1	Crown »
The last King of Europe wears a misshapen crown. It was silver once, but blood and soot have conspired to darken its luster. It is dented now and sits awkwardly upon his head . . .
2	King »
When there is a break in the persistent cloud layer, he sits by the window in the library and tries to read. Most of the books are water-damaged, their pages filled with streaks of ink and ash . . .
3	A Game of Chess »
The board is laid into the stone of the peak, and the edges merge so seamlessly with the rock that it seems like it has always been here—an ordered geometric extrusion. Eight by eight as an oversized magic square . . .
4	Kings and Queens »
Such a rush to bloody her. Was I? What made me change my mind, and hold back? What made me so passive? So afraid? . . . [art]