KKC Theory Wiki

Bredon Is Cinder, Embezzling His Own Northern Taxes From the Maer

fringe identity · popularity 114 · 1 source thread

Bredon and Cinder are the same person, and the bandits robbing Alveron's northern taxes operate near Bredon's estates.

About: Bredon, Cinder, Maer Lerand Alveron

Also involves: Severen, Vintas, The Chandrian, The Amyr, Meluan Lackless, Kvothe

The theory§

Building on the identification of Bredon with the Chandrian Cinder, this theory finds a structural clue in Wise Man's Fear chapter 74. Within a span of a dozen paragraphs the text first places Bredon's estates in the north, where he is said to conduct pagan rituals in secluded woods, and then has the Maer complain that over half his northern taxes have been stolen by highwaymen. The same chapter opens by confirming Bredon is out of town, lining him up with the absent tax shipments. If Bredon is Cinder, bandits operating near his northern estate would give him easy access to them and let him effectively steal his own tax money back from Alveron. Counter-readings note Bredon is described as slight while Cinder is imposing, and that the Cthaeh frames meeting Cinder as something that happens only three times in Kvothe's life, which a months-long acquaintance over games of tak would contradict.

Evidence§

  • He was said to conduct pagan rituals in the secluded woods outside his northern estates.
    OP's first textual clue: Bredon's estates are placed in the north. — u/SelitosOne-Eye
  • This is the fourth I've had go missing. Over half of my northern taxes taken by highwaymen.
    OP pairs this with Bredon's northern lands, only paragraphs apart in the chapter. — u/SelitosOne-Eye
  • if Bredon=Cinder, then it would make sense that the bandits would be operating close to his estate. Not only would it give him easier access to the bandits, but he would basically be stealing his own money back from Alveron.
    OP's core argument: proximity gives Cinder access and lets him steal back his taxes. — u/SelitosOne-Eye
  • the *very first paragraph of this chapter confirms that Bredon is still out of town*. Kvothe sends him a message to play tak, but the runner comes back and says he still hasn't returned to Alveron's estate. So Bredon's absence from Severen lines up perfectly with another tax collector going missing.
    OP: Bredon's confirmed absence coincides with the tax shipments going missing. — u/SelitosOne-Eye
  • And in chapter 70 - Clinging - Denna says that it was almost a night with no moon. Bredon was still traveling in that chapter.
    Comment adds corroborating timeline detail of Bredon traveling. — u/navispacial
  • I get Bredon would be directly embezzling the money, but for a Chandrian I doubt that's his real goal. If your theory is true, it's probably that he's trying to generate dissent in those lands or destabilize the Maer.
    Comment refines motive: destabilization rather than mere embezzlement. — u/thisismyfirstday
  • I think I remember Bredon being described as smaller in stature whereas Cinder is described as a pretty imposing figure.
    CounterCounter: physical descriptions of Bredon and Cinder conflict. — u/BaconWise
  • Kvothe thought Cinder looked familiar from 100 yards away in the middle of a fire fight, in the middle of a storm, in the middle of the night. Yet, there isn't even a tinge of recognition after months of playing Tak together?
    CounterCounter: Kvothe never recognizes Bredon as Cinder despite months together. — u/ertgbnm

Book refs: WMF, WMF ch 74

Tier reasoning§

tier kept: rests on Bredon-is-Cinder plus textual-proximity inference

Contributors§

Source threads§