Zawne chuckled. “Of course,” he said. “You are practically the new Grucken. The Crown of Crowns will surely pick you, no matter who your husband is. And I’m the son of the current rulers. My knowledge of politics and the six continents is greater than any of the other heirs’. We’d be unstoppable together.”
Lordin wrapped her arms around Zawne, nearly choking him. “Then let us be together,” she said, her facial muscles twitching as if two different emotions were battling for control. Her jaw trembled, lips quivered, and tears bubbled at the corners of her eyes. She looked elated and terrified all at once. “Let’s be together,” she repeated. “I want you, Zawne. I want to be your queen.”
Lordin’s memories fast-forwarded in a colorful blur, slowing and coming to a halt in Shiol, the axis of the universe.
Lordin was speaking with the light forms Hanchell and Riedel. The Crown of Crowns was telling her, “But you must make the decision soon. Either become queen alongside Zawne, or perish and become a Min.”
Lordin looked more serious than in any of the other memories. She looked like a person who had just been told the universe was run by spirits. She asked them, “And you say Min are free to roam Geniverd and do as they please, that Min can possess bodies?”
“Yes,” Riedel said, “but this isn’t an invitation to become all-powerful. This is a serious choice you must make. Rule Geniverd with Zawne, or live a thousand years as a Min.”
Lordin’s jaw had dropped. She licked her lips. “Let me think about it.” But judging by the look on her face, she had already decided.
“I’ll tell you honestly, I’m not sure if Zawne has the heart to be king. I might have to refuse your offer to protect him from his own failure. I don’t want to become a Min, but I may have to. I mean, it would suck to give up my short human existence to become a spirit with superpowers and live for a thousand years with complete and total power over Geniverd.” She shrugged and shook her head sadly. “But I might have to do it.”
“The choice is yours,” Hanchell said. “You’ve scored the best out of anyone we’ve seen in a long time. And not only in Geniverd. We rule multiple universes, dimensions, realms … and you are one of the most virtuous and kindhearted creatures we have ever seen. In any case, you’d do well as a Min.”
“And you mentioned something about an election,” Lordin said. “Am I to believe there is a way to move up the universal ladder?”
“Yes,” Hanchell said. She wasn’t very intuitive for an omnipotent, universe-controlling spirit. Either that, or perhaps Lordin had used the Grucken’s spiritual teachings to disguise the rotten part of her heart. Her intentions seemed pretty obvious. “Soon,” Hanchell continued, “there will be a chance to become the next Crown of Crowns. It’s only for Min with a partner.”
Lordin nodded. “Okay, great. Good to know.” She was nearly salivating at the thought of all that power, the chance to rule a limitless galaxy. “I’ll give you my answer tomorrow,” she said.
Evil!
I paused the memory show and scowled at Lordin, hiding so shamelessly in Hagan’s body. She had wanted power. She had killed herself to become a Min. I could see it now. I could see it so clearly. Lordin may have loved Zawne, but she loved power more. She had thirsted for it her whole life thanks to the influence of her wretched mama. And now she was tearing the world apart to help Emell exact her revenge. But why? What was her scheme? Surely Lordin wanted something of her own.
Then I heard Emell say, “And once you, Hagan, are savior of the world, we will blame the tragic loss of life on Kaelyn of Gaard. She’ll be cast out like I was, leaving Zawne lonely and hurt. Zawne is weak. We’ll pull some strings to get the Queen’s Council disbanded, then maneuver you onto Zawne’s new council using your well-earned title as Hero of Geniverd. It won’t take much for you to seduce the heartbroken king once you’re seeing him every day.”
Emell laughed, spun her chair in a circle, and cried, “And then you will install me as your most loyal adviser!”
If I had been in possession of a body, I would have gasped. It all made sense. Emell had put the pieces together for me. Sure, Lordin had killed herself to become a powerful Min and chase after the Crown of Crowns’ position. But in the meantime, she wanted to reclaim her place as Zawne’s wife.
She really did love him, I supposed. She had fought her way from the frozen northlands to the capital, to Zawne’s bedchamber, then died. Within two years of her death, Lordin had helped Emell organize a plan that would plunge the world into chaos, all so that she could find her way back to Zawne’s bedchamber while at the same time securing her mama’s approval. Her resolve was astounding. Lordin was diabolical!
I had to see more. I slipped back inside Lordin’s memories …
And was instantly viewing the night of her murder. Lordin’s body lay cold on the walkway outside VondRust Palace. Her Valer floated above the path, the murderer standing stunned below. He looked a lot like Torio had in the moments after he had murdered me: lost, confused, stricken by what he had done. A Min must have possessed Lordin’s killer and then fled, leaving him vacant and afraid.
Something bizarre happened. Much as I had accidentally experimented with my new gift, so too did Lordin. She formed her Valer into a little flaming hand and reached for the killer. He shrieked, but she wasn’t touching him. She merely pointed at him.
“Bees!” he screamed, gripping both sides of his head. “The bees are everywhere! The bees
