Page 67 of Of Sockets Of Stitches
Princess Change found me in the throne room. “You called, Your Majesty?”
“How goes your intimate and vulnerable conversations with King Change?” I demanded.
She clasped her hands together. “I am only managing two a night, what with passing out after we heal a vein, then waking the next dusk.”
I nodded. “Is there progress?”
“None, Your Majesty. None at all.”
As dreaded. “What do you believe stands in the way?”
“The purpose and reason of him.”
Hellebores rubbed at my temples. “Which is to say, everything of him stands in the way.”
She nibbled at her bottom lip. “I had wondered… the duke said you reached into him and ripped away his kingliness. You took away my reason for being too. My queen, could you rip away a monster’s ruin?”
I leaned back to consider that. “A monster without their reason for being is no monster at all. As for the kingliness of him, that is not his issue. He would be a great king indeed, if he was simply able to change. There is such foresight and ingenuity in him. Princess Change, I am so sorry.”
She dashed away a tear. “I had thought that we were on the same team, is all, but now I realize that he could love the idea of me while I was always onhisteam. Queen Perantiqua, what is to be done?”
I steepled my fingers. King No Change was my biggest problem. The other relationships, even mine, heldsomehope for resolution. What to do with a big brick wall who was still a monster that I understood and wished to help?
If he could not change, then he was not fulfilling his purpose to help me save the world. If he was not doingthat, then another must play that role for him. But who else could partner with Princess Change? Who else could she suddenly love? No one was ancient enough for the task.
Except See.
My stomach dropped, and I banished the idea, but not the unexpected feeling.
“I can only answer that I am pondering the solution, Princess Change. This does not rest on your shoulders only. An answer exists, and this will be revealed. I am certain of that. Cease your visits to your king. We shall see if your absence sways him.”
But it would not.
We both knew.
I tugged Duke Raise to me.
He sauntered in, a great frown upon his face. He tried to smooth the frown away, but having not held any expression for an age had weakened his facial muscles greatly. “What is it? I was with my duchess.”
“Try again, sir,” I said quietly.
The duke yelped as my power flowed around him. He swept a bow, then knelt before my throne. “My queen, how might I assist you?”
“Much better. You might assist me by telling me of humans. How do they fare?”
“Humans? How should I know?”
“Because that is your purpose for me,” I answered.
He grunted. “I’m a champion.”
Usually King Take was the one to improve my tolerance. More often than not,thismonster had served to alter my perception. “Sir, you are my human liaison always, and my champion when required. ’Tis your duty to report to me on all matters of humans so that cultures and lives and systems might be improved.”
His face slackened.
“Your princess used a radio to track humans, sir.”
“She did? How did she know to do that?”
