Bonifer Squoon ruined everything. From the very beginning before the Wingfeather Saga, he poisoned the Wingfeather family like a silent cancer, steadily growing unnoticed until it was too late. Even before the Saga, he deceived each of the High Kings: Ortham, Esben, and was even going to give young Kalmar to Gnag the Nameless.
When the Wingfeathers, Oskar, and Podo came to Ban Rona, they were met with much strife and anger from the Hollowsfolk. Artham was chased away and fled to Skree because he couldn’t stand being so close to Throg, and the people couldn’t tolerate having a cloven among them. (Kalmar was also treated similarly.) But when I was rereading The Monster in the Hollows when Artham is about to flee to Skree, I realised…
If Artham somehow remained behind in the Green Hollows, would the Wingfeathers have been warned about Bonnifer Squoon?
Yes, it’s a wild thought, but I wonder if Artham knew about Bonifer’s betrayal. Esben clearly did when he took his revenge on Bonifer at the end of TMitH, and Bonifer also admitted to opening the gates of Castle Rysen to be overrun with Fangs. So did both of the brothers know of the man’s treachery?
Technically, since Artham was carried to Throg along with Esben, neither of them would have known that Bonifer survived. But if Artham knew Bonifer was still alive and well and living in the Hollows, would he have left? Would Bonnifer Squoon have been arrested if the Hollowsfolk knew of his treachery?
If he was, then the Wingfeathers wouldn’t have been betrayed to Gnag the Nameless. Would Kalmar have found the bear cloven in the cave? Would they discover that the cloven was Esben all along? And would Nia would have married Rudric?
And an even deeper thought…
Would Esben still be alive if only Artham stayed?
I think yes!! Probably to all of it.
WAIT- what if Janner or Oskar had read the journal of Bonifer Squoon that was in the box from Dang in OtEotDSoD?
Oh wow! Those are good thoughts!
Just don't tell Artham that last deep thought...
*le gasp* IF OOONNLLLYYYYY
I had just assumed that Artham knew since he was captured with Esben and spent three years in the dungeon with him, and in that case they could have avoided the trouble with Bonifer from the beginning!
But maybe he didn't! Esben said he knew that Bonifer betrayed them because Gnag told him. But when did Gnag tell him? If Gnag waited until after Artham escaped and used the knowledge to taunt Esben when he may have already been feeling abandoned by those closest to him, Artham wouldn't have known!
And an even better question: would Gnag have won if the Stranders hadn't separated him from his family?