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Showing results for tags 'The Queens'.
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“How am I supposed to decide…” The question wasn’t aimed toward anyone—in fact, he was the only one in the room. Propping his head up on one arm, he stared intently at the computer screen. Two windows were open, both of which displayed a figurine with a rather outrageous price tag. One figure was a woman with long blonde hair, clad in heavy, gleaming armor and brandishing an elegant sword. The other was a slightly younger woman, this one with short red hair and wearing a flowing pink dress. Both wore the same golden crown and stood upon a circular base. He leaned back and ruffled his hair in frustration. “Come on, Jim, just pick one! Don’t let the opportunity go to waste!” The sound of the door opening nearly made him jump out of his seat. Looking over his shoulder, he saw his sister and brother enter the house—he waved, and then turned back to the screen. “You haven’t even moved from that spot, have you?” his brother asked. Jim mumbled, “I’m still thinking.” His sister approached and leaned over his shoulder, studying the screen. “Oh, you narrowed it down to these two. They’re from that video game, right?” Jim nodded. “My two favorite characters—the Queen of War and the Queen of Light. With the cost of shipping it overseas, the gift card only has enough money on it for one of them. It’s a very difficult decision.” Jim’s brother shook his head. “Jim, you’re such a loser. Why don’t you spend that card on something that actually has a use, you nerd?” Quietly, his sister asked, “Do you want me to correct him?” “Why bother?” Jim sighed. There were a lot of words for what Jim was—nerd, geek, escapist, hikikomori—and none of them had an especially positive connotation. The last term bothered him the least, but that was solely due to its Japanese origin. Addressing his brother now, Jim said, “It’s my card, I get to choose how to spend it. I don’t expect you to understand the value of collectibles, but it’d be nice if you’d stop insulting me just because I do.” “Whatever,” his brother scoffed. “Do you even have room for any more of those lame figures?” With a solemn look, Jim answered, “I’ll have to put one into storage when the new one arrives…but for now, I need to focus on the more pressing matter. Now if you’ll excuse me…” Jim returned to the screen. His sister left the room, somehow managing to drag their brother along with her, allowing Jim some peace while he weighed his options. They’re going fast. I have maybe an hour before they both run out of stock. The craftsmanship is equal, so it’s a question of which character I love the most. He sighed. And that’s what makes this so difficult... Taking a deep breath, Jim calmed down and resolved to make a decision. Accessing a video hosting site, he replayed a few scenes from the game featuring both candidates, doing his best to gauge his feelings for them both. When that was done, he closed the computer and walked into his room. It was lined with shelves, each stocked with figurines of all shapes and sizes. Closing his eyes, Jim pictured himself walking in to see one of the new figurines sitting there to greet him, and then did the same for the other. As she passed by, his sister poked her head in. “Any progress…?” Jim slowly nodded. “I’ve made a decision.” His sister offered a compassionate smile and continued on her way. Jim returned to his computer and brought up both windows for the last time. Queen of War…I’m sorry. Maybe some other time. Summoning all his resolve, Jim dragged his cursor to the top of the window and closed it. In an instant it was gone, and only the Queen of Light remained. The Queen of Light…so kind and caring…she’s someone I want to be able to see every day—someone to come home to, to wake up to. Pausing only to maximize the window, Jim clicked the button to add the Queen of Light figure to his cart. Proceeding to the checkout, he punched in the code on his gift card and smiled when the tracking number came on-screen. The Queen of Light had begun her journey, and soon she would arrive at his door. There was no doubt in his mind that the anguish of making this decision would be worth it. Jim shut the computer off and returned to his room. The Queen would not arrive for at least another week…but it may very well take him that long to find a place to display her.
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Scepter Paddle sore, head of boar, Give me a scepter and end a war! Black and white, Turkish delight, Save the land from endless night! The jester’s ditty rang through the court, each line accentuated by some ridiculous action – a backflip, a handstand, flipping his hat upside-down. Few present could contain their mirth; even the queen herself had burst into laughter. These days there was little to be happy about. All were anxious to find some way, however small, to release a bit of tension, to relax for a while. With the enemy so close, advancing so quickly, there was little opportunity for enjoyment of simple pleasures. The queen was speaking now, clearly amused. “So, it’s my scepter you want, is it?” She waved the rod in the air. It was a simple device, a shaft of wood painted white and adorned with a bulb of gold at one end. The queen smiled. “Well, take it, then.” Her face darkened suddenly. “Not like I’ll have much use for it in the near future…” The scepter spun through the air, and the jester caught it deftly, grabbing it by the bulb and flourishing it as he bowed. “Thankee, milady,” he said. “If it’s all the same, I’ll take my leave.” Four backflips later, he was gone. If the guards were perplexed by the queen’s actions, they did not show it. Times were desperate, they knew. If the jester would be prompted by the gift to provide a bit more amusement, they had little complaint. /// Walking into the chamber was like submerging oneself in a bath of ink, I thought. It was altogether impossible to see anything at all, a sensation that I’d never quite grown accustomed to. “Do you have it?” A deep voice rang out from the darkness. “Indeed I do,” was my reply. I shook the white shaft in the direction of the voice, though I knew its owner could not see it. “Good.” I felt the scepter wrested from my hand as my companion grabbed it and retreated off to the chambers blackest recesses. “I’m still not convinced this is the greatest idea.” “You have seen the horrors that this war had inflicted on both our lands. It cannot be allowed to continue.” “No,” I sighed. “No, it can’t.” I closed my eyes, knowing what was about to happen. The blackness behind my eyelids suddenly seared red as blinding light poured through the chamber. A few moments later, it had died down, and I opened my eyes again, finding a quartet of torches lighting a small table. At its center was drawn a box, separated into sixty-four internal squares. My companion was already seated at the table, impatiently tapping his own scepter. This one was painted black and topped with silver. The white one was lying across the table from him in front of a single empty chair. I sat down reluctantly. My companion tapped one of the squares in the box with his scepter. /// In a brilliant flash of light, a queen clad in black vanished from her throne. Moments later, one in white faced the same fate. A dozen guards vanished from each throne room, followed by a large contingent of nobles from their castles. Generals vanished in seconds, military leaders in armor of snow and obsidian consumed by sudden bursts of brilliance. And then the armies were gone, too, almost before they could wonder what was going on. /// The game was set up; thirty-two pieces lined the board. My companion grinned. “White moves first!” I swallowed hard and slid my first pawn forward.
