Page 65 of Of Sockets Of Stitches
Here was where I might get up for the night, then disappear somewhere around the world. But I had a romance to heal. “And your thoughts, sir? What are they?”
“Of my neck, and of the consequences of this couch made for a queen and not for a monster of great height.”
I smirked. “That must be uncomfortable.”
I threw off the bedcovers and sat in front of my vanity as Valetise bustled in from the wardrobe.
“Another busy day of world saving, my queen?” she murmured.
“Just so,” I replied, and thought another thought. The one where, at this rate where two princesses and a duke could cope, we were only managing to heal one wound a night. Each time they passed out. I could only tackle the smallest wounds, too, as the champions were certain that anything more would be too much to bear without Princess Bring’s help.
Princess Take swept into the room, grunting a hello at the exiting King See.
“Any sign of your king?” I asked her.
Princess Take had returned from the haze and clawed backthrough the grave the night after I had reversed the Raises’ purposes. As anticipated, the issues in her union had barely been hers. As someone who had struggled greatly in the haze, I was awed that the princess knew her self so well and truly. Otherwise, the haze would have kept her much longer. As it was her king.
“No sign,” she said, and sighed. “Is he well, do you suppose?”
“I could not guess, Princess,” I replied. “What news do you bear?”
“The news that Princess Bring is sneaking out at dawn. Pawns noticed this morning. She appeared to have consumed vast quantities of human alcohol.”
“The teen years have found her.”
Princess Take snorted. “Seems like it. But pawns are very stressed, and before I tortured such weakness from them, I thought you might wish to be… alerted.”
“Are you asking me if you can hurt other monsters because they are worried about a young princess sneaking out at dawn?”
She grimaced. “I apologize, my queen. I should have known better than to disturb you with such a trivial issue. I shall torture them accordingly.”
We were out of alignment on this topic.
How to soften the blow of disappointment? “While I appreciate your attention to detail, Princess Take, in this instance we must take care not to create animosity against Princess Bring by punishing pawns. I will go to speak to her to resolve the discontent.”
The princess managed to erase her shock and disappointment soon enough. “As you command, my queen. I will await further orders before striking and stabbing.”
“Please do.”
Valetise finished my hair. Climbing into the armored dress was simple enough, though sitting in it would not be.
Princess Take trailed after me to the second level, and a wanSign opened the door to Princess Bring’s chamber. There were fresh rips beside his mouth. Pawns were stressed indeed.
The princess was within. When we entered, she glared at me.
Princess Take snorted and leaned back against the wall to watch.
I withheld laughter at our teenager’s defiance.Goodness.“Good dusk, Princess Bring. How are you after your dawn escapade?”
Brief panic lit her gaze before she adopted an expression of defiance. Her squelch made her thoughts clear enough, but she hissed, “Iam not a child.”
“You were two days ago though.”
“But I’m not now!”
“No, I can see that.” I waded to the only visible armchair to perch on the back, then recalled my armored dress. Standing must suffice.
She blinked. “You do?”
