Page 60 of Of Skulls Of Shackles

“Yes, Princess. You might keep Vassal’s confession unspoken. That will maintain good feeling in the queendom. I understand the whole.”

“But.. I… Are you certain you know what I know? I cannot fathom how, as you were not there.”

Did I understand why taking pawns had started to sneak here and there? Yes, because Princess Take had also smelled of the same secret this dusk, and I was very ancient, so naturally had discovered the connection between the shared and fretful secret of taking pawns and a taking princess.

King Take had the plague.

Upon reaching the conservatory, I realized that I had not answered Princess Bring before leaving her. Goodness, how impolite. How distracting new ancient thought was.

The princess had left me to vast connection and the distraction of immense power, however. She knew that much occupied a queen, and no doubt I would grow used to such pondering ability in time.

But such was new distraction that the beating of another heart in tandem with mine had not registered until I halted in the entrance of my conservatory.

King See stood beside King Change. Both of them peered out at a conquering forest kingdom, and a truth and knowledge radiated between them that I—very annoyingly—could not hope to replicate, given that I did not share the same past as they.

I pouted, safe in the knowledge that both kings faced away from me. Just a little pout, then I would tuck it away again.

“So this is how it will be,” Change slurred.

King See replied, “Will be… I think not. This is how itis. There might come a day when this is how it has been. Perhaps then, brothers might be brothers and more than just the word.”

I narrowed my gaze at their comradery, but managed not to stomp.

The stone that King Change was shackled upon twisted, and I hurriedly banished pout and glare as the king faced toward me. His eyes were closed, and he appeared groggy beyond reason. Hellebores covered him from toe to neck, and I noted their subtle stroking and rustling. Only his head was left free of them. Did that account for his grogginess?

Kings would be kept in my prison by shackle, stitch, and hellebore. Was this olden enough, or would the olden answer be revealed once all kings were shackled in place?

King See faced me, and I could decipher somewhat of his look. Awe. Reverence. Knowledge and acceptance. Certainty.Fear.

Such distraction in me. I had forgotten what I had become since conquering a king. We were equal in power. Not for long, but here was a moment to appreciate our journey.

“Do not fear, King See. You might like to be shackled,” I murmured.

See blinked at the thunder and breeze of my voice that whipped around the conservatory.

Milky sights set on me again. “The idea of your shackle and stitch intrigues. As do your drugging hellebores—what respite for weary immortals.”

My lips torsioned. “Have you come to offer clever words?”

“I come because you have conquered a king.”

“As you see.”

King See clasped his hands behind his back in a way that gapped the front of his embroidered velvet coat. “I am not the only one to offer clever words tonight.”

I grinned, then crossed to my copper-framed mirror. The glass of the window entrance to Raise’s kingdom cracked as I treaded over it. I felt no fear of falling through a stairway realm. A queen was finding her fullness. “Small amusements must be enjoyed in immortality. I seek to keep myself humble.”

King See smirked. “I shall remind you of what you seek from decade to decade.” He bowed.

I was sure he would if the world did not end. “We shall see. Or perhaps you will not.”

He tilted his head. “You brag of a greater ability to connect than I, I connect.”

“I do.”

“What of remaining humble.”

“I only seek that. I must fail sometimes.” After he had laughed, I said, “That is to say that I do not brag about seeing what you have not. I speak of King Change focusing his power to blind you for centuries to his ruining acts upon kings, princesses, and other monsters.

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