Page 64 of Of Skulls Of Shackles

There were kings to conquer, and when suddenly confronted with entering the haze, I was shocked by an unexpected desperate and urgent need.

Matters with King See were unresolved, and closer to finding resolution than they had been for some time. At dusk we had shared understanding. We had sat beside each other. We had laughed at our beginnings. I had confided in him and trusted him with a truth. He had helped me to perceive a way forward while displaying confidence in my ability to take down a second king, though nothing should really fuel that confidence. King See had been blind to the outcome, after all, and See’s fate and destiny was intertwined with mine, yet he did not allow his fear of losing me drive him to desperation. That was surely a culmination of all the qualities See said were stronger than love.

Goodness, and was I beginning to believe in all he said?

“Love weakens you,” said Cassandra. Her words were echoed by all mothers.

I stared at the haze and felt the sudden weight of everything unresolved. Those matters would haunt me in the haze. They would drive me to nothingness. Faced with that fear, ever the disapproval of my ancestors could not sway me.

I released a breath. “I love him. I love him, and that is not enough, so he says. I cannot do what is needed yet.”

I turned from the haze and toward the disapproval of mothers. That was easier to face, and that is how I knew to feel content with my decision. “I will do what is needed. But not now.”

Their reactions were as diverse as their natures.

I did not look at my mother, but as I strode to the grave, she caught at my hand and forced me to do just that. “Tomorrow night is another night.” She coughed.

Another chance.I gently squeezed her hand. “Yes, Mother.”

“No one has stood where you stand. You are perantiqua.”

No one else could do what I had to do. I had no one to guide me. Though besides my instincts, these women were the next best thing. “I will do what is required of me.”

“I know, Daughter, for you are mine and ours.”

Her murmur was not taken up by the others, and that was unusual. As I stepped into hellebores to return to color and monsters, there remained an inward discomfort. I had never returned from the grave feeling unsettled. The circle of mothers was my place of unconditional support and understanding.

Perhaps I had chosen wrong… yet I would choose wrong a while longer.

For love or the pursuit of whatever may be greater than love. My errorstillwas in assuming I had time. In this instance, time to explore my destiny with King See. I had not gone after the answer to our lover’s impasse, so overwhelmed with the struggle of understanding how our love must never be. Now I had little time to discover romantic destiny.

Our hearts thumped in tandem. That much I knew. We would walk together in destiny.

I growled and climbed out of the grave.

“My queen, might I assist you in some way?” Valetise asked from the wall of bars where she had peered longingly after Picket, who toiled beyond.

I exhaled. “How is Picket since the conquering of a king.”

Valetise sighed. “There was an instant, just a day, where everything seemed well. He has much to do, Your Majesty. His purpose is important indeed, and my feelings are as fibrous as he. I can await romance.”

“Your romance will come. He is quite unraveled by you.”

She looked back, hope shining in her eyes. “But unraveled?”

“Practically coiled on the ground, dear Valetise.”

Perhaps my words would chase away some misery for a night.

“Where is Princess Raise?” I asked.

“With her radio in the small lounge, my queen.”

I strode that way, and burst into the lounge not long after. “Princess Raise.”

She held up a finger. “Matters of humans grow dire. The thatched village begins to retaliate. They have recently and unexpectedly allied with the humans whoweretheir strongest adversaries.”

The humans in my changing territory had fallen victim to the whisperings of my queendom.Good.

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