ONCE BROKEN FAITH open thread!

Also on fairy rings:

We got to hear that the Ride of the King and Queens had been "compromised" (or similar, the book's upstairs). And we've known for a long time that they "just disappeared". And now we have the idea of fairy rings, which will last a hundred years trivially, longer if there's the magical power available.

We also know that, to some extent, Eira Rosynhwyr was being reined in a little by the monarchs (presumably significantly Maeve), and that she (and her descendants) are power-hungry. She's the person that would have stood to gain most from their absence. And she has more power than pretty much anyone else around. Assuming that continues to hold while she's asleep, that is, but clearly Eira being asleep isn't the same as other people, from Karen's predicament here.

And her not-quite-mortal enemy, or at least "balance", is the Luidaeg, who is bound by the strictures of the missing Titania, has lost most of her siblings (through unstated means), and doesn't have Maeve there any more.

I've thought for a while now (three or four books) that Amandine's line are there to be the heroes who can right injustices; we're told (I forget where) that those claimed by Oberon are heroes. (Although not exclusively, since Sylvester was a hero too.) And August, the (only?) other descendant disappeared questing before the 1906 SF earthquake, which we might assume was linked to Amandine raising hell looking for her, possibly with some Torquill assistance. I've thought for a bit that August went off hunting for the disappeared King and Queens, and Eira stopped her; Toby's the remaining possibility for now, hence the Luidaeg's "without a lot more preparation" comment (again, not verbatim, because walking upstairs hurts) -- she really doesn't want to lose Toby as well, lest she have to find Amandine and make sure she produces another heroinette...

Exactly how this ties up with the Luidaeg's plans for the Selkies and (maybe?) rebirth of the Roane is anyone's guess, except, of course, Seanan's. And I'm probably conspiracy-theorising horribly, but it amuses me, at least ;-)