Month: September 2024

The insidious truth behind book bans

Banned Books Week is nearly over. But the fight isn’t. It’s an election year, which means politicians will want to look like they stand for something.

Seems to me that with over 50 school shootings so far this year with 24 fatalities, gun reform would be something they’d stand for. Especially since there have been (checks notes) no deaths related to literature this year. But what do I know?

Book banning is one of the most hypocritical, insidious things we’re dealing with in our country. It’s not the worst thing, of course. But it’s something that feeds into most of the other problems we have. Poverty, racism, classism, they’re all fed by book bans.

Let me explain.

It’s another barrier for people without money

So far, no one is talking about banning books outright. They just want to ban books from public and school libraries. If you want to read a book, you can just buy it, right?

I don’t like that argument. It’s the same sort of thing people with money always say, forgetting that there are people who don’t have money.

Books are expensive. Right now I’m reading William by Mason Coile, and it is $24.30. $14.99 for the e-book. I paid nothing to read it because I borrowed it from my local library.

Now, I’m not digging at Coile here. Nova is $14.00 for the paperback. Broken Patterns is $13.00. Books are expensive. Most of that money doesn’t go to the writers. And even if it did, I wouldn’t want you to buy my book if it meant you were going to struggle to buy groceries that week. That’s why they’re all slowly being added to Hoopla.

Libraries give people with limited means access to books. So no, we cannot just go out and buy books if they’re banned from the library. And the freedom to read what we like shouldn’t be one more thing in our society with a financial barrier.

It demonizes books that don’t discuss a very specific worldview

If you look back at the list of books most often banned, you’ll notice that a lot of them are about people in the LGBTQ+ community. Of course, that’s not the reason given by people who want to ban these books. They argue that the books are sexual. But they consider anything to do with the LGBTQ+ community to be sexual.

At least, that’s what they’d like people to believe.

The truth is that most book bans are meant to keep a certain kind of book off the shelf. Specifically, any book that isn’t about a straight person experiencing a story that doesn’t make America look bad. Anything that steps out of that narrow view is in danger.

This effectively closes off a powerful avenue of acceptance for people who don’t exist in that narrow view. Which is to say, most of us. It’s easy to feel like there’s something wrong with you when no one around you understands what you’re experiencing. Books can be one way to find out that you’re not alone. There’s nothing wrong with you, and how you’re feeling is normal.

But of course, some don’t want LGBTQ+ people to feel normal. Some don’t want questioning our sometimes dark and bloody history to feel normal.

It erases hard stories that need to be told

Some books are really hard to read. Maus, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, The Giver, 1984, Handmaid’s Tale. None of those books made me feel good.

Several of them made me feel seen. Most of them made me see the world in a way I hadn’t before, and understand better burdens that weren’t mine. All of them taught me something.

Yes, some books are hard. Yes, some books talk about stuff we don’t want to hear about. Sometimes those are the books we need to read. Because life is hard. Life is scary in ways we don’t all understand.

But if we want to change the world, if we want to make it less scary and more bright, we start by understanding. We start by seeing the shadows.

Don’t stop the fight just because Banned Books Week is done. Because the people who want to fight for censorship sure aren’t stopping.

So, what are you reading?

If you love this content and want to support Paper Beats World, you can do so on Ko-fi.

And if you’re looking for new books to add to your Fall reading list, don’t forget that Starting Chains is coming out on October 4. Broken Patterns is already available on Amazon.

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The top ten most banned books of 2023

Every year I post the top ten banned books of the year before. I think it’s important to make sure we’re keeping an eye on the books that are most often victims of censorship.

I am sad to say that there’s not a lot of shakeup in this list. We’ll see some similar titles here that we’ve seen in years past. And even worse, most of these books were banned for the same damn reason they always are. But you’ll see what I mean.

As always, this information comes from the American Library Association. You can check their whole list, and their very informational website, here.

10. Sold by Patricia McCormick

Banned for sexual content and rape.

9. Let’s Talk About It: The Teen’s Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan

Banned for sexual content and sex education

8. Tricks by Ellen Hopkins

Banned for sexual content, drugs, rape and LGBTQIA+ content.

7. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

Banned for sexual content and profanity

6. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

Banned for discussions of rape and incest.

5. Flamer by Mike Curato

Banned for LGTBQIA+ content

4. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Banned for sexually explicit content, LGBTQIA+ content, rape, drugs and profanity.

3. This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson

Banned for LGBTQIA+ content and sex education.

2. All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson

Banned for LGBTQIA+ content.

1. Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe

Banned for LGBTQIA+ content.

I’m sure you could sense the theme. These bans send a shocking, clear, and horrific message. Some people want to force LGBTQ+ people out of schools. Out of public libraries. Out of society entirely, if they can.

I’m also shocked and appalled by the amount of books on this list that are banned exclusively because they provide sex education. Or the ones that are banned for talking about rape.

We need to talk about it. We need to give people the words and information they need to advocate for themselves. To protect themselves. To stand up for themselves.

By looking at what books are banned, we can see the agenda of the people who ban them. So go read a banned book today. And let me know what you’re reading in the comments below.

If you love this content and want to support Paper Beats World, you can do so on Ko-fi.

And if you’re looking for new books to add to your Fall reading list, don’t forget that Starting Chains is coming out on October 4. Broken Patterns is already available on Amazon.

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What to do for Banned Books Week 2024

It’s Banned Books Week. Well, it’s actually day three of Banned Books Week. And I have some things to say.

Throughout writing this blog, for ten years now, I’ve always celebrated Banned Books Week. And for a long time, that’s what it was. A celebration of how far we’d come in the fight against censorship.

Maybe it was a celebration then. Maybe I was just naive. But it’s not a celebration of how far we’ve come anymore. It’s a staunch call to arms. We aren’t going forward anymore. We’re going backward at a dizzying speed.

The opposition is organized. They claim they’re protecting children, so their cause must be a holy one.

They are full of shit.

Organizations like Moms for Liberty, and politicians like Ron Desantis do not care about protecting children. If they cared about that, they’d be working towards gun reform. They’d be working against police violence. They’d work against incarcerating parents for minor drug charges. They’d work for a broader social safety net, free school lunches, well-funded after-school programs, affordable or free childcare, and healthcare for families with children. The list of worthy causes goes on and on. People who care about the protection and well-being of children put their efforts there.

Instead, book banners threaten teachers and librarians over books like All Boys Aren’t Blue and Marlin Bundo.

These people are loud, they are aggressive, and we need a strong defense against them. We need to be the strong defense against them. Because books save lives. Books help marginalized people feel seen. Books give us glimpses into worlds we don’t live in, paths we don’t walk, and lives we do not experience. We need books to help people see the world outside of their own experience. And that, of course, is why books are banned.

Do not let these loud people fool you. They are only interested in keeping the world the way they want to see it. In specific, binary black and white. Or pink and blue, if you prefer.

So what do we do? Well, of course, I have some suggestions.

Get educated

The American Library Association is a great place to start. You can find info about books most often banned, who is doing it and what is going through.

But you can also visit your local library. Go to board meetings and public discussion groups if you can. Know what’s going on.

And know what’s going on locally. Look, I know it’s an election year and we are all so damn sick of politics. But your local politics is way more important than what most people realize. Your local representatives are going to have a far greater impact on your life than you realize. Especially now, they might decide whether you can access healthcare or read queer books. Know who they are and what they stand for.

Register to vote

Make sure you’re voting, not just in presidential elections but in local ones. Here’s a link to register if you haven’t done it yet.

Read banned books

Get them from the library. Post about them on Bookstagram and Goodreads. Get other people interested. Assume that if a book is being banned, it’s one you should read. Be the resistance. Read the resistance.

Buy banned books (if you can)

This one might be a big ask. Money sucks. But if you can, consider buying books that are banned. I’ve bought like ten copies of Marlin Bundo for friends of mine with little ones.

Write books that are worthy of being banned

Finally, don’t censor yourself when writing. Especially if you are part of a marginalized community. Write difficult characters who are experiencing pain that you understand. Write the hard stuff. Write the confusing stuff. Write things that would piss people off. Write the truth.

Always write the truth.

I can’t wait to see what you’re doing for Banned Books Week. Please let me know what you’re reading, and writing, in the comments below.

If you love this content and want to support Paper Beats World, you can do so on Ko-fi.

And if you’re looking for new books to add to your Fall reading list, don’t forget that Starting Chains is coming out on October 4. Broken Patterns is already available on Amazon.

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My 2024 Fall reading list

Fall will be with us officially on Sunday. Banned Books Week also starts on Sunday. So it seems like a good time to sit down with a scented candle, a good cup of something warm and write out a reading list for the Fall season.

While I am unsure if any of these books are on the official banned book list, I feel comfortable saying they would almost all be banned in Florida schools. So we’re rolling with that.

This list is not full of new books, but all but one are new to me. Some are fiction, some are nonfiction. All have caught my eye. Rather than suggesting that you read every book on this list, I’d like to invite you to make your own Fall reading list. And please, as always, share it with us in the comments.

Happy Fall reading.

Fairy Tale by Stephen King

This one’s been on my list for a while. When I found it at random on the library shelf, I took that as a sign to grab it. It’s the story of a boy and his dog discovering a magical and dark world in their shed. There’s nothing to dislike there.

Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury

I read this every Halloween. It’s a fantastic blend of poetic writing and history. If you haven’t read it, consider this your sign to read it this year. And if you have littles, read it aloud to them. It’s a magical time.

William by Mason Coile

This is a new novel about an AI smart house that, as always, turns evil. I love stories like this. And it is an example of an old story told in a new way. At l—at, I think it’ll be a great example. I haven’t read it yet.

We Used To Live Here by Marcus Kliewer

I should say I plan to read this if I can get my hands on it. I’m currently fifteenth in line for this book at my local library. It’s been all over Instagram, and people are not shutting up about it. And as it is a haunted house story, I had to read it.

Writing on Empty by Natalie Goldberg

I’m still playing catch-up with Goldberg’s work. I forget sometimes that people continue to live and do things when I’m not looking at them. But Writing on Empty should be fascinating, as it’s one of my favorite writers struggling with something I don’t believe in, writer’s block. Let’s see if she changes my mind on this. If anyone can, she can.

We Sold Our Souls by Grady Hendrix

I think this is about a rock star who sold her soul for musical talent. I know it’s by Grady Hendrix and I’ve yet to find a book of his that I didn’t simply devour. He’s become an instant buy (or borrow) author for me.

Lucy Undying by Kiersten White

This is the story of Lucy, one of Dracula’s first victims. And if it’s anything like the other works by White, I cannot wait to start reading it.

Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall

Feminism has never been as intersectional as we’d like it to be. Part of fixing that is educating myself. I’m also fascinated by women who do daring things. So this one should be a great read.

Sisters in Hate by Darby Seyward

It’s not just men who hold up these damaging alt-right beliefs that are so damaging to our country and communities. I want to hear the stories of the women who align themselves with these horrific ideologies. Maybe if I can hear their stories, I can understand how to help them write better ones.

We’ll Prescribe You A Cat by Syou Ishida and translated by E. Madison Shimoda

I am entranced by the premise of this story. People in emotional and physical need are given cats. These cats proceed to change their lives.

I’m writing this post with the cat who has brought so much brightness into my life on my lap right now. I plan to read this one with her stationed squarely on my stomach.

The Hygge Witch Handbook by Courtney Hope

Oh, you didn’t think I was going to get through this whole list without adding one witchcraft book, did you?

Hearth witchcraft is not exactly the core of my practice, but it’s a big part of it. And I’ve been practicing hygge for years. The concept of slowing down, savoring life and embracing little joys is essential for living joyfully in a world full of darkness. I am very excited to learn about incorporating hygge into my witchy homemaking practices.

Will I get to all of these books? I dearly hope so. Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram to check in with me.

And if you’re looking for new books to add to your Fall reading list, don’t forget that Starting Chains is coming out on October 4. Broken Patterns is already available on Amazon.

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Content behind paywalls

I meant to write this post months ago, but the second half of 2024 has been way busier than the first half. So, here we are.

Earlier this year, a YouTube channel I’m very fond of called Watcher made a big decision. They announced that they were going to pull all of their content off of YouTube and put it on their own streaming platform, Watcher.com. It would cost $7 a month to view any of their shows.

The Watcher fan base, many of which had followed Shane, Ryan and Steven from Buzzfeed, lost their minds. Within twenty-four hours, the guys put out an apology and rethought the whole situation. Instead of yanking all of their old content from YouTube, they would leave it up. They would also continue to post new content, though they would do so only a month after they posted it on their own site.

This whole situation got me thinking about how much we’re paying for entertainment. And how much we as creators should be expecting to be paid for our work.

First off, I want to say that I probably would have paid for the Watcher site if that was the only way to get new episodes of Ghost Files and Are You Scared. Those shows are fire.

Selling your creative work is a tricky thing. On the one hand, creatives don’t generally create to get paid. I certainly don’t. If all I wanted was to make money, there are faster and easier ways to do that. What I want more than anything is to share what I make with other people.

That being said, I need to eat. And publishing books cost money. I pay to have PBW on WordPress. I pay for my cover art. I pay to print copies of my book. All of this cost money. Then there’s the fact that if I want time to write, I need to not be at my day job so much. So I need to make enough money to justify not working overtime. Eventually, I’d like to make enough to justify going down to part-time and then quitting altogether.

What I’m saying is, on the one hand, I understand where the Watcher team was coming from. Their content costs a lot more money to create than mine does. And if they want to keep making that content, they need to have the money to do it. That isn’t going to come if they’re beholden to the ever-changing rules and algorithms on YouTube. I don’t blame them at all for making what they thought was a sound business decision.

I also don’t fault them for stepping way back when their community reacted the way they did. I applaud them for listening and considering the points of view of their audience. I think that holding some content back for pay and delaying the release of free content, is probably a pretty good way to go.

I mean, it’s what I do.

I post here on PBW every week for free. I hope I’m giving you content that’s worth something, even though I don’t ask for money. I share some short stories and chapters of my books for free. I even post all of Station 86 for free, for a limited time.

I, however, have novels that are not free. I have short stories for fifty cents on my Ko-fi page. I, like most online creatives, have to walk the line between giving away what we can and charging for what we think is the most valuable.

All of this to say, it’s incredibly challenging to be creative, balancing our desire for eyes on our work and our need to survive in a capitalist society. None of us, I’m sure, forget that people buy our work with hard-earned money. Money that has to go farther and farther as inflation and housing costs get way out of hand.

But I sure am glad you’re here, whether you buy my books or read my content here for free. I’m glad you’re here if you never pay me a dime. I’m just glad you like what I write. And if you do donate, or buy a book or short story, thank you. It means so much more than the financial amount itself. It means, to me, that my work helped someone enough that they were willing to pay money to have it.

So yes, I probably will eventually subscribe to Watcher. I’ll continue to subscribe to some of my favorite creators on Patreon. I’ll buy their books, stickers, and T-shirts. Because I want to. Because I want the content they put out. And because I want them to know that their work is something that I value.

It doesn’t have to be me, but if you can, please consider supporting a creative today. It means the world to us.

If you love the story and want to support Paper Beats World, you can do so on Ko-fi.

Broken Patterns is now live! You can get it right now on Amazon.

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Starting Chains cover reveal!

As promised, all of Woven will be launching before the end of the year. And today, I’m thrilled to announce that book two, Starting Chains, is coming on October 4th!

Today, we’re doing a cover reveal.

Isn’t that just gorgeous? Thank you, Getcovers for another amazing job.

The prelaunch is going live soon. I just had to pop in real quick and share this with you.

Talk soon.

And if you haven’t gotten Broken Patterns yet, it is of course available right now on Amazon.

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My thoughts on the Nanowrimo controversy

Before we begin, I just want to state that everything I’m going to say today is my opinion and my opinion alone. It does not represent any organizations I belong to or write for.

I don’t want to write this. It irritates me that I feel like I have to.

I’m heartsick that I feel like I have to.

In case you’ve missed the news, the NaNoWriMo organization, apropos of nothing, decided to put out a statement that has everyone in the writing community hot under the collar.

Including me.

Now, they’ve since updated this statement. But I think it’s important to share the original one to see why everyone is so upset. Here is a link.

So, if you read this and you don’t understand why everyone’s so up in arms, let me explain. Nanowrimo is not encouraging people to use AI tools to write their novels. They are simply not opposed to this.

Now, let me tell you why I’m furious.

In April of last year, I wrote about the fears of AI writing and how I thought it would hurt the writing community. Specifically, I was worried less about creative writing and more technical writing, like mass-produced blog posts and pithy product descriptions. That was before I found out that the AI generators have been scraping the internet and stealing any work published online.

At this point, it’s safe to say that the primary AI chatbots have my books. They have every post I’ve ever written here. And if you publish your work online, they have yours too. Visual art is taken as well, of course. The online artists were the first ones to sound the alarm.

That is not fucking okay. Artists like us work for years. We practice our work, finding our individual voices and honing our crafts. It isn’t easy, what we do. It takes talent, yes, but it also takes a shit ton of work. I am infuriated that the people who control these chatbots and AI tools feel entitled to the work that we pour into our art. They don’t have the right.

I know that legal protections are coming. At this time I’m unsure how much good it will do. But I am looking into ways to be a part of that.

I am sad to say that the Nanowrimo organization is not. And based on their updated statement, they have no intention to. Their response to the well-deserved fury and vitriol online was to remain as wishy-washy as they were to start with. Though at least they apologized for calling all of us abalist and classist.

It would have been one thing if they’d come out and said that some AI tools are beneficial for writers. I don’t know what those tools might be, but I am open to there being some tools that help people. I am not myself disabled and my mental illnesses don’t impact my writing. At least not in such a way that would be helped by any AI tool I’ve ever heard of.

But that isn’t what they did. They did not say that they were supportive of tools that help people with disabilities. They didn’t list examples of AI tools that help people with disabilities. They instead gave blanket approval to tools that steal our creative work and allow people to take it whenever they please and call it their own. And I cannot abide that. So for the first time in a decade, I will not be participating in Nanowrimo. I deleted my account. I’ll be removing my Preptober planner from my Ko-fi shop, and restructuring it as a novel planner instead. I hope that the board at Nanowrimo reverse their decision. But I’m not holding my breath.

In the end, I am not going to judge anyone, personally or privately, who continues to participate. Nanowrimo is still a great inspiration, especially for young and new writers.

But I cannot in good faith associate myself with any organization that does not fiercely defend writers and artists from the creative cannibalism that is generative AI. So for now, as much as it pains me, I’m stepping away.

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And we’re live!

Today is the day! After almost a year and a half, Broken Patterns is once again available in ebook and print.

In Devon and Lenore’s world, magic is as common as turning a pot or fletching an arrow. What isn’t common is a man with thread magic. When Devon starts weaving prophetic tapestries, his royal family tries to keep it a secret.

But the family can’t stay in the shadows when Devon’s uncle is assassinated and he becomes second in line for the throne. Especially when he weaves a vision of destruction for the dragon lands.

The ebook is just 99 cents. Get it today and please leave a nice review if you like it. And if you don’t like it- why?

I am so excited to have Broken Patterns back out in the world. And I hope that you’re excited to experience the story of a boy who weaves and a girl who spins light.

Book two cover reveal is coming soon.

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My review of Three Simple Lines

I have talked (a lot) about Natalie Goldberg and how much her work has taught me about writing. While she’s best known for Writing Down The Bones, she has many other books about writing, Zen, and how those things intersect.

Having read Writing Down The Bones, Thunder and Lighting and Wild Mind, I thought I knew what to expect from Three Simple Lines.

I was wrong.

Released in January of 2021, Three Simple Lines is a deep and reverent look at the art of haiku. To really explain this book, I think it’s best to start by describing what it is not.

It is not technically a writing manual. At least not in the same way Writing Down The Bones or Wild Mind were. This is not a collection of personal essays, followed by introspective writing advice and prompts. There are no exercises in this book.

Instead, Three Simple Lines chronicles two trips that Goldberg made to Japan to learn about two Haiku masters that inspired her work; Matsuo Basho and Yosa Buson.

Most of the book reads like a travelog. And honestly, with Goldberg’s deep and melodic writing style, I could read her description of a trip to the grocery store. So that alone was worth the price of admission. I loved her descriptions of exploring Japan. Especially the food.

This would have been an education by itself. If you want to write about travel, this is how to do it. I wanted nothing more than to hear everything about her trip.

But of course, that wasn’t all of it.

Learning how to write a haiku isn’t hard. You write three lines. They should add up to nineteen syllables. The standard belief is that the lines should be five syllables, then seven, then five. But most artists agree you can play a little fast and loose with that.

The soul of a haiku comes from the subject matter. A haiku should capture a moment in time, like a firefly in a bottle. Some people say that they should exclusively be about nature. But I’ve seen plenty that have moved me and had nothing to do with nature. The important thing is that it captures that moment and the feelings within that moment.

These descriptions seem simple, and they technically are. The difficult part is in the doing. This takes years and even lifetimes to master.

During Three Simple Lines, Goldberg talks about the lives of famous haiku masters. She also shares some of their most famous works. I am astounded by the slow pace of these artists. They seemed dedicated to their craft before all else.

This is especially astounding to my modern mind. I feel like I am so often focused on producing rather than creating.

Three Simple Lines is a blend of Goldberg’s story and the stories of these two haiku masters. If nothing else, this book will leave you inspired by the small, lovely craft of haiku.

And probably craving mochi.

If you love the story and want to support Paper Beats World, you can do so on Ko-fi.

Broken Patterns is now live! You can get it right now on Amazon.

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Broken Patterns, Chapter Three

Lenore stood with the other ladies of court on the steps of the palace, trying desperately to suppress a sigh. Her cousins, Harper and Joan, stood next to her. Joan was Uncle Joseph’s daughter and a Mestonie. She stood closer than Harper, who was Uncle Lewis’s daughter and on the queen’s side of the family. Lenore thought that if Joan whispered one more comment about how they were the only Mestonie girls and therefore should set a shining example, she was going to go ahead and let Harper punch her out of her boots.

Lorna glanced back at Lenore, and said, “Wipe that nasty look off of your face. King Omar will arrive any minute. I’ll not have you looking like a spoiled toddler.”

She widened her eyes and planted a great smile on her mouth. “How lovely indeed, Mother. Perhaps King Omar could explain to me how it was vitally important I not be allowed to have even one of my dogs with me, seeing as how the last time we visited him in Calistar I had three, and he seemed to find this delightful.”

Harper giggled, but stopped after a look from the queen. “Sorry, Auntie,” she whispered.

Lorna glanced back at Victor, who stood just behind Lenore. “How ungrateful you are, Lenore. I did let you bring one of your dogs,” she snapped.

“Why is King Omar coming to visit now?” Hannah asked quickly.

“To talk to Ambassador Vitaly, and be a friend to Papa,” Lenore said. “He’s holding up really well after Uncle Issac’s death, but I can imagine he’d like to see his friend right about now.”

“It was such a crushing loss to the Mestonie family,” Joan said, batting her eyes. “Really, it’s been difficult for us all.”

“Especially those of us who actually liked Michael,” Harper muttered. “As opposed to those who lived in their country estate and only saw him once a year on his birthday.”

Lorna cleared her throat. The crowds at the front of the palace were cheering, as the royal gondola glided into view.

King Omar was the first person anyone would have noticed. Over six feet tall, he had the dark brown skin of Calistar, a completely bald head, and a neat goatee. He wore a white silk tunic and loose flowing breeches, with a long dagger tucked into his sash. He was standing up on the gondola with Samuel, both waiving to the cheering people.

“Princess, how should I feel about this man?” Victor asked.

“He’s my papa’s best friend, and he likes us well enough,” Lenore said. “But he won’t be in the same room as a girl unless her husband or father is there.”

“That’s not just the king,” Harper said, “It’s the law in Calistar. Don’t make it sound like he’s being strange, Lenore.”

“The girls wear veils over their faces, but leave their bellies exposed like prostitutes, you tell me how that’s not strange,” Joan replied.

“I really hope we just got that all out of our system before anyone important could hear you,” Lorna said.

“Yes, Aunt,” the other girls replied.

The gondola came to a halt in front of the steps. Samuel and Omar disembarked, and made their way up the stairs. “Ah, Queen Lorna,” Omar called in his booming voice. “You look more lovely every time I see you.”

“Thank you, King Omar,” Lorna said with a smile and a curtsy.

“And the little ladies,” Omar said. “Samuel, I don’t know how you let them walk around without veils. They are too precious to be seen by all these unworthy men. Princess Lenore, I hardly recognize you without your puppies.”

Lenore and the girls made neat curtsies to Omar. “I am honored to see you again, King Omar,” she said, in perfect Calistarian.

He laughed out loud, and said in the same tongue, “Clever girl, very clever. I’ve brought my two oldest daughters to visit with you. I am sure you will have a wonderful time with them.”

Lenore, who knew very well that Omar’s oldest daughter was two years younger, suppressed a wince. “I am sure that I will be as good of friends with them as you are with my papa,” she said.

A second gondola was pulling up to the docks. Two girls dressed all in white silk sat on the benches, their faces covered in veils. How am I to carry on a conversation with two girls whose faces I can’t even see? she thought.

As they disembarked, Lenore noticed that the taller of the two was indeed wearing a shirt that didn’t cover her stomach, and there was a diamond set in her navel. They walked serenely up to Lenore, and set their hands together before giving an inclination of their heads. Lenore did the same, having learned to do so while staying in Calistar. Joan tried to imitate her, but Harper simply curtsied.

“It is wonderful to meet you, Princess Lenore,” said the taller one. “My sister and I were too young to be properly introduced when you visited our home. My name is Sultiana, and this is Chrissie.” The shorter girl nodded.

“I’m very happy to meet you both,” Lenore said.

“Let’s head inside now,” Lorna said, gesturing towards the courtyard. “It is rather warm out in the sun today, and we have cold drinks waiting.”

As the Calistar Princesses fell into step beside Lenore, Chrissie whispered, “Warm? It’s freezing out here.”

“Chrissie, shut up,” Sultiana hissed. “You are a guest.”

“D’you really think it’s cold?” Hannah asked. She and Lady Larissa, the final young woman of court, had quickened their steps to join them.

“It is in comparison to home,” Sultiana explained.

“That’s right, Calistar is a desert,” Harper said. “I’ve always wanted to see it, but my papa doesn’t like it. He says it’s too far away from the water for mages like us.”

“How do you survive with all that sand?” Larissa asked. “Doesn’t it just ruin your things?”

“Not all of us wear cloth of gold gowns to Midweek supper,” Lenore replied.

The other girls laughed. Larissa, whose father was the royal treasurer, pointed her nose in the air.

They all settled in the large library just off of the dining hall. This was Lenore’s favorite room in the palace. Sofas were scattered around the room, and the walls were lined with bookshelves. The whole roomed smelled of paper and ink, though there was still a lingering scent from the tobacco her Uncle Issac had smoked.

Lenore sat down on one couch, and the girls sat around her, with Sultiana on her left and Hannah on her right.

“I do wish we might have visited somewhere away from the men, so that we could take our veils off,” Sultiana said. “At home, we have our own sitting rooms, so that we can rest in privacy.”

“Must you have your veils on all the time in front of men?” Joan asked. “How do you eat?”

“We do not eat in the company of men unless they are our family,” Chrissie said.

“Oh, that might make supper difficult here,” Victor said.

The Calistar Princesses gasped, and turned away from him quickly.

“I don’t think you’re supposed to talk to them, Victor,” Lenore said.

Victor blushed. “Forgive me, Princess Lenore, for insulting your new friends. Please tell them for me that I did not intend to violate their customs.”

“What can one expect from a savage, after all,” Joan muttered.

“Princess Lenore, you allow your noblewomen to speak in such a way?” Sultiana said, her voice suddenly very quiet. “Because, it seems to me that the warrior responsible for protecting the greatest jewel of Septa should be shown more respect.”

“The greatest jewel in Septa,” Harper laughed. “Lenore, can I call you the greatest jewel in Septa? We should embroider that on your night robe.”

“Apparently we’re not as particular about nobility here,” Lenore said, trying not to laugh at Harper. “But you’re right. Seems awfully stupid to talk about a loyal man like that. Seems like a girl might just take offense at that, and slap someone’s face, if she doesn’t stop running her fat mouth.”

Joan gasped. She and Larissa excused themselves quickly, and left without waiting for Lenore’s leave.

“That seemed cruel,” Chrissie said.

“I quite agree, those girls were very rude,” Sultiana added.

Across the room, the kings were getting to their feet. “My friends,” Samuel said, “King Omar and I must discuss a few things, matters of state and such. Rather than bore you all with that, I’d like to invite you into the garden, where food and drink are waiting. We’ll join you when our work is completed.”

Lorna rose, among her ladies, and started to lead everyone out into the garden. Sultiana glanced around, and said, “That is very peculiar. Kadar and Shilom are not going with my honored father.”

“Who are Kadar and Shilom?” Lenore asked.

Sultiana pointed to a very tall man dressed in red with his hair in thick braids, and an older man dressed in blue with a prominent forehead. “That is Kadar, of the smith tribe, and Shilom, of the Scholars. They are his chief advisers. If our honored fathers are to discuss work, these men should be with them.”

Lenore glanced around, and noticed that Lord David and Uncle Lewis, her father’s own chief advisers, were leaving with the rest.
“What are they talking about without them, I wonder?” Lenore whispered. They went out into the garden. The sun was shining, and tables of food had been set out with blue tablecloths. Lenore glanced towards the wall. It had been repaired, but the bricks were of a different shade. She shuddered, wondering if she was the only one who thought it morbid that they were playing in the garden where Uncle Issac and Michael died. She glanced over at Devon. From the look on his face, she wasn’t.

“So, you won’t be able to properly meet my brothers, or the other boys of the court?” Lenore asked, trying to distract herself. “Or can you speak to them with your father present?”

“We may not speak to them at all,” Sultiana said. “In fact, I am surprised that my honored father even allowed us to be in this garden with all of these men without him.”

“Whatever he is talking to King Samuel about must be of the gravest importance, to break such laws,” Chrissie said.

“I wonder,” Sultiana said, looking along the wall, “if someone wanted to hear their conversation, what would they do?”

“They would be smart to forget that idea,” Chrissie said, “After all, they are kings, and if they want a moment of private conversation that not even their advisers are privy to, then surely their daughters should respect that.”

“Of course,” Lenore said, “but if someone wanted to do it, they could manage it by sneaking into the servants’ hall, and listening at the door.”

“And I am off,” Hannah said, “If my mamma finds me spying, she’ll have me shut up in the kitchens for a week, scrubbing pots.”

“I shall come with you, as Malonie smiles upon little girls who obey their elders, not those who delight in disobedience,” Chrissie replied. They made their way towards the food table.

“Right, so the servants’ halls have got an entrance right over here,” Harper said, pointing her thumb towards the wall.

“I think I ought to wait here, Princess,” Victor said. “I do not think it will be healthy for me to be found sneaking about with the Calistar princess, even in the company of others.”

“Good thinking, you can keep watch,” Lenore said. “Tell my mamma we went to the necessary room if she notices us gone?”

Victor gave her a wicked smile. “The Queen is well occupied, showing off for the ladies of court. You will not be missed, I think.”

The three girls glided serenely across the grass. “Will Chrissie tell?” Lenore asked.

“No, will your friend, Hannah?” Sultiana replied.

“She won’t,” Lenore said. They looked around when they got to the door to make sure no one was watching. Then, Harper opened it, and all three of them disappeared into the hall.

The servants’ hall was well lit with torches and set with a cobblestone floor. Lenore led Sultiana and Harper along until they reached the door that would lead them to the library. They saw no one along the way.

Outside of the room, all three girls clustered around the door to listen.

“I wish I didn’t have to ask this of you,” Omar was saying. “I know this is not the best time.”

“Not the best time!” Samuel cried. “Issac and Michael were just killed, right in front of two of my children! I’ve got the whole damn country in my lap, which I am apparently handling terribly, according to every single person who’s got anything to say to me. We’re on the threshold of war with Montelair. Not the best time is an understatement!”

“I haven’t got a choice,” Omar said. “You know how sensitive these things are for my people. If I don’t have an heir, I’ll be looking at civil war.”

Lenore looked at Sultiana. “What’s that about?” she asked.

“My father does not have a son, brother or any male relatives,” Sultiana said. “My honored mother passed into The Goddesses’ hands a year ago. Our people grow restless, with no heir apparent.”

“And your people are a little fussy with each other, aren’t they?” Harper asked.

“If by that you mean the tribe leaders would sooner cut each other’s throats than decide together who our next heir should be, then yes,” Sultiana replied. “There has already been fighting between the Smiths and the Herdsmen.”

“Samuel, I won’t get another chance like this,” Omar said. “Don’t you see what this would mean to my people? I’ve spent my life trying to get these closed border fools on my council to listen to me. You are still the only Septa man who can enter our lands without getting shot on sight. And a man who leaves with his family is hunted like a traitor by his own family. Now, I’ve got the Traders on my side, the Scholars as well. The Farmers will side with me just to stop the war. I’ve got the Smiths and the Herdsmen outvoted. If I can’t do this now, I will never get another chance.”

“Omar, you are asking me to give up one of my children,” Samuel said. “You’re asking me to change his family name, as though he was never even mine.”

“Not until they are married,” Omar said. “He’ll stay here until then.”

“Octavian?” Lenore whispered.

“Who is that?” Sultiana asked.

“My little brother,” Lenore replied. “But he can’t go to Calistar. He’s our heir.”

“Omar, I think you ought to meet the boy first,” Samuel said. “He’s not really the sort of man who’d likely get on well in Calistar.”

“Well, now I know he’s not talking about Octavian,” Harper said.

“Oh damn,” Lenore whispered.

“Devon seems like a bright boy,” Omar said. “And he’s young. It’s still too early to tell what sort of man he’ll be. I am sure that he and Sultiana will get on very well.”

“Is Devon your other brother?” Sultiana asked. “The quiet one?”

“He is,” Lenore said.

Samuel sighed. “I wanted him to stay here, and be an adviser to Octavian, like I was to Issac.”

“But if he comes to Calistar, he will be a king,” Omar said.

“And why in the nine levels of hell would I want that?” Samuel asked. “Weren’t you the one who told me that the crown was a curse? That being a king would always come before being a father and husband? Why d’you think I’d want that for both of my sons?”

“I don’t,” Omar said. “But I know that you do want peace. I know that you know what will happen to Septa if Calistar falls to war. I know that you are already acting as a king first. And I know that Devon will do the same. I am sorry, my friend, but this is the best option for both of us, not just me. Unless you want Octavian to inherit a warring neighbor after my death.”

“You are right,” Samuel said. “Creator preserve us, I know it. I’ll speak to Lorna, she’ll be livid.”

Lenore got to her feet. “I’ve got to go find my little brother, excuse me,” she said.

“I do not think that you are very happy with this news,” Sultiana said.

“It’s nothing against you,” Lenore said. “It’s only that, well, my little brother’s not the sort to be very happy in Calistar.”

Copyright © 2024 by Nicole C. Luttrell

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