So, I'm rereading the books in preparation for RoS, when I come across a rather vague bit of dialogue when Bart and Kitty are floating in the Other Place. On Ptolemy, Bart says: "He and I conversed as equals for two years," and later "I knew him for two years. And then he died." At first, I interpreted this to mean that Ptolemy died two years after his visit to the Other Place, but now I think it might mean the Bartimaeus only knew him for two years total, from the time Ptolemy first summoned him to the time of his death. I'm a bit OCD, and I don't like having details I'm fuzzy on when I'm trying to develop a timeline in my head, so I figured I'd ask for your input. Which do you think is the correct interpretation of this passage?

I think its 2 years total, the books said Ptolemy didn't last long after he returned from the other place

I believe Bartimaeus met Ptolemy when he was 12. If my memory serves me right, somewhere he says he was as old as Nathaniel the first time he summoned him. Ptolemy was killed when he was 14, I remember that for sure; therefore, should we count the years from the moment he visited the Other Place, we would have to conclude he had summoned Bartimaeus when he was 10 or 11, which would be a bit too soon to me.

In addition to this, Bartimaeus says that in the first year he used to lie to Ptolemy when answering his questions on the Other Place, then he started telling him the truth. It is reasonable to believe that then, when he learnt the truth, he started planning his most unusual trip.

Finally, after his visit, Ptolemy is very weak and vulnerable, I cannot believe that his envious and worried relative waited for more than a few months to take advantage of the situation.

Regards,

Nick

It is two years total.

Two years...So shortly!