假王及孔雀 - Chapter 1
“Nothing will be as you remember. You will be the only constancy returned to that golden sham. Hold your head high and arm yourself with deportment. You are to align yourself with lions, leeches; and bear the musk of sweat beneath all that stifling gold metalwork. But you are the blood of the Vanir, the blood of our father, therefore, you are fluid. What is fluid, like water, cannot be burned.”
Asgard greeted her like a rough palm at the cheek.
Her brother was right. Nothing felt the same, and quite unfortunately, the clay she was molded from may not fare well in this climate of cold, silver swords and liquefied gold. As she stood in the grand hall, paused, like a dusty spot on an otherwise polished antique vase- the lady princess of Vanaheim perused the new outfit of sentinels, flanking the throne all shining, gilded and almost fragile - like porcelain dolls. Her retinue, behind her, had but fallen upon their knees, eyes upon the stone. She felt the need to extrapolate her words- mull her tongue with honey, wag it slowly, spin a thread of beautiful diplomacy, but this was hard to do. What a familiar shadow, she thought to herself, shifting her gaze to the king on the throne. He was the type of man you would expect to have a shit-eating grin. The days of yore giggled in some niche part of her mind- remember him?
“You are not to show submission, by any vein of chance, but you are to show cooperation. Collaboration.” She remembered not to dip her gaze or her chin. Against the deafening silence, she spoke.
“Your Grace- you honour the reconciliatory measure by receiving me in the hearth of your home. I am at your dignified behest, and I look forward to serving our professional relationship.”
First blood drawn, foremost words offered.
To her right, she can hear the feathered animal clattering about in the opaque crate.
