Here’s a question the books never address: what is the Loremaster?
Wait, don’t you mean who is the Loremaster? Nope, I mean what.
See, the Loremaster (less commonly known as Bridonus Keplin Dunscrip Garonicum IX) is Copernum’s father, supposedly. But Copernum, as Nedwin discovers, is a displacer. One would think that means the Loremaster is also a displacer, but I have some theories to present.
The Loremaster is a human and loyal to Maldor.
The Loremaster is a human and not loyal to Maldor.
The Loremaster is a displacer (and loyal to Maldor)
The Loremaster is a human and loyal to Maldor.
We have to ask if Maldor would really dedicate a displacer to the Repository of Learning. The building is rarely frequented by anyone, so dedicating a whole displacer there seems a little excessive. Now, the first syllable is housed in one of the books, and it’s reasonable to think that the Emperor would want to know if someone comes looking for it. But the book is already protected by a displacer, it’s literally covered in skin, with an eye looking out at anyone who comes calling. Another displacer isn’t necessary. However, it might be helpful to have someone else at the Repository too, someone who could test would-be heroes and either turn them away or push them toward the quest for the Word. The Loremaster fills this role, as we see during Jason’s first days in Lyrian.
That’s all well and good, but it doesn’t explain his son being a displacer.
I’m getting there.
Maldor can’t trust just anyone with this job, after all, it does involve knowing about the word and how to get the first syllable. He needs someone who is loyal but not important enough that he wouldn’t want to tie them down to one quiet location. Someone, say, who proved their loyalty on an important task and no longer has much to do.
Enter Bridonus. He’s a minor noble in Trensicort. He isn’t a powerful man, though someone with more motivation could go far in the kingdom. He doesn’t speak up in matters of politics, perhaps because he was long ago won over to Maldor’s side but knows revealing such would be tantamount to suicide in one of the remaining free nations. He is, all things considered, a bit of a coward—loyal, but unwilling to bring attention to himself.
Then, his wife has a baby, a son, and he is approached by an agent of the empire with a proposition. He can finally do more than quietly support policies and people that are sympathetic to Maldor’s invitations, and he can do it all from the safety of his home. All he must do is trade the child for a new son and bring him up to love the empire. And Bridonus does, welcoming young Copernum into Trensicort.
The child grows into a man, ready to take the title and climb the rungs of power up to the king. If only his father would have the good grace to step aside and give him full rein of the family name. Thus, Brindonus retires from public life, retreating to focus fully on his beloved writing, and slips away to the Repository of Learning to assume his true calling as the Loremaster and guide people toward or from the Word in safety.
The Loremaster is a human and not loyal to Maldor.
This theory hinges on Maldor needing Brindonus out of Trensicort so his son can be replaced by a displacer without anyone noticing. The man was always more interested in his learning and writing than anything else. It’s easy to send a missive to him, inviting him to take up the position of Loremaster at the Secluded Repository of Learning.
He starts Jason off on the quest either because he would like the empire to fall, or because he’s got to do something to entertain himself through all the years of seclusion.
The Loremaster is a displacer (and loyal to Maldor).
The Loremaster may be a displacer. Perhaps Maldor placed him, or a forbearer, as an agent in Trensicort to watch and observe the free kingdom. If such a scheme is to go unnoticed, then Brindonus would need to leave the city before anyone realizes that he is not aging as quickly as humans. Displacers have a longer lifespan than humans, after all. Thus, he retreats to the Repository of Learning to do. . . whatever it is he does.
