Truth Teller vs The Subtle Knife
If you know the story (The Subtle Knife) you might know where I am heading with this already.
But I will start at the Beginning - and that is not with a SJM book but another book series I have read...
So I was doing some sifting through websites and stuff while writing a theory - one of them about something *rolls eyes, sighs*.
And I referenced ‘His Dark Materials’ by Phillip Pullman for a parallel worlds story. And that started the cycle of thinking again....
So Let me tell you about the Subtle Knife...
Fandom wiki here - for reference.
It is .....
A knife with a double-edge, the subtle knife possessed one edge of keen steel, which could cut through any physical material. The other edge was even sharper, extending to a point so fine that the eye could not see it. This edge was able to search out gaps in the fabric of space and thus cut through the fabric of the universe and into alternative universes. No known material was able to resist the knife, although it was breakable, should a wielder attempt to use it whilst thinking about a person they loved. It was the belief of certain individuals that this was because the knife was incapable of cutting through love.
Wait what, ok that’s cool. Keep this in mind.
And it is linked to a Famous Angel called Michael and his sword from paradise lost, a sword that can...
“wounds Satan terribly with a powerful sword that God designed to even cut through the substance of angels”
Alright - neat - The Next Step.
Spoiler Alert if you haven’t read the series “his Dark Materials” I’m going to give away some details... but I kind need this but to reach the next step. So the characters in the book use the knife to travel between worlds and have a big adventure. I’m going to highlight the parts I want to talk about.
Iorek warned Will and Lyra that the knife had purposes of its own — indicating an intelligence akin to that of the alethiometer. He also indicated these purposes might not be good. Later, the angel Xaphania explained that Dust had been leaking out of the worlds through the windows made by the knife, and that, each time the knife made a window, it drew up a Spectre from the Abyss. Thus all windows leading between worlds had to be closed by the angels, except for one. Will and Lyra initially believed this one window could be between their worlds, but then realized that they had made a promise to the shades in the world of the dead: to leave them an opening so that they can leave it and rejoin the universe, by emerging into the world of the mulefa. Thus, Will realized he had to shatter the knife. As people in the multiverse are not capable of surviving for long outside their own universes, it was also necessary that Will and Lyra each return to their own worlds.
The Subtle Knife
- Has a mind of its own
- Can make windows between worlds
- Each time it is used it brings forth a Spectre from the Abyss
- Is similar to an Alethiometer (which has a etymology to the word truth and measure - see here)
- It can also only be used by the knife bearer - Will.
- One more thing - a beautiful description of something more? The Subtle knife is described as “shadow coloured” in ch8.
Now Azriel has a very special Blade called Truth-Teller. We don’t know that much about it, other than its description and that Azriel lets no-one else use it. But I’m going to tell you why I think Truth-Teller is a similar blade to that of The Subtle Knife.
Firstly - Azriel does not let anyone else use truth-teller, he is the only one who uses it with one exception. He is the knife-bearer.
“I wondered how often Azriel had lent out that blade - Never, Rhys said... I have never once seen Azriel let another person touch that knife.” ACOWAR ch69
Azriel is a spy - and Rhysand says that he can get into places no-one else can. Azriel knows where the “holes” in the Wall are in ACOMAF. They all comment how strange it is that he cannot infiltrate the queens castle. I think this is because Azriels blade can cut through magic/the fabric of the universe. He knows where the holes in the wall are because he made them or can see them - and he uses truth-teller to cut/find them.
In The Subtle Knife - Every time the Subtle knife is used it brings forth a spectre from the abyss. Not everyone can see the spectres. Azriel is surrounded in shadows. What if he is surrounded in shadows not because of his dark past but rather the use of the blade he wields. The more he uses truth-teller, the more shadows that appear at his side. Yes he is a shadow-singer but are shadow-singers rare because being able to open holes into the world attaches “shadows” to the one who opened the windows/doors/holes. Is the real reason Azriel doesn’t share his blade to protect others from being hounded by Shadows/Spectres?
Etymology -for the word Alethiometer. A device used to “tell truth / measure truth” in The Subtle Knife and something the knife is compared to. Perhaps someone has cleverly merged these together, or there is another root source for the idea of this blade being a blade of truth. I don’t know the answer to that - i’m sure there is another root to this story.
So if you are on the same wavelength as me and my “I will jump to all conclusions!” type of thinking hasn’t scared you off... you might know what i’m going to say next... If I give truth-teller these traits based on some loose similarities... I can Explain how Elain stabbed the king of Hybern!
Elain was given the Blade by Azriel - carefully.
“It has never failed me once,” the shadowsinger said, the midday sun devoured the dark blade. “Some people say it is magic and will always strike true.” ACOWAR ch69
Then When Elain Appears with a blade to stab in the King of Hybern neck, she steps out of a shadow.
“Elain stepped out of a shadow behind him, and rammed truth-teller to the hilt through the back of the king’s neck as she snarled in his ear, “Don’t you touch my sister.” ACOWAR ch74
If Truth-teller is a similar blade to the subtle knife, then Elain has used Truth-teller to open a window and stepped out of a shadowy world and stabbed the King of Hybern. Leaving the job for Nesta to finish him.
I do not think that Elain is a shadow singer but rather she has used a shadow singers weapon to get where she needs to be. And truth-teller has found the king of Hybern not worthy and exacted justice.
want more of my theories.... go here.