1) He’s thrilled at the idea of the Spirit leading him to his destiny, but annoyed that he it would involve as lowly as digging. He is understandably angry that he’s been tricked, but shows no concern over the reason why.

2) He’s condescending: he blows off Gravedust’s thanks. The party are a bunch of inept losers. Byron is a coward and a murderer and wimp.

3) He insists the party is in debt to him and demands their help, and insults Byron into agreeing…but why, given his disdain, highly-successful hero career, and claims the basin quest should be a cakewalk? Well, I’m guessing it’s so he can have an audience for his heroics, and show them who’s awesome.

4) At the library, he insults Byron again, and shoves him in front of a guardian. Why? To cause a distraction so he can do his thing. But then he saves Byron, and appears incredulous that Byron would be surprised. Why save Byron? It makes him look good…heroes save people, and oh, poor Byron needed saving.

5) In the early chapters, he largely ignores Syrn’j, but literally changes his tune to a subtle “I’m sensitive” serenade…when she figures out how to get him out of the mirror trap, in which he is clearly afraid.

6) He prevents Byron from going berserk by singing a suddenly really relevant sympathetic tune–brave and impressive and totally in contrast to his prior dialog with the man–and then seems so overtly wounded that the others would be surprised. The bottom line is it saved himself, and made himself look good and “sensitive” to the others.

7) He tries to tell the group that he appreciates them, and wants to share his vision of his destiny in the basin–but doesn’t suggest they use it. He accidentally calls them “backup.” He has a well-timed tear in his eye–or maybe it’s genuine…because he thinks he’s about to get what he desires. And after declaring how much he wants to share the moment with his “comrades,” he dashes off without them.

My interpretation is that everything has to do with what will make him the Beloved Epic Hero of Prophesy. Just because he performs astonishing feats and saves people doesn’t mean he cares. So, I agree with the people who argued that “hero doesn’t equal good and moral”…what I’m not buying is that he is changing or has any level of sincerity except where his own self is concerned.