Page 103 of Of Skulls Of Shackles

King See faced the other monsters who lurked awkwardly if they were not princesses. They must have felt very unsure of such grand company. “I welcome all monsters to my palace this night. Whether this be the beginning or end of us, let us face fate together in goodbye or together in unity for the future.”

King Change laughed under his breath. He had laughed a lot lately. He relished ruin so.

Monsters mostly murmured their agreement with King See. Sign shook hands with the pawns around him. Princess Take rested her head on the shoulder of her shackled king.

There was unity here. Unity in fear. We had each been reminded of what we stood to lose.

“I do love a royal gala,” said a gleeful King Take, glancing around from where his copper panel was set against the wall.

King Raise might agree, but his face did not confirm much of anything ever. “Might you unshackle us, Queen Perantiqua?”

“Not before our last friend is conquered,” I replied.Perhaps not then either.

A nod. “’Tis well to do so, and I do not often move very far anyway. Shackles shall suffice.”

How quaint was the life of a king. A queen had to move a great deal.

“King See,” Valetise said, approaching and sinking into a curtsey that was not as deep as the one she usually gave me. “Your palace is exquisite.”

“This palace pales beside one who is truly the meaning of the word.” His milky eyes were fixed on me.

Valetise tucked away a smile and made way for Picket and Candor to pay their respects to our host. After simple monsters were done, Princess Bring approached to squelch out her thanks for the lovely company we all might share.

I left King See to greet monsters and crossed the stone floor to join kings. I had been walking to King Take, but I altered course for King Change, more in the mood for gloomy and angry company.

I crossed my arms. “What do you see when you look at this scene, King Change?”

“A royal funeral.” He could not hide his grin.

I glanced at him. “Was there never a time when you cared for monsters?”

His grin vanished, and when he looked at me, only coldness resided in his gaze. “Do not seek my understanding, young queen. I will never give it to you.”

“That is not what I was doing. I cannot imagine ever understanding how you could wish to end monsterdom.”

“I know.” And he laughed again.

I shook my head.

“He wallows in his ruinous ideas because he cannot stand that you reduced him to shackles,” said King Take in a bored voice.

King Change looked at him. “You always were the most disrespectful and disobedient of soldiers, Take.”

“I was obedient when I agreed with the orders.” Take snickered after.

“Like I said,” growled Change.

Take’s glee did not diminish. He was much happier serving a queen, and so was Raise.

Princess Raise approached her king with a tray of small treats. “Food, my husband?”

I could not be the only one watching to see how he ate. She pressed the morsels to the space where a mouth might usually be. There was no change in his facelessness, but the morsel disappeared.

Curious.

Laughter burst from a group of pawns on the other side of the room. Not from Princess Change, of course. She was gazing woefully at her king from the bar.

“You might wish to stick to your ruining ideas, Change,” I murmured. “But do forgive a princess. She hardly stood a chance against me.”

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