“That’s wrong,” said Keng.

“Mama wears clothes.”

Dao cleared his throat.

“This tiny maiden spins so you may wear

beautiful, soft, silky clothes—”

“A silkworm!” said Keng. “Another. Please.”

After breakfast,

as Dao was leaving for his quarters,

the king’s hand on his arm:

“This warrior worked all night,” said Xau,

“then, unasked, served extra duty.”

King Xau bowed low to him.

AFTER

Triumph. Demon dead.

Yet the young king woke each night

fighting him again.

Back to the burnt towns

straggled men, women, children

with their lice, fleas, horses.

High on her mountain

the dragon yawned, vastly pleased

with her chosen king.

Bracelets, rings, flowers

placed in the ashy ruins;

a child’s stuffed rabbit.

VICTORY

When King Donal returned, triumphant,

the whole town came out to cheer.

Trumpets sounded, pipes blew,

children whistled, dogs barked.

Donal rode up to the castle,

throwing honeyed almonds to the children,

but he did not smile, nor speak, nor wave.

In the castle gatehouse,

Connol, his brother, gave him a bear-hug.

“It’s been dull here.

You can have your throne back.”

Donal nodded, but said nothing.

“I hear you had more excitement. You were right.

Horse Boy brought us victory.”

“Don’t call him that,” said Donal.

“What? Xau?”

“King Xau.”

“But you call him Horse Boy—”

“Not anymore.” Donal walked past Connol,

past the people waiting to meet him,

and up the spiral stairs.

Connol sprinted after him:

“Did I say something wrong?”

“King Xau slew the demon.”

Donal came out onto the wall-walk.

“I won’t call him names.

Nor will any man in my army.”

“How did he kill the demon?” asked Connol.

Donal walked on without answering.

He had no mind to tell anyone,

even Connol, about the demon,

its voice like their uncle’s voice.

How Donal knelt to it.

How he would have taken

what the demon offered.

Connol caught Donal’s arm. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. We won. King Xau won.”

Donal shook himself free of Connol’s grip.

He stared out of an embrasure,

seeing neither the hillside

nor the town below,

but the demon’s men,

found the morning after the demon died.

Men who didn’t speak,

didn’t look at anyone,

didn’t react. Lost.

As he might have been.

“Xau saved the demon’s men,” said Donal.

“I don’t believe it,” said Connol.

“You like Xau now. You fucking like him.”

“I fucking do,” said Donal—

and the saying of it,

and Connol beside him,

and the town below them safe once more—

set something right inside him.

“So,” said Donal, “did you fetch women?

Rewards for the valiant?”

“Your wife is visiting her sister.”

Connol grinned. “So yes, I fetched women.”

“Don’t delay then,” said Donal. “Lead on.”

QUEEN FIAN

Fian said, rubbing oil onto Donal’s back:

Such a great victory,

such a victory as they will sing of,

the victory of our age.

Fian, giving Donal spiced wine:

You saved your country,

and now, at last,

you will save mine.

Fian, massaging his legs:

Xau the Usurper trusts you,