Page 50 of Of Brides Of Queens

I expected Take would not much care to listen to his minion’s poetry. Who was minding Take’s gate while this minion was here, though?

Fifty humans dropped their glares at the promise of lyrical words of their queen. How odd to have fifteen pawns one night, then fifteen pawns and fifty humans the next.

I shook my head to clear the astonishment. “That is very reasonable and kind. Go ahead, sir.”

My ropey gateman stepped back as the minion cleared his throat, reciting, “She that inspires,

She they desire,

Should only shimmer

Like a star

Without its power,

Lest starlight steals

All they are,

To build her tower.”

My smile had disappeared around midway, but I forced it back for the minion’s sake—and that of my pawns. But mainly for my sake. “I applaud the rhythm of your poem and only wish I knew more to appreciate the craft.”

“I wish I knew more of this verse, too, Lady Queen. I began crafting the words in wonder, but though the words are right, the meaning eludes me. Then I was struck by the idea that monsterdom eludes me, too, and so I have hoped this means the verse itself is monstrous. That would fill me with pride, to write a monstrous poem, as I aspire to monsterdom. Does the verse haunt you?”

My brows shot up. “You know, I believe it does, sir gateman.”

The minion beamed, and a yellowed tooth fell out.

Luck was with me this dusk. The minion had not perceived the meaning of the poem, and perhaps my pawns had not either, but I certainly had. His verse was a warning to kings that I must be controlled before I grew too powerful.

In other words, if they could connect as much, then they must guard their princesses.

It would not do for this minion to recite such a verse to kings. “Thank you for coming to recite your art. I am grateful.”That you did not recite it to your liege first,I silently added, then said, “You might return here whenever you wish to recite it again.”

“Thank you, I shall.” The minion beamed.

The humans whispered among themselves. Something had caught their fancy, and I could not make it out. “What do they say, Is?”

“They recite the minion’s poem, my queen.”

My groan was an internal one. The humans murmured louder,

“—She that inspires?—”

“—Starlight steals all they are?—”

“—build her tower?—”

“—build her tower!—”

“—build her tower!—”

That was exactly what I wanted to keep from kings. How was I meant to control humans? And pawns who might divulge information to their kings, no less.

The answer was that… I had no idea.

The humans wandered off like chickens in search of insects. And bowing first, the minion left too.

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