Quinalums and lethium

[peggy-2.livejournal.com]

What are the Community theories surrounding Heiro's visit to Gen after his attack by the assassins and before the nightmare?  When I first read it, I assumed she brought the quinalums, at Gen's request, so he could spike his own lethium.  Now I'm not so sure.  What else might they have discussed?


And later, the queen accepts Petrus, the court physician, did not spike the lethium.  After the Dr leaves:

"You trust him?" she asked. ...
"I know something you don't," the king told her.
"Who put the quinalums in the lethium?"
"That too."

"that too" - What else does Gen know besides who put the quinalums in the lethium???

Comments

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Ok, here's what I think. Gen put quinalums in the lethium himself, but never took any. He just wanted it found there. It hadn't occurred to me that Heiro might have brought it to him, but that makes sense.

When Heiro came to visit Gen while he was in bed, I think she told him everything Sejanus and her sister were planning and that Sejanus was behind the assassination attempt. Gen didn't want anyone to know where he got the information from, so he made up the stuff about Sejanus putting doctoring the lethium. On pg. 236 of KoA Gen says Sejanus was on the balcony directing the assassins. Dite asks, "But you had no proof?" and Gen says, "None that I wanted to bring into the light of day."

I think he was protecting Heiro.

This is all just speculation, though.

[peggy-2.livejournal.com]

that's a very good theory.

[peggy-2.livejournal.com]

"None that I wanted to bring into the light of day."

I had noted that passage as well, but didn't connect it to Heiro. That makes a lot of sense.

[avian-xj.livejournal.com]

I agree that he was protecting Heiro.

I think that Gen put the quinalums in the lethium himself after he had Heiro bring them to him. Gen didn't have to take the quinalums to have nightmares - he had them all the time. He framed Sejanus, but because Sejanus couldn't prove that he didn't do it, it was his word against Gen's. Because Sejanus wasn't particularly well liked, and because Gen was king, Gen won.

Heiro took a risk in helping Gen. If he had not won, she could have been accused of drugging the lethium. She may also have been the one who saw Sejanus directing the assassins, and if he found out, that also would've had consequences. She had to trust Gen alot to chance all that.

...supposing that is what happened. I could be completely wrong. :P

[peggy-2.livejournal.com]

after he had Heiro bring them to him

That's what I thought the first two times I read the book - now I'm not so sure. I think her tipping Gen off re: Sejanus-as-the-director-of-assassins is a good theory.

[rowana.livejournal.com]

Yes, that does seem to make sense. :)

[willow-41z.livejournal.com]

How would Hero have known, though? And how could Eugenides not have known? He knows everything.

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Well, Heiro's father and sister were involved in the plan with Baron Erondites. Maybe she heard it from them. But, now that I think about it, the Baron wasn't involved in the assassination attempt. He thought Sejanus was going to be the main attendant, and Heiro's sister the mistress. So, hmmm, how could Heiro have known, now that I think about it.

Very good question, Detective Willow.

[hemisofia.livejournal.com]

I think Gen mentioned he himself saw Sejanus himself at the balcony but he didn't realize Sejanus was there to direct the assasins until they attacked.

But it would have been Gen's word vs Sejanus' word if it ever come to pass, and you are right that Gen wanted to keep Heiro out of it as much as possible.

I am still ambivalent about Heiro bringing Gen the quinalums. (I probably need to reread.) When did Gen have the chance to ask her to do this for him? I think Heiro came to tell him about the conspiracy and only then Gen probably decided to spike his own lethium OR he had always had the spiked lethium ready for the next chance of him getting a nightmare. I wouldn't be surprised if he had.

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Very well said.

[rowana.livejournal.com]

I think Heiro came to tell him about the conspiracy and only then Gen probably decided to spike his own lethium OR he had always had the spiked lethium ready for the next chance of him getting a nightmare. I wouldn't be surprised if he had.

I agree, I hadn't thought of either scenario, but they both sound plausible.