The Queen’s Accusation

The throne room was crowded, but the dais was empty. As they passed through the company the children endured the brittle smiles of nervous courtiers, who looked away as they drew near.

Lady Aubergine pulled the children into a huddle. “I am counting on you to be quiet. I may still be able to protect you, but only if you stay out of it, whatever it may be. For once, try to be seen and not heard.” She met the eyes of each child in turn. Then she knelt and embraced Bettina, whispering in her ear.

Conversation in the throne room hushed when they entered, but the longer they waited the crowd got louder, noise and tension building until raucous laughter and too-loud shards of conversation stabbed at the children’s jangled nerves. They huddled together around Lady Aubergine, who smiled serenely.

At last a quartet of guards filed onto the dais, followed by the chamberlain, who announced “Her Most Royal Lycopersic Majesty Queen Drysi, Right and Only Ruler of the Only Nation and all its Peoples, appointed by the Soil and Revered by All.” She entered on the arm of the Capsicum Guard Chief, who bowed her to her throne, then stood behind it.

“Lady Aubergine,” Queen Drysi began, “I am greatly distressed.” She did not look distressed. Her eyes shone and her mouth curled up just at the edges. Although her comment should have required no response, she watched Eglantine with great expectation.

“I am sorry to hear it, Majesty.”

“Are you indeed?” The queen narrowed her eyes. “But you are the cause of my distress.”

“Oh dear, I am so terribly sorry. How may I make amends?”

“You can confess that you have spread treasonous lies! Do you deny it?”

“I do, my Queen.”

“Then you defy me as well!” The Queen crowed.

“I fear there has been some misunderstanding, Majesty.” Lady Aubergine kept her eyes on the Queen’s feet, but her voice had steel in it.

“You have lied to these children, spreading vicious and untrue rumors,” Queen Drysi said.

“Your Majesty, I have not lied to the children.”

“Then who has?”

“What is it the children have heard that so distresses you, my Queen?”

There arose a rustling of anticipation in the crowd. Claire snuck a glance at the dais and saw the Queen’s red complexion mottled with purple.

“I shall not repeat treason in my own court! You have further conspired with and, and corrupted those beneath you to create the most vile and untrue pictures to cause unrest among the peasants!”