Page 115 of Of Skulls Of Shackles

The king sighed heavily, then coughed as though soot filled his lungs. Some escaped his cracked and black lips. “A cockless king. A king who has lost. And why? I considered my mistakes next, much in the way mortals might do on their deathbeds. I have made mistakes, and soon I will die.”

King Bring was unique among kings. He was the only king who had tricked himself into believing that his obsession with purpose had not corrupted him. Take had tried to mitigate his corruption. Raise had carried no care about corruption because he could never fathom kingliness at all. See and Change were dedicated to their chosen path and entertained no illusion about what they were.

But King Bring had chosen to save, and then justified any number of misdeeds in the name of such. Murdering his princess. Trapping a queen into union. By his words, he might have killed me and See this day if in possession of the means to do so.

Near death, King Bring had looked at his denial. He might have chosen to die with it, but he had chosen not to.

He had adhered to the pact of saving when no other king did, even if misguided along the way. As ever, his vision of a vibrant world was the kingly vision I agreed with most. He had wanted this so very badly. King Bring had become a desperate king for a time, but perhaps that was not who he was without the burden of the world’s saving upon his shoulders. “How should we save you, King Bring?”

He looked up, and I almost winced at the cracking sound that must be the back of his neck.

“But save me, fair queen?”

I said, “You were the first king that I understood, King Bring. The world you wish for echoes in my wishes too. Saving had become a desperate matter of late, but we all become carried away sometimes. I would not wish to ever see you dead, nor any monster.”

He licked his lips, and his tongue was yellowed. “You know how to save me?”

“I must conquer you, sir. That is how matters must go.”

Bring’s face contorted. “You wish me to surrender my kingdom?”

“Ancients wish it, sir. I am merely driven by them. They gave me the power and means to conquer four other kings. Do you believe yourself a king among kings?”

His gaze slid to King See, then back. “I do, as did every king. Such ego comes with a crown, including yours.”

“Ego is sometimes necessary when great burden exists,” I answered.

The king nodded. “I see the world sliding to ruin.”

“It is. Pawns and kings are a’plagued. I fathom that princesses might soon succumb. Then King See. Then myself. This could be the end. Sir, if you will not be conquered by a queen, then conquer yourself in the name of saving, for I know that is what drives you always.”

He closed his eyes and I watched the last of his eyelashes fall away. “I have,” the king hushed in a puff of soot. “I have been driven so, and to what end? To the end that I poisoned my princess and became vain with kingdom? I have prided myself on saving. I have fallen on ruin instead.”

“Your actions need not be rendered to one moment unless you wish to give up. Hold to thoughts of what we shall do next. This mistake will be nothing if you move forward with the wisdom gained of it.”

He watched me, breaths labored. One strong wind might reduce him to dust. My chest tightened, for I had meant what I said about kings needing to live. Or my power would be incomplete. Then, I could not do whatever was needed. I felt certain of this.

King Bring could not die.

“I cannot see how this unravels,” the king said at last.

I slipped off the bed and padded over. I picked up his hand and patted the back. “But I can. I understand you, and our next step. So trust that I have the best intentions for monsterdom. Trust that I respect and regard your kingliness.” Because he was a king that would resist conquering at all costs, I added, “And trust that I will conquer you whether you agree or not. You are very weak and crumbly, King Bring.”

His shoulders shook and he sooted a low laugh, breaking off the sound with a pained wheeze. “Then you will shackle me, Queen of Monsters. You will shackle me, and all will be well.”

I smiled. “Yes, all will be well. Let me help you.”

A knock sounded at the door.

“Come in,” I called.

Valetise entered. “My queen, I have come to dress you.”

She gestured at a screen.

“I will not be long,” I said to the king.

I joined Valetise. “I did not need the second daylight outfit after all.”

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