Anything I say you lie along with me
Every song you sing is all because of me
It has occurred to me that many of my men underestimate me. I see this in the way Errant tags along, only to dip out with the bloodrider who stole a child. They disappear into the thicket of the jungle without another word my way. All the better, I have little care for what they do. The thorned woman is gone, and with her the pulsing of the wound on my rump.
I remind myself to bring it to Scorch's attention.
"I was unaware the Amazons were in the habit of stealing their own family members from kingdoms," I say simply, though there is nothing lethal in my voice. It's not in my nature to respond with anything more than false grandeur. Scorch can bare her teeth all she wants, she will not provoke a rise from me so easily. "I thought we were on such terms that you could simply visit - your last visit was most pleasant. I feel as though we learned much about each other." There is only a moments hesitation between the sentences. "It does beg an interesting question - a question I came here to get answers. See, I have no intention of dragging out some silly dispute because a member of your kingdom stepped out of line. See, I asked myself a lot of questions on the walk over here. What does a high ranked member hope to accomplish by stealing a child - who willingly comes and goes - from a neighboring, friendly kingdom? Diplomatic or no, a CHILD." I don't do any of the tsk-ing or fake shake of my head that a normal asshole would do.
No, I was raised to be civil, and that just isn't civil.
"If your bloodriders are not acting in accordance to your rule that wouldn't bode well. The Amazons are a notoriously strong kingdom, I can understand a hiccup amongst strong women." I pause then, and only then. "I'm sure this was a mistake."
Anytime I cry you always laugh at me.
No matter what you do you belong to me
I’ve been reading in National Geographic about the Natives of Papua New Guinea. They would go to war with a neighboring tribe, when they conquered them the winners would eat the vanquished tribe’s best warriors, their medicine man, and their chief. Do you think it's possible to take someone's power by eating their flesh? Or could you do it just by bathing in their blood?
