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Malin’s expression shifts from suspicion to suspicion tinged with curiosity. “You still have not told me what manner of being or beast you are.”
“Heh. You’re the first person to call me a beast since my ex-husband was around.”
“Ex? What did you to do him? Are you a succubus?”
“No, but thank you for the compliment. Unfortunately, I did not have the pleasure of killing the bastard.” I exhale. Okay, getting too far into character there. While I certainly didn’t really mourn Danny too much… wanting to kill him is too far. I didn’t. He’s lying in a grave of his own digging, though. Can’t feel too sorry for him. The Danny I fell in love with and married died the night he considered me a monster. Anyway… “There are worlds beyond this one. Many thousands of them.”
“I’ve read of such things.” Malin offers a cautious nod. “These are strange times.”
“They sure are. Have you sensed something odd in the air lately?”
“I have.”
I unconsciously pet Lindsey. Hey, she’s a cat in my arms and I’m nervous. Mostly, I’m nervous because Tammy—in mouse form—has scurried out of my sight and anything could happen to her. “I’m from another such world. A dark presence native to my world has invaded this one. It intends to assert dominion over these lands.”
“You are telling me this, why? Ah, never mind. You think I might be in league with this vile darkness. Damn gossipmongers.” Malin crosses his arms, studies me. “There’s an otherworldly energy about you. You are not entirely human.”
“Not entirely. I once was. Things happened.”
“The gossipers aren’t wrong.” Malin finally lowers his guard enough to pace a little. “My family does pursue a form of magic. It was once practiced by those who occupied these lands before the arrival of humans. It is not innately dark.”
“No?” I tilt my head.
“No.” He exhales like a father tired of explaining the same thing to his kid for the hundredth time. “People are merely afraid of that which they do not understand.”
“All right. I’ll be direct. Are you in any way connected to the assassinations going on?”
He pauses to blink at me. “What assassinations? Who died?”
Semantic bastard. “I mean attempted assassinations. Someone’s stirring the pot, chasing the crown.”
“And you think it’s me?”
I chuckle. “At this point, I think it’s everyone. There are reasons for any one of the houses to be the ones responsible, even Galahir.”
He laughs. “They’re overly naïve and weak. Elden and his sister are preoccupied with being kind to everyone, which makes it a simple matter to take advantage of them. If they end up on the throne, this kingdom will be ripe for the plucking.”
“Which house do you think would be best on the throne?” I ask.
“House Normund of course. Our wisdom is without equal.” Malin resumes pacing. “Barathor is a primitive. His reign would see unending war with neighboring kingdoms. Teredwyn lacks the spine to rule, and no one would let Anvar near the throne after what his father did. Besides, the boy’s out of his mind most of the time. If not wine, other things.”
I watch him meander around for a moment, trying to make sense of the supernatural energy he’s giving off. It’s nothing like I’ve ever experienced before. That likely means it’s this world’s magic in him. Lindsey doesn’t have the same essence about her. She’s entirely normal as far as my senses go. Whatever power this man has is innate to his being, and yeah… I dare say it’s dark. At least, darker than Lindsey’s magic. The guy doesn’t seem overly power hungry, more like the strict principal who all the students hate because he’s such a prick.
As he rambles on about his justifications for why the other houses would fail as monarchs, I get the sense he truly believes himself. If his desire to pursue the crown came from wanting power initially, it’s morphed into a belief he’s the only one worthy and capable enough to claim the crown. He believes all the other houses would bring about the destruction of Frostmarch.
Short of forcing my way past the guy into the house, my bad luck of being caught as soon as I landed has pretty much ended my hopes of prowling around the place. However… Tammy is inside. The best thing I can do now is trust her to keep herself safe and get us the information we need. If there’s anything that needs further investigating, I can always teleport here later, now that I know the lay of the land.
One thing, though… if I get attacked by more of those wraiths soon after leaving, it’ll make me think Malin is Nesanth. If not, I’m kinda inclined to think he’s just an arrogant noble convinced of his own superiority.
“Who do you think is responsible for the assassins?” I ask.
Malin pulls his fingers down his chin in a repetitive, calming manner while making pensive faces. “I’ve been pondering that very question for days, unable to come up with a satisfactory answer. Every reason I can think of for one of the others to do it is also a reason they would not.”
“Yeah.” I exhale. “Same thinking here. If you had to pick one, which would it be?”
“Teredwyn.” Malin frowns. “Assassins are the tools of a coward. Now that he’s got that cousin of his in his ear, he may not be as idle as he claims.”
“Hasn’t he claimed not to want the crown?” Suddenly dejected, I let my right arm fall slack to my side.
