Page 22 of Of Sockets Of Stitches
The clauses of her union with King Change did not allow her to foil any of his ruin. Whether because of this or because of her feelings for him, Princess Change had always been a willing participant in his ruinous plans.
But ruin was not the essence of her.
Soil was her essence. She was the leaves and the trees and moss between.
I reached into the princess’s body and mind, and extracted that essence now. The roots of her came away with a few small pulls. In her, I left no joy of hands covered in dirt. I left no warm memory of whispered encouragement to growing vine or seed. I took the leaves and the trees and the moss between away.
The princess’s expression blanked, and she crashed to her knees on the cold stone. Princess Change listed and did not physically react when her body and head crashed against stones too.
Hellebores stroked the back of my hands, and I silently thanked them.
Pawns were wide-eyed as I said to Princess Change, “In allthe time you have lurked within my queendom, you have worked against me. You understood your intention to harm me when you took the deadly curse offered by my mother. I will not punish you for that, for ancients drove your fate that dusk, and they are wise in all matters. Through your actions, I received the most priceless of gifts. So I offer you a gift tonight, too, or a curse if you would prefer to see it such. Either way, I will have an answer to my question: Are you a princess of change or a princess of no change? So here is the matter I wish you to ponder in coldness of soul and mind and power… If everything but your sole reason for existing was robbed away, then what is the reason that would remain?”
She did not blink or form words or thoughts. I had delivered her with a great shock that her being could not yet fathom.
I said, “The reckoning of the world is upon all creatures and all life, and so you must face your reckoning, if you are to properly serve me, Princess.”
I rose from my throne. “Send word to champions to gather in my private chambers.”
Toil craned to look at Princess Change.
“Not that one,” I clarified, for I was talking to pawns and clarity was often needed.
I floated toward the double doors. “Kindly gather the ashes of Princess Bring. Every speck of them. I would have the flakes of her blob in my possession.”
“Leigess, King Bring asked for them, and we did not see a reason to say no,” mumbled Has Been.
“A queen sees reason. Take them back.”
King Bring might even thank me in the end.
Chapter Ten
There could never be
Such a show
From a love
Not transcended.
“Reckoning boils within you,” muttered Princess Take.
Princess Raise nodded, and I could imagine if she had possessed a face, then her eyes might be rather wide.
As the champions of my queendom, princesses could feel such things as my obsession and reckoning. I imagined that if we survived The Real End, then they might always perceive my purpose and help to keep me from madness and excess of vice.
I said on the air, “Tell me of kingdoms.”
Princess Take sucked in a sharp breath, rubbing her arms. “Y-yes. Yes.Yes.Kingdoms have shrunk to accommodate the enormity of your queendom, which occupies much and most of Vitale. The heart, of course.”
Of course.
She continued, “I have been busy with pawns and minions reallocating the riches of kingdoms into your possession and walls.”
I tapped a finger on the armrest of my soft chair. “But kingdoms remain.”
“Kingdoms remain, my queen. This speaks of a return of kings to kingdoms.”
