Originally Posted by Karen 27th September 2006


On page 48..both Balashov and Mutz ask why the Shaman was stabbed. He smelled of alcohol and had been stabbed and the word LIAR was cut into his skin. Being careful not to get ahead of our story...why did you think that the Shaman had to die? Why was he killed?

Ellen


He was a prophet, wasn't he? Here's my guess: someone (I think it was Samarin) snuck into town, the Shaman started talking to him and revealing what Samarin was going to do, so Samarin got him drunk, overpowered him, and killed him. This is all a guess, because I'm still not any farther than the chapter on Balashov.

Nurseanne8


Someone fears that the Shaman has knowledge of some sort that could incriminate them in some type of crime probably Samarin or the Mohican so the murder offers protection for the perpetrator.

Herestoyou


This was one of the confusing parts for me when I first read it. I did come back and read it again after more is revealed later in the book. I just didn't understand why there was such a fuss over this shaman. So, this is one of the parts that I just kept plugging through until later in the book. Since it was a time of war, I didn't really think much about the shaman dying, but I couldn't understand why he was being kept locked up in the first place. Again, once I kept reading, it did all come together.

Nurseanne8


I agree and even questioned why he was even in the book but it all comes together later and does help the story line-some of the research on the Castrate Sect did mention that Shaman's were held in high regards by the peasants of Russia.

Deppraved


The death and even the presence of the Shaman was a complete mystery to me until near the very end. I can say nothing about it that won't spoil the story. Would anyone have believed a drunken old aboriginal man, anyway?