The Goblin Emperor

“‘Moon-witted hobgoblin,’ Setheris said, but it was contempt by reflex; his expression was abstracted.”

In this moment of strategic counsel, Setheris’s use of a racial slur highlights the pervasive prejudice shaping Maia’s identity, establishing the theme of Navigating Identity in the Face of Prejudice. The author’s narration that the insult is “contempt by reflex” demonstrates that the abuse is so deeply ingrained that it has become subconscious, underscoring the psychological environment Maia has endured. This characterization reveals Setheris’s complex nature; he can offer shrewd political advice while simultaneously demeaning the person he is advising, establishing the toxic dynamic that Maia must now overcome.

“Thou think’st as a child, not as an emperor. The dead are dead, and they care not for the honor Uleris prates of, as well he knows. It is the living power that must concern thee, as it concerns him.”

In this moment of counsel, Maia’s abusive cousin Setheris provides him with his first lesson in cynical court politics. The antithesis between thinking “as a child” versus “as an emperor” establishes the central conflict between Maia’s compassionate nature and the ruthless pragmatism required to rule. Setheris’s instruction to prioritize “living power” over sentiment is a crucial piece of advice that motivates Maia to immediately challenge the Lord Chancellor, setting the stage for his unexpected assertion of authority.