I lounged on my throne, my legs thrown over the arm rest, my back against the other. My Risen King stood at my side. The members of Grimleal were kneeling before me. At first, I found the Grimleal amusing, now they were just annoying. Until now, I had to use them, but with my beloved Risen King I no longer have a need for them. The annoying maggots.

I reached up and lazily caressed my king's cheek. My handsome king. He never bores me. If I grew tired like you useless worms, simply being in his presence would energize me.

One of the maggots before me cleared their throat. I snapped my eyes down at them baring my fangs. "What?!" Which one of them did it?

Nobody moved.

Smart. Perhaps I won't kill one of them today.

"Milord Grima." Validar bowed so low his forehead touched the floor. "If it pleases you, I would be honored to inform you of recent events."

Very little about these maggots pleased me, but they did speak better than the Risen, all except my darling king. I could only listen to fractured sentences and gurgled out words for so long. Perhaps I should try again to fix that. So far, it hasn't worked, and I've had about 10 timelines to test it. Still, it was something to do. Might be entertaining for a day or so. Maybe I will kill one of these maggots after all.

I waved a limp hand. "Proceed."

He started to blather on about this and that. Why are worms and maggots so full of hot air?

"I regret to inform you that the girl has yet to be located."

"Obviously." I said dryly slouching more in my throne. "Or else her pretty little head would be at my feet." I paused. "Actually, I don't want her head anymore. I want all of her." Because why not? I could make her into a Risen. My Risen Princess. She would finally be my daughter.

Aren't I sweet?

"As you desire, my lord Grima."

I slipped from my throne lazily walking towards them. "My love." I spoke to my king. "I feel like one them should die today."

Risen King unsheathed Fayt. The Grimleal froze. Pity, I was hoping one of them would have reacted. I should have known better. To decide which one would die, I started. "Eeny, meeny, miny, moe, catch a tagul by the toe. If she hollers slit her throat. Eeny, meeny, miny moe." I landed on the guy wearing the funny hat, Ardri, I think. "Love, be a dear and kill that one."

Ardri visibly paled. "Mighty Grima, I beg for you to reconsider. I am a devoted, loyal servant."

I yawned loudly. "How 'bout I give you a head start? If you can make it out of the castle, I'll let you live."

He hesitated.

That was no fun.

"If you don't start running, I'll make your death as slow and as painful as I can. I'm bored and I want some before nap entertainment." I made a 'shoo'ing gesture. "Go."

Ardri looked to his fellow maggots. They made a show of not looking at him. Such comradery. I love it. Complete opposite of the Shepherds.

I held up a hand then tucked in my thumb followed closely by my pinky.

The slow-witted maggot finally grasped the message. He spun around so fast I thought for sure his stupid little hat would fall off.

Before he could even take a step, my Risen King lunged slashing his sword at an upward angle, across Ardri's back. Blood splattered. A bit of it even landed on my clothes. How disappointing.

Ardri fell face first onto the floor with a 'thud'. I laughed. "I said I'd give you a head start. I never said my king would." Semantics.

All of us started down at him.

"I think he's still alive." Aversa said.

I kicked his foot. It twitched. Hmm, that could be just a muscle spasm. "You." I pointed at Jamil. "Stomp on his back."

He did without question.

Ardri cried out weakly.

Well, I'll be damned.

I cocked my head. Should I have a healer try and save him or let him die? The fact that he lived impressed me just enough. "Take him to a healer."

"We don't have any, Mighty Grima." Validar informed me.

Oh, right. I ate the last one. Literally. She tasted terrible.

"Then I guess he dies." Sucked to be him. "One of you finish him off. I don't want my love to get even more blood on him." Not before nap time. "Then drag his useless corpse out of my sight."

Algol raised his axe.

"Not until I get out of the splash zone, you brainless cockroach!" I glared at him. I'd think of something to do to him after my nap. I spun around snapping my fingers. Risen King was by my side and I looped my arm through his. "I want that girl brought to be alive and unspoiled. You don't want to know what I'll do to you if something happens to her." I figured she'll either become my Risen Princess or she'll get in contact with Naga and we'll all jump timelines again. I was good with both.

As we walked away, I heard the delicious sound of steel chopping through flesh and bone.