He was so well regarded for his highly developed skills that he was appointed left minister to King Huai during the incredibly complex and convoluted Warring States period.
Pride, Theon thought. He is proud, I must use that, his pride will be the key. " There is no man in the Iron Islands half so skilled with spear or sword" .
Another way he alleviates his gnawing envy is by a " sour grapes" tactic, mastered to such perfection that even the trained observer is easily deceived by it.