Page 125 of Trick

“Good grief, we’d be attending to them more than the rest of our people,” King Rhys brayed. “And for no fucking reason.”

I rose from my spot between Basil and Fatima, then rounded the table. “Improvement of society comes to mind,” I said, as though the prospect just came to me. “Royals consider themselves regal and forward-thinking. If that’s true, your actions should reflect that. There’s hardly dignity to be found by relying purely on dungeons, oubliettes, and drunken guards.

“Imagine. If you have the talent to better comprehend the grips of insanity, the people will have unlimited faith in you. Think of the widespread awe. It will establish there’s nothing the Seasons can’t accomplish. That shall be quite the legacy.”

Avalea of Autumn twisted toward her daughter. In a reasonable voice that made me tense in my tracks, the queen asked, “How many physicians would we require for this treatment, when so many of our other citizens need remedies daily? What manpower could we spare to build this facility? At whose expense? How much of our resources would go to it?”

Briar wavered. “Exactly. Those are details to be deliberated upon. As to the people who don’t present a danger, they should remain with their families. Their fates should be a matter kept between them and their relatives.”

Her eyes flitted to me. On cue, I swooped in. The vile terms being thrown about tasted rancid on my lips. But for this to work, we had to maintain that facade.

Whilst pacing beside the length of the table, I tapped my chin. “I wonder. Far be it from me, but granting families that liberty would establish even more loyalty and devotion to their Crown. Everyone longs for the power of choice in their life, no matter how insignificant. And come, ’tis not as though relatives of half-wits will want to keep their burden.”

I would. Most wouldn’t.

That was because I didn’t consider it a “burden.” Most did.

Nicu had a less taxing condition compared to others, so the devotion I expressed wouldn’t be uttered by every relative. All the same, that didn’t warrant clamping anyone in manacles. These werepeople, we were speaking of. The world needed to stop identifying what they called “born fools” as inhuman and worthless, with no strengths or souls of their own.

Though, it was too soon to voice that point. The denizens of these kingdoms had livelihoods to think about. If they weren’t engaged in trades that already utilized their own blood relations with the Crown’s permission, chances were slim those families would be attached. In that case, artists, fishermen, harvesters, and doctors across the Seasons weren’t likely to lose their appointed slaves.

Hideous as I found it, this wouldn’t create a major shift or influence anyone’s attitude, but at least relinquishing born souls to their families and rightful homes would be a small beginning.

It would allow me to keep Nicu. That came first, before all else.

I leaned my hip against the table, directly across from Briar. “It’s a minor risk that creates the illusion of choice. The people won’t have their relatives taken from them, but rather be given the power to ‘donate’ them, should they wish. Hence, widespread love for the Crown will be further cemented.”

“We’d be taking fools seriously,” Silvia of Winter censured.

“And asking our people to do the same,” Giselle of Summer revoked.

“This discussion is negating the entire amendment,” her husband spat. “It’s negating the entire Decree. That we’ve detoured this long is beyond disgraceful. Since when do freaks of nature deserve our compassion?”

Her Autumn Highness turned up her nose. “You could say avalanches and floods are freaks of nature.”

“We can’t control the elements. They are the divine forces of our world, and their power is the great mystery of the almighty Seasons. As for our society—thatwe can control.”

“Every human on this continent—on thisearth—was created by nature.”

“And we Royals are ordained by The Dark Seasons to make decisions.” The Summer King stabbed his finger onto the table and gritted out, “It’s. Our. Duty.”

“It’s not our duty to abuse. It’s our duty to assist.”

“For insolence’s sake!” he boomed. “They are not normal!”

Those four words erupted like a volcano through the room. The momentary silence that followed had an eerie, equally destructive quality.

“Mother?” Briar swerved toward Avalea, imploring, “You and Father always said … You always showed me how we should try to … If people need help …”

The queen rested her palm over her daughter’s, voicing her fellow monarchs’ next thought. “How would the people feel about this in any kingdom? Yes, they may appreciate the choice of what to do about their relatives, without creating a notable reduction in service. But if some familiesdidchoose to keep their born relatives at home—for whatever reasons or beliefs they’ve kept hidden—there would be forced integration in the towns.”

“But perhaps that’s what we need. If that’s what it takes—”

“Those families would be accused of sullying their communities and being sympathizers, a circumstance that could lead to civil tension and public aggression. Moreover, the kingdoms would see their rulers spend precious energy and reserves to assist the mad over the rest of the public. This, while also rejecting the possibility of widely supported trade. In the minds of many citizens, we would be favoring those viewed as …” She hedged, illustrating her own private dislike of the phrases so often used by our courts. “Well, we would be favoring the minority over the majority, who also require our aid. The latter would see it as an imbalance, a reduction of our support.”

Briar shook her head. “But—”

“So how would they react to this change?”

---