The war of the vying Winter Kings and Queens was subtle but vicious; which only made sense, as the Winter Court itself relied on both subtly and viciousness in order to survive. Half of the Freehold had barely registered there was a war going on with a fourth of its people.
As always, one survived to the end. The smartest pulled their names out of the hat and out of the game when they knew they could not win. Others thought they were smart and stayed in until the game had destroyed them or their lives.
When they saw who remained, the smartest whispered among themselves if they had actually been stupid and should have remained. What threat did a wizened – a drudge, even, the lowest of the already low, servants to monsters and cleaners to humans – pose to them? He was the wrong king for the court of ice.
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As always, one survived to the end. The smartest pulled their names out of the hat and out of the game when they knew they could not win. Others thought they were smart and stayed in until the game had destroyed them or their lives.
When they saw who remained, the smartest whispered among themselves if they had actually been stupid and should have remained. What threat did a wizened – a drudge, even, the lowest of the already low, servants to monsters and cleaners to humans – pose to them? He was the wrong king for the court of ice.
A few tried.
They died.
No one else tried after that.