What if...

[sunrisetellin.livejournal.com]

So, I have just been considering crazy plot twists that might make themselves shown in the next Queen's Thief book(s)
I've been thinking about Gen's secret desires for power alluded to in The King of Attolia in a conversation between Irene and Relius:

"But I think Eugenides is afraid."
"Of what?"
"Of failing," said Attolia, as though that fear, at least, Relius should have recognized. "Of stealing my power from me."
"You would only be stronger."
"I know," Attolia soothed him. "I did not say I'm afraid. He is, though, I think. Afraid of his own desire for power."

And Teleus says at the end

"That one," -he nodded toward the closed door- "will rule more than just Attolia before he is done. He is an Annux, a king of kings.

Earlier on in KoA Gen mentions that the Queen must have a breaking point to her strength, so as strong as she is she isn't invincible, and now that Eugenides is sovereign over Attolia, Eddis and Sounis, his power is growing (Sophos and Helen were sworn to him, not Irene.) So I am interested to see where Attolis and Attolia will end up.

Mostly though! I am curious what OTHER outrageous and crazy plot twists others have considered.

Comments

[genndme.livejournal.com]

I don't think much is going to come of that. The fact that Gen is indeed afraid of becoming corrupted proves that it will be very unlikely that he will be. The fact that Irene didn't formally swear to be under Gen doesn't mean that she isn't. Multiple times inside the KoA, Irene tells Gen to his face that he is King, indicating her will to bow under his athority. Also, she lets him subvert her desicions at least twice publically (saving Teleus and Aris' guards from death as well as Relius). In my opinion, Irene is relieved that Gen is here to take command "I am tired of driving people and forcing them to my will". She doesn't want to be the one making those decicions anymore. Not only that, but Gen had only one thing in mind when he proposed to Attolia: He'd be marrying Irene. He may be becoming stronger but that is just the way Gen is by nature. Also, you can tell, as the book progresses, that the two of them are becoming more and more in accord, as a man and wife should. Irene has to realize that, with Gen here taking care of her, she doesn't need to use such violent measures anymore. She's already softening up, you can see the difference if you, as I did once, read the KoA then the QoA back to back. It's astounding, she's so different in the KoA. Not only that, but she tells Relius that she's not afraid. Gen is afraid of stealing her power but she isn't. She knows that the two of them are stronger together then apart. He is a pedestal for her and she is the support for him.
Irene and Gen will become as one, both King and Queen but ruling as one. That's my prediction.
And, about Teleus' comment, it's just the truth. Gen is going to be ruling more than just that country before he dies.
Oh, and, by the way, I'm new here and wanted to say 'hi'! I met this site yesterday and loved all the extra insight. Some stuff I already knew, some was different. So, here I am, joined up and wanting to participate (and apparently doing so).

[booksrgood4u.livejournal.com]

Welcome! We love new people! I was going to say the same thing...I think Irene is happy to see Gen taking more responsibility...she needs the break and Gen needs to be seen as in charge...

Oh, and sunrisetellin, I'm so glad to see you posting and not returning to lurking...being involved is so much more fun!!

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Welcome to you both! Very glad you are here.

[(Anonymous)]

sunrisetellin- Actually, I think he has weilded that much power before ("I CAN DO ANYTHING I WANT!", his conversation with his two cousins, and the talk between Eddis(Helen) and the Magus). Now, you're right, never out in the open but still...
Thanks for welcomeing me, both of you. I love discusions like this.
God bless.

[genndme.livejournal.com]

Whoops, don't know what happened there, that's me that "anonymous" guy.

[brandy-painter.livejournal.com]

I have always thought he wielded quite a bit of power too, more than everyone else knew probably. It has always interested me that the time between his moping and convincing Eddis he was strong enough to take a group of men into Sounis and kidnap the Magus/blow up the navy was not that long. I'm sure she was used to him popping into her room and proposing plans from before. It has made me wonder if some of the brilliant moves attributed to Eddis really began with him. All through the last half of QoA she is so willing to follow his lead and trust in his ideas. It is a rather strange mindset for a Queen to have when you think about it. Even his father's response to the question of why they should attack the Medes was, "Eugenides said to." He was wielding an awful lot of power before anyone gave it to him officially.

[chubbyleng.livejournal.com]

"Mostly though! I am curious what OTHER outrageous and crazy plot twists others have considered."

Well, it's hard to tell what kind of crazy twists MWT is up to, because she's ALWAYS unpredictable. Hehe, but you know, maybe next time she'll go for the predictable stuff, because we'd be thinking of all the insane plots and we won't be expecting it. =P

I hope though that we get to see Gen jump again. I know that he told Costis in KoA that he'd probably eviscerate himself trying to jump so far, but we all know that he lies to himself sometimes too. I *know* that he can do it. He's not so out of shape that his legs can't carry him that far anymore. =( I WANNA SEE A JUMP!!!!!

Hmm... well, there have been many speculations as to where Costis is. And we know that there will be an elephant in the next two books. So hmm... lemme see, Costis + Elephant = ____________. I'll come back to that.

And I'm sure I'm the only one who's thinking this, but I think there will be something that has to do with a mistress. I just noticed that MWT likes to take little, almost unnoticeable things (ie. theme, quotes, etc) from previous books and make them reappear in newer ones. Like when Sophos and Gen were talking about where they would like to be the most in The Thief, and then Helen uses that as a code in her letter in CoK. So I'm thinking that since the whole mistress issue was such a crucial tiny moment in QoA, it might come up again.

Oh, and more tension between the sovereigns and the ambassadors from Mede. If MWT gets really twisty on us, one ambassador might actually be nice. =)

There's my little input. ^^

[drashizu.livejournal.com]

I hope though that we get to see Gen jump again.

I would love it if this happened. So much.

And I'm sure I'm the only one who's thinking this, but I think there will be something that has to do with a mistress. I just noticed that MWT likes to take little, almost unnoticeable things (ie. theme, quotes, etc) from previous books and make them reappear in newer ones.

Interesting idea. She does do that a lot... I love it! But if Gen actually had a mistress it would make me sad, for obvious reasons; maybe... maybe... Okay, crazy speculation time: Maybe Gen will go to the Mede empire, which is where Costis and the elephants are, and while he's there snooping (and jumping over stuff) and figuring everything out, the Mede i.e. Nahuserfish will decide to try and trick Irene into thinking that Gen is being unfaithful to her, because they want to drive a wedge in between them, so she'll think that there is a mistress and do something amazing and evil with ten men and a pocketknife to try and get to Gen and demand what the heck he thinks he's doing. And of course then when they realize the Medes have tricked them they'll go super-bamf on them and kick everyone's ass.

Yeah, that's my theory.

[edit: Gen, not Gene. Bleh.]

[chubbyleng.livejournal.com]

Oh YES, you're right! I totally did NOT mean to imply that I think Gen should have a mistress. That would just be so OOC, and I would lose all respect for Gen, and I'd feel so bad for Irene, and it would destroy my whole crazy adoration for these two!! No, no, no mistress for Gen. Or Irene for that matter. (Can you imagine? Gen is married to *Irene*. Having a mistress for him is like... a downgrade.)

I simply meant what you meant! ^__~ It's all a TRICK! And of course, Irene would be in it too. Though I do like that idea with 10 men and a pocketknife! And of course, going super-bamf!! ^^ Or maybe they're the ones who're going to hatch the plan in order to trick the Medes. Or it could be a nasty, dim-witted trick by the evil barons that want to dispose of Gen.

Anyway, so yeah, I really didn't mean it the way it came off.

And yesh, JUMP!

[booksrgood4u.livejournal.com]

Gen would NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER....you get th picture...have a mistress!!! He married Irene to save her from herself...he wouldn't go and destroy all the faith and hope and happiness she's been steadily growing. NEVER. I think they just like teasing each other in weird or morbid ways, i.e. 'Take mine'

I really want to see Gen get thiefy again...I think it was so much a part of him that he feels less without it....I also would like to see Costis try to keep up with him! HA!

[chubbyleng.livejournal.com]

"he wouldn't go and destroy all the faith and hope and happiness she's been steadily growing"

Yes, I agree. Not to mention, love too. I believe it was hazelwillow who pointed out before that in order for Gen to save Irene, Irene must also feel and give love, not only be on the receiving end of it. ^^ It would destroy her recovery if Gen does something like that. T__T

Oh man, I wish I worded it better. =/

[booksrgood4u.livejournal.com]

Oh, no, don't feel bad!! You just started another interesting discussion...It is something that has been mentioned several times in the books...Gen might sham having a mistress to pull the wool over someones eyes, but Irene would definitely be in on it...Hmmm

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'd like to see Gen all thiefy again, but think that it, sadly, won't happen. Irene wouldn't allow it--not that that would matter to Gen if he decided to--but I think that because, deep down, Gen knows that he has to do what is best for the country, he would stay in Attolia and be king, and run the thiefy stuff from afar. And, if that isn't the most convoluted run-on sentence ever, I don't know what is.

[hazelwillow.livejournal.com]

This is why I kind of wish Gen had never become king.

I know, I know, heresy... But I just love his thiefy identity best!

[chubbyleng.livejournal.com]

Well I'm sure that he'd probably give up on most kinds of stealing (tangible things... the intangible ones can get really interesting), but I'd think that the sneaking around, spying on people will still be much a part of him, even if he is still on king duty.

[chubbyleng.livejournal.com]

Why are you scared for Gen? I agree in a way with genndme that Irene and Gen would make the ultimate dynamic duo if Gen can step up a bit. They'd be unstoppable!!!

Yes, that poor mistress girl!! Using the Mede's bait against them is just the thing that Gen would do.

Okay, now I want an official Costis + Elephant fanart!

[1221bookworm.livejournal.com]

As everyone's said, Gen would NEVER have a mistress... thought there is definetly something to be said for misdirecting (I think the Mede,) into thinking there was one ... especially because they all like those kinds of plans, and have used them at one point or another...

[brandy-painter.livejournal.com]

I agree with everyone else's emphatic statements that Gen would never have a mistress. BUT it has occurred to me (like it did you) that he might pretend to for purposes of misdirection. Though it would be difficult to pull off now. I think both his and her attendants would see through it making it hard to keep up the pretense.

[hazelwillow.livejournal.com]

"I WANNA SEE A JUMP!!!!!"

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES.

[enleve.livejournal.com]

Mostly though! I am curious what OTHER outrageous and crazy plot twists others have considered.

I have an idea that maybe the next book will be from Ion's point of view, the one that is imprisoned at the end of A Conspiracy of Kings. So we'll get to see all of the weird machinations from his point of view.

I'm also intensely curious to see how they deal with the Mede.

Here's an outrageous thought - could Gen become emperor of the Mede Empire? And here's another - I think he dislikes hair oil too much for it. That's the reason that came to mind why he wouldn't do it. Not because he couldn't. :)

[crazededdisian.livejournal.com]

For some reason, "afraid of his own desire for power" is reminding me of personality types and the like. I think there was a post on this a while back, though I forget what was concluded about Gen. Probably it had something to do with his behind-the-scenes ruling. Does anyone else remember this?

[(Anonymous)]

...supposing that "Sandy" is the false mistress Nahuserfish sets up...