King of Swords 10-166
“Once, Lord Intra came to the Vale of Stalks. It was a broad land with a hardy and beautiful people that wove stems of grass into elaborate mats. There were frequent harvest songs and offerings to the God of Pigs.
Unfortunately, at the time, the people were starving. The land was ruled by Yem Yeddo and his family, who had sucked the life out of it for some time. That was the way of things in those days. Though the soil was quite fertile, Yem Yeddo had surrounded himself with thickset and well-fed men, who lacked in brains but made up for it in muscle and the same kind of canniness found in very smart dogs. These men he used as tax collectors, and he drained the land of every third, fourth, and fifth bale of crop, and sold it for crude coin, feeding the scraps to his thugs.
Lord Intra arrived at the local way house and was served black bread, as was the custom, but skesh was strangely absent, and the bread was thin and mealy. When Intra asked why, he quickly learned of the lands’ plight.
“What of the peregrine lords that tend this place?” He asked.
“They were killed by thirty men, and hung from a tree for seven days,” said the inn proprietor, with a look like a beaten animal.
Intra could not abide this. He called out to Yem Yeddo in the spare and decaying market square, who brought his thirty men.
“Preem Yeddo,” bellowed Intra, “You are a cruel and petty man. How can you scour this land so and not feel for the people that call it their abode?”
Yem Yeddo laughed. “Let them eat the stones, for all I care,” said he.
Intra, who was not one to balk at such matters, picked up a particularly large rock and said, “So it shall be. I shall feed the people with this stone.”
– The Song of Maybe
A moment of peaceful joy can be more powerful than any army.
PROTECC THE SMILE!
Yes, this is just great. What a beautiful transformation. What a wild ride to get to this point.
Much to be unraveled, many questions, leading to answers, creating yet more questions.
But right now, just pure happiness at how this played out.
To quote Salami Dave: “Magnificent!”
Inta doesn’t mess around, huh?
I don’t want to detract from White Chain’s moment. But yes, Intra deserves *real* props. (As he and Au Vam do in pretty much all of their appearances!)
Intra takes exactly 0% of anybody’s shit.
Blessed be, empowered and overjoyed! I really needed this, thanx Abb.
I still can’t read Solomon David’s response. Is he sullen? Is he seething? Is he actually reconsidering things? He may have proclaimed White Chain the winner, but his favor and overall mood still is undeniably influential on how things will pan out outside the arena.
I think the best word for him right now is “Humbled”. Only slightly, but for him that’s monumental.
Like many aggressively “Principled” men, Solomon believed his reasoning was infallible and proven when in reality it was probably just never truly tested. We’ll soon learn if his pride allows him to re-evaluate an age of his own dogma.
He’s still bound by White Chain’s wish, and Solomon doesn’t strike me as the type to monkey-paw it out of spite. Still, it can’t be as simple as releasing Zaid, there’s still too much story to tell. And I just realized, I forgot, Gog-Agog might needle Solomon into acting angrily.
That smile must be protected at all costs, yes.
….. Cio is literally already writing fanfiction in her head.
It’s-a ME! MAAARIO!
It is always a moving moment to see the bud burst into bloom for the first time.
What incalculable joy to see this.
Few fires grow brighter when watered, but now I have seen that as well. What fair seasons lie ahead for our dear flower, I can only imagine.
Everyone is so excited, but it’s just another shell.
What earthy sweetness remaineth unmixed with grief?
What glory standeth immutable on earth?
All things are but shadows most feeble,
But most deluding dreams.
Having been a snail traveler by roadside, I beg to differ
If nothing is worth a thing,
Why care at all?
If a shape is not worth a thing,
Why care at all?
If a smile is not worth a thing,
Pray tell, why care at all?
Materialists almost reaching the point, and then zooming past it.
If your philosophy can truly look at that smile and find it unimportant or unworthy of esteem, then it doesn’t seem like a very good philosophy.
*Furiously signs the adoption papers*
What are your first words, after literally living-through a miracle of creation beyond imagining?
“It’s Me.”
WHITE CHAIN HERE TO REMIND US ALL THAT THE TRUE NAME OF GOD IS “I”
(Also oh my gosh I am crying this is too beautiful! Our Sister!)
Clever! I did not realise that!
This comic has such fucking smart fans. Where do you all go when you’re not here?
One cannot speak for the smart fans but, one has a beverage of choice and recuperates until the overstimulation subsides, about 3 to 4 days time usually.
Read a lot of mythology. Solemnize marriages. Watch some She-Ra
*hanging catradora painting on the wall* sorry wazzat?
Not all heros wear capes… Some give them to others.
Oof!
My feels!
I thought at first that Solomon removed his pants to give White Chain something to wear.
~Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday Dear White Chain, Happy Birthday to You~
Welcome to Life, friend. It is wonderful, terrible, blissful and painful… and absolutely worth living.
So Solomon, are we still on for dinner?
Solomon gave up his cloak with grace, the Mantle of his Office, the pride covering his nakedness, the Yolk tying him to the wheel. I hope he finds peace in his new freedom.
That is not Solomon’s cloak. His robe – for that was what he was wearing at the start of the fight – was obliterated under White Chain’s dual-pronged assault.
Whatever it is, though, I’m glad she got some cover now.
It’s 10 Vigilant Gaza’s upper body cloak/sash he was wearing.
“It’s ME”.
The feeling of that statement. That self love. That release.
As one who has stood in that same place, it’s enough to bring tears.
The battle with Solomon is of no importance,
The battle of the self is won.
“It’s ME!”
Ash may be forged to become harder than steel, but properly tempered flesh may surpass even those great works of artifice.
[We feel that smile right down into her bones.]
I know exactly what this big grin feels like. <3 I get to do that in the mirror and it is *fucking magical*.
<3
Beautiful.
She’s all states, and all princes, I,
Nothing else is.
Is no one going to comment on the lewd adorableness of Allison and Cio in panel four HOLDING HANDS?!
Ah, our Sister has transitioned I see. I’m always happy to see another fully realize herself. I’m glad she finally knows who she is.
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS