Page 110 of Of Brides Of Queens

“Pawns, thank you for gathering,” I said. All fifteen were present. I wondered if my werebeasts had opted to remain here, or if they were locked inside the shield.

Pawns had dropped to their knees at my greeting.

Oof,I was more ancient. I pulled in my power so they could stand. I must remember that.

Is sighed. “My relief is great to see you back and more ancient than ever. We feared, my queen. We feared.”

Even for a monster, a trip through the grave was an unusual happening. “Thank you, Is. I must also thank you, Has Been and Will Be for your assistance in a trivial confusion with your liege.”

Has Been’s eyes rounded, no doubt the eye on the back of his head had too. “Your power filled us, my queen, and I could have protected you if necessary. Perhaps not saved you, but protected you, yes.”

I considered that. “You could not have stopped a king?”

Is shook his head. “No, my queen. We only could have delayed our king had he chosen to pursue you.”

From that, I could gather that King See had leashed his madness. Awe found me, then, for I was not capable of such a feat. His resistance in the matter meant a great deal and spoke of his caliber.

“What did you mean by locking us in to prevent us aiding our king?” growled Huckery.

I had my answer about whether my shield had locked them in. “That was not intentional on my part, Huckery. The mothers who made me decided the shield would be so.”

Fifteen pawns did not know what to do with that. I had hardly expected they would.

“What happened to you?” Toil burst out. Such a jiggle of wet worry.

“Calm, Toil. I am well and good, and my disappearance was unpreventable. You are not to blame.”

He jiggled more. “I could not bear the thought of harm coming to you.”

I smiled, and the pawns gasped, even my werebeasts. Goodness. I pulled in my power again. “Dear Toil, that is why I have gathered my pawns this dusk. Three kings attacked my queendom, and soon there will be four.”

“But four?” Gangrel blurted.

“Four. It will be so, and there is nothing that can stop this certainty, but there is much to do before it. And so I seek an entry point and a delay. I recently learned the unexpected worth of a transaction, and I have learned of uncomfortable prices. Then, I need only reflect that curiosity has led me to learn nearly everything in monsterdom.”

Sign cleared his throat.

I mused before pawns, and my musings were lost on them.

Sign cleared his throat again. “My queen, could you give us a direct order that does not require any thinking?”

His question struck up a beautiful pawnly orchestra—a heartwarming symphony that I had deeply missed without knowing that I did so.

Deliver and Seal barked in nervous laughter at Sign’s question, and that triggered rumbling amusement in bringing pawns and low staccato snickers in werebeasts. My breath caught as the chuckling chime of seeing pawns layered over the other glorious auditory delights in the throne room, and when Gangrel, Vassal, and Sanguine erupted into raucous snorts, emotion did threaten to choke me at the echoing bounce of all their amusements at once.

They were laughter together despite how I had upheaved their immortalities and thrown them together in pawnship.

Their symphony inspired hope and relief, and I felt more connected to them in queendom than ever.

When they fell quiet, I considered thanking them for such a gift. But… I expected that pawns who were also princes to various kings might not like sharing amusement together. Not yet.

I answered Sign, “I can do that. Let me muse a time, my pawns.”

Obsession wished me to collect the bridal gift of Princess Change, the rhyme and reason of her king, and also the rhyme and reason of King Take. However, my power and queendom grew with possession of bridal gifts, and only a bridal gift could control me in the hands of a king. Obtaining the fourth and last of these must be the focus. Rhyme and reason could wait.

I did not know enough of war to feel bold in attacking King Change.

I could perhaps sneak into his kingdom, but that would place me in great danger, and too many relied upon me to risk such a thing.

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