HoonDing isn't an enantiomorph in the classic sense. I'd call it an inversion of the E if I had to.

What do you mean by "Inversion of the E"?

In a traditional enantiomorphic relationship, we have a King being cast out by a Rebel, who then becomes the King. We also have the "female principle" over which they are fighting, and the "shield thane" who stands witness to it all. It is a permanent state and an ever-repeating cycle.

The only criteria of the HoonDing is that he "perseveres over infidels." In Cyrus' case, this happened to be the King of Empire, but with Hunding as a HoonDing, it was instead the natives of Hammerfell who were driven out. Either way, it isn't a permanent state (Cyrus isn't the HoonDing when he defeats Vivec), and neither must it repeat (no one drives the HoonDing out of Hammerfell). The inversion (though I hesitate to call it such) comes from the fact that the Rebel and King combine to form the HoonDing, rather than supplanting and becoming eachother.

So in essence, Cyrus is moot unless he is the HoonDing?

Wouldn't go that far, he still beat Vivec.

The Ansu told him that he was the HoonDing though. Were they referring to the fact that he used to be the HoonDing, or that he was always the HoonDing.

The young ansu dropped his stance. "He cannot be beaten," he told Cyrus, "We know every sword move created in history, and none of them would avail you, even if you learned them from our memories-in-stone, which we would be obliged to lend you if you asked. You killed the white king in the Hammerfell, after all."

"What?" Cyrus said. "The Emperor? I didn’t kill him."

"Of course you did; you were the Hoon Ding."

"No I didn’t and no I wasn’t."

The young ansu refused to listen. Behind his stone-feather mask he smiled in admiration. "You disarmed him, even, and would not kill him until he showed another knife. That is ra gada honor. We do not fight the unprotected. Your stories have come—"

"That wasn’t the Emperor," Cyrus said. "That was just—"

"Of course it was. That is why the Hammerfell stands. You were the Hoon Ding. In any case, the Ansu-Gurleht cannot be beaten. He was gifted by the Barons of Move Like This, who record sword moves from the future, as well."

"Right," Cyrus sighed. "Please remove yourself from my ship."

Coyle went to his captain. "Sura," he whispered, "nogo tur—"

"Not an option, Coyle." Cyrus turned to the ansu. "Now go. The fight with the dunmer is my own. I appreciate the advice but you’re—"

"Will you not take our memories-in-stone, at least?"

"Why?" Cyrus said. He tried to keep his temper. "You’ve already said that they’re useless against him."

The elder lifted a hand. "The Hoon Ding could—"

"Look, I am not –"

"The Hoon Ding could read the stones and show you what we say is true—that no move exists that will get past the Ansu-Gurleht."

The elder looked through the floor of the hold. "At least not now," he said, "The Hoon Ding would show you that he will not manifest in you in this fight."

They told him that he was the HoonDing, but that he no longer is.

Quite interesting. I've never heard of this female principle and shield thane witness before. That refers to Kyne and Tsun? What were their equivalents with Talos?

Oh, and on the subject of Cyrus, some insight might be gained from this scene: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEPYlJLvcEM#t=3m30s
And even if not, that speech is [censored] brilliant.

And then that strange line in Varieties of Faith was explained for all

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