hatred for women of which he is apparently unaware of. The statement highlights the major issue that fosters gender-based violence and patriarchal dynamics. Mossi asserts that victims of violence and cruelty do not have the choice to simply save themselves. In most cases, the power dynamic between the individuals allows for the one with authority to victimize the other.
