Queen Of Thorns

The Crown's Stigma (4)

The kings and their princes' all grew frazzled by witnessing a small inch of the Queen's power, herself standing unfazed at the attempts to end her reign not even touching her nails. The King with the protruding stomach roaring in defence, accusingly pointing.

"Cursed hag! She's a witch! The devil's spawn!"

Thorn rolled her eye at the dramatics and motioned to zipping lips, his mouth sewing shut as his eyes brimmed as if a needle had pierced his skin to close it. Almost yawning as she spoke,

"Silence thee for your words are of the silvered tongue, I allowed you to end my life where I stand and thee failed. Now introduce yourselves one by one, allow my people to know the kings in their presence."

A gruff purred from the wild cat at Thorn's leg swaying its tail as if they were timed,

The eldest king with long flowing hair down to his knees bowed his head first, announcing his name before the king with blue jewels.

"King Durenath of Drèbla "

"King Soroph of Sapphia"

The young king showed the most respect and spoke with a gentle tone, staring deeply into the Queen.

"King Laràeth of Torlior, your majesty."

The protruding king grumbled through his sewn lips while the Scarred king began to speak, announcing.

"I am King Eràtyl of Vondàq and this oaf is King Prodes of Falića, my distant cousin."

Thorn listened intently before a small silence wavered above the men when she prodded,

"Well? Your sons?"

"The princes; Tej, Dràte, Fiir and Letüne."

For a moment there was dead silence over the music that filled the halls when the Queen finally raised from her throne, picking a glass of champagne up.

"Well then, welcome Kings Prodes, Eràtyl, Laràeth, Durenath and Soroph. Welcome princes Tej, Dràte, Fiir and Letüne."

The Queen bowed her head, a sly smirk almost touching her face.

"Welcome to my kingdom! I am Queen Thorn and this..."

Her left arm expressed to the halls of beauty, the bountiful food and bubbling drinks. Music both swelling yet smooth filled with thousands of eyes, she continued.

"Is Relicà!"

The music swelled as The Queen felt a small burst of energy, a slight glow entrapping her at the moment. Ladies and gentlemen began clapping at the display beginning to relax, waiting until Thorn signalled for the ball to continue and once she had dancing filled the hall.

Even the Kings who had been rather reserved, especially the protruding belly King Prodes, sat at the grand table. Joined by their sons shortly and Thorn who felt the tail from Kittyosis trailing around her heel protectively, took a sip of her drink.

"Your Highness?" Prince Fiir started, looking up from his lap with a glare from his father.

"Yes, Prince Fiir?"

"Is it true the men of Relicà are mind-controlled, forced to serve the women?"

Placing the glass between her fingers back on the table and smiling with a sickly sweetness, Thorn turned her gaze to her subjects who danced unaware of the conversation between royals.

"No soul is controlled to serve or live within my walls, every man and woman who you see here are free. Allowed to leave or stay at will."

Each Prince slowly turned to see the joyful faces of The Queen's subjects, as she could see softness reaching their eyes, King Soroph who was adorned with sapphires tried to resist scoffing.

"Something wrong King Soroph?" Thorn raised an eyebrow.

"I just like how you make out this place is so perfect and yet I can only imagine how many of these men are the actual workers, why is it no one has left unless under some control."

Kittyosis began to emit a growl from the seat of The Queen, but Thorn's face remained neutral until a grin cracked upon her lips, not meeting her eyes.

"Many of the men are the 'housewives' while the women are more bringers of income and produce more for all to enjoy this lifestyle."

The long flowing haired King Durenath glinted from his eyes,

"So the women are forced to work to serve the men? How come there is no King then?"

Instantly the sound of music halted and the crowd of people stopped dancing having heard the question, they glared furiously but all were directed to the Kings. A laugh that made goosebumps rise upon them all echoed in the silent halls as the lights began to dim, a glow emitting from Thorn.

"You think I make my women serve them? How very foolish of you. They choose the things they love to work on be it gardening or making clothes, the men that are here are chosen by their partners and me, if they are worthy to be here then they are. My Kingdom does not need a king, for everything you see here was done by myself and a generation of women."

Standing from the table a wave of her hand made Kittyosis shift into her human form, the catlike eyes narrowing on the kings as they stared wide-eyed.

The Queen moved back to her throne as the hall lights began to flicker back to a brighter setting, the air so dense with a tenseness that the music didn't dare start again.

"Your kingdoms were made on the backs of slaves. All because you black-hearted kings rule, should someone worthy had taken your places your kingdom could've been as great as mine."

She pointed her gazes to the princes, a smile creeping across her face disconnected from her eyes which gleamed with a threat.

"Learn well young ones, be as your fathers and suffer their irreversible future fates. King Prodes, you disrespect yourself by refusing to bring both your children."

The King whose lips had still been sewn together had eyes as wide as saucers at Thorn who smirked gleefully.

"Oh yes, I know all about her."