All the members of the rebel Viking squad (whose first assault
Killed the guard) were held accountable, with Alban most at fault.
They were fed and kept in Port-a-Vaults in one small palace garden,
Called the Prison Stretch of Grass. Now they would never get a pardon.
One day Ambloome headed from the palace, walking on her own.r32;She was followed by her Viking boyfriend. He knew she was prone
To some darker thoughts, since she had said the guard had once been reading
Pleasant stories, when she was a child, with her attention needing.
Ambloome came to Albans Port-a-Vault, and said, I want to know
Why you murdered my old friend the guard, to strike a spiteful blow,
From resentment that my fellow giant women werent your consort.
Tell me, also, how you rounded up your allies for your onslaught.
They were glad to help me, giant girl, said Alban, But the trick
Was my telling them of Kaytes affair with Tennyce, which was sick.r32;That young lady tried to eat the boy, and then they both went steady.
When I spoke of that depravity, my men were good and ready.
Youre the sick one! Ambloome roared at him, Your lousy prejudice
Put my best friend in the grave, and left your whole team stuck like this.
I should lift your vaults up high and throw them straight towards the water
Of my pool, but unlike you, I dont resort to wholesale slaughter.
Then she turned to leave the Prison Stretch of Grass, and saw Lee-John.
Hed been listening, and she wondered what he thought of what went on.
What if he was right? she asked in tears, when he began consoling
Ambloome, What if Kaytes attempt to eat that boy set all this rolling?
But it didnt, said Lee-John, That madman Alban used the facts
To inaugurate his evil war with unprovoked attacks.
If youre wondering what to make of Kayte, just seek your own conclusion.
Are your thoughts about her dating linked with Albans vile intrusion?r32;
Its been lovely that shes dating Tennyce. Think of High School Prom,
With a tiny boy to take there, and Im pleased that Kaytes nice Mom
Alicindras made this dating group, to keep our peoples mixing.
But the prejudice of Albans kind has need of proper fixing.
Then in time the rumours (of the reasons Alban used) did leak,
So that Kayte and Tennyce learned of them, and took the chance to speak.
I should not have trusted Alban with accounts of how your dentures
Would have spared me for your soft consumption, during our adventures.
That was Tennyces deduction. Kayte replied, Youre not to blame.
Even now, if Mom said yes, Id gladly eat you all the same.
But I also love you. Im the one that Alban used for stirring
Up a pot of insurrection, that you couldnt be deterring.
Meanwhile Ambloome said, I could have killed him. Do I share his yoke?
Not at all, Lee-John said, Since you havent lumped my Viking folk
In together with our worst examples, wanting retribution.
Alban did that, when he played on Kayte, and chose a foul solution.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Ambloome and the others handle the loss of Ambloome's childhood friend in different ways.