no leaping flame, no clash of battle.

Only this man whom she hardly knows.

MONSTER: OASIS

Six-eyed, six-mouthed, within his caves,

the monster schemed to gain more slaves.

Every scheme must have a basis,

he began with an oasis:

A desert haven and the clan

who dwelt there (perfect for his plan).

His touch a trap that linked his mind

to man or beast of any kind.

By this foul means he claimed the clan,

adult and babe, woman and man.

The monster’s link a ghastly chain

that bound his pleasure to their pain.

Each one a puppet to his whims,

his mind the master of their limbs.

From caravans, he plundered more,

travelers, traders by the score.

Soon whip and blade and burning brand

equipped his lair below the sand.

Then how pleasing proved his toys,

their hurts the tastiest of joys.

THE HORSE WOMAN

A problem indeed,

a problem that formed no part

of Jun Xi’s duties as Finance Minister—

Matters of revenue, expenditure,

diversification of trade,

annual production of silk, tea, spices,

those issues familiar, quantifiable,

far easier than the current matter,

the matter sitting impatiently

across from him—

“Your Highness,” began Jun Xi,

“given the circumstances,

the court overlooked the hastiness

of your marriage to King Xau,

but there is no justification

for omitting the wedding banquet,

a tradition as old as Meqing itself.”

Her Highness snorted.

“They just want to gawk at me.”

Jun Xi endeavored not to gawk,

though there was much to gawk at:

Queen Hana dressed in trousers (trousers!),

her hair beaded and braided

like a... like a barbarian horse woman,

which, regrettably, she was.

Jun Xi cleared his throat,

adjusted the position

of the red sash of his office.

“Your Highness, unless you attend

the principal court functions,

you will be a liability to King Xau

rather than an asset.”

She lifted her chin.

“I chose to marry Xau.

I will support him as best I can,

but a banquet is a mistake.

I would only embarrass him.”

Quite.

Jun Xi looked down

to hide his agreement.

This task of speaking to the queen

the sole personal favor King Xau

had ever asked of him.

And though Jun Xi had clashed

with the king initially,

their hostility had ended

the day that the king,

then barely more than a boy,

had first met Jun Xi’s wife,

his beloved, much-missed wife.

Had met her,

and had neither

looked aside in horror

nor stared at Sim’s scarred face.

Had, instead, attended to all she said,

then led them to the greenhouses

(Sim being a chrysanthemum enthusiast),

where Sim had opened like a flower

to the young king’s questions.

Jun Xi unable to repay that debt,

yet he would do what he could.

He bowed to Queen Hana.

“The wedding banquet is highly ceremonial

with rigid rules of behavior.

With your permission,

perhaps I could tutor you.”

∗

At the wedding banquet,

the new queen sat at the king’s side,

gowned in silk, jeweled,