XAU

You are exploiting your situation.

NYA

Of course. So answer.

XAU

We would rather not.

NYA

Answer anyhow.

XAU

When the wild horses came to us,
we asked nothing, yet they came.

NYA

And, later, controlling
your cavalry in battle?

XAU

We thought of what we wanted,
the maneuvers. It was... hard.
When we wished one group of horses
to veer left, another to veer right,
we had to hold those thoughts apart,
which proved exhausting.

NYA

Hmmm. A cost to it then.
Was it harder to control
the enemy’s horses?

XAU

We didn’t.
We didn’t ask for what they gave,
but their deaths lie on our conscience.

NYA

As well they might.

XAU

Our soldiers also are on our conscience.
Those who died.
Though there we did no more
than any general in any war.

NYA

Did you not?
You are tiresomely, relentlessly principled,
a trait that incites loyalty.
Enough. I tire.
Sit with me, but do not speak.

Xau holds her hand.

LETTERS

Scene: Kitchen, Nya’s estate.

Enter Nya.

XAU

Grandmother—

NYA

Why are you eating with the servants?

XAU

It’s not yet dawn. We didn’t want
to cause them extra work.

NYA

That is what they are paid for.
Here, I kept your father’s letters.
You should know more about him
than his military campaigns.
The paragon’s letters are there too.

XAU

Mama’s letters?
We never thought—thank you.

NYA

(To Li) You are the captain
of Xau’s guards? Shield him well.

LI

That is what I am paid for.

NYA

Hmmph. It takes more than gold
to induce a man to die for you.

LI

The king has paid more.

NYA

He still looks pale.
Is he well enough to ride?

XAU

We can ride. We had not guessed
you would worry about us.

NYA

A passing weakness. Safe travel, Xau.

Xau bows to her, then hugs her.

BESPEAKING: RIDDLES

Dialogue, debate, diatribe, anecdote,

sarcasm, insults, politics, gossip,

a sporadic conversation carried out

across a divide of hundreds of miles.

Both participants ancient, inhuman—

one a creature of fire and flight;

the other a six-eyed, six-mouthed,

tentacled monstrosity.

High on her mountain,

the dragon bespoke the Hidden Queen,

“What bears no weapons,

has neither talons nor teeth,

yet can bring down kingdoms

or foster alliances?”

Hundreds of miles away,

deep in her underground chamber,

the Hidden Queen snorted.

“Feeble. The answer is words.

What grows when you feed it,

dies when you give it water?”

“Fire. Pathetic. Utterly pathetic.

That one was old before I hatched.”

“True, you are horribly old. Try this.

What’s the smallest square number

that is the sum of two

non-zero square numbers?”

“What?!” bespoke the dragon.

“That doesn’t sound like a riddle.”

“You know all the riddles.”

“I am indeed wise.”

Then a lengthy pause.

“How can numbers be square?”

In her underground chamber

the Hidden Queen laughed,

a discordant sixfold creaking.

“A square number is one obtained

by multiplying a number by itself.

One, four, nine, sixteen....

Do you give up?”