By Vickie L. Holt
By July of 2006, I had been writing for thirteen years, not counting high school efforts. In that time, I had written many short pieces, including poetry, short fiction and articles. I decided to create a collection of these short pieces and publish them together in a chap book called “Cogs and Stardust”. This is a very eclectic collection, centering on no specific theme, and featuring the artwork of John Brill, Ted Guerin, Ian Bruner and Chris Fields. Contents include:
“Sweet is Revenge”: a poetic excerpt from my fanzine-novel, “Vengeance is Mine”. It is a classic monologue from the character, LaCroix.
“Before the Invasion”: A full length article about England’s first mega-rock star, Tommy Steele, and how he revolutionized rock & roll. Article also published in Blue Suede News Magazine in February, 2005.
“Of Cabbages and Queens”: A novelty short work of fantasy fiction that incorporates the titles of exactly 100 songs by legendary rock group, Queen.
“The Vision of Lydia Bates”: an original short story about a psychic hotline worker who actually has a vision about the slaughter of a group of experimental children.
“The Fire Child – A Faerie Tale”: a short work a fiction meant to capture the same flavor as early faerie tales. It’s about a young woman and her destiny with a bolt of lightning.
The book also includes five poems, six essays (some of which can be read in the essay section of this site) and one short stage piece.
Here is an excerpt from “Of Cabbages and Queens”. The Queen song-titles are bolded.
Two days passed, and Taylor arrived with Rordan on the outskirts of the King’s camp. They found a patrolling guard to escort them to the King, and within minutes they were standing before a colorful war-tent. It was blue with golden designs and red streamers flying all around. Everywhere the kingdom’s banner, with its image of alliance between Sacramore and the fairies of the Ice Mountains, was whipping in the breeze.
Taylor knew from his teachings that Sacramore was the first kingdom of men and that the ancient race of the fairies had personally chosen the first king. He also knew that the royal blood line had not altered since those early days of legend.
At a gesture from the tent’s guards, he entered and bowed respectfully, but it was Rordan who stepped forward to speak.
“My Fairy King,” he said as he bowed, “may I present Master Taylor, son of Trevor of Alder.”
Taylor stepped forward and kneeled at the King’s feet. “Sire,” he said, “I have come in the name of Alder to join your men and fight against the armies of the Great King Rat.” Then he stood and gestured to Rordan, who had stepped inconspicuously aside. “This is Rordan, Captain of my father’s personal guard.”
“Taylor Alder,” said the King as he gestured to two women seated at his left, “may I present your Queen and the Princess Delilah.”
The Queen gracefully extended her delicate hand, and Taylor bowed deeply to kiss the ring upon her finger, but when the Princess extended her hand, it was bare. There was no ring to be kissed. He was suddenly frightened. If it was not permissible to kiss her bare skin, he would be struck down in an instant…yet, her hand was given. If he refused her honor, he would be disgraced. He made the kiss as quickly as possible and was relieved when no one made a move to strike his head off.
“This,” said the King as Taylor stepped back from the princess, “is my chief advisor, the wizard Danui.”
A tall, thin man to the King’s right stepped forward, and Taylor bowed. “Sir,” he said.
Then the King gestured to the five men who stood at intervals along the inside walls of the tent. “And these are my generals,” he said. The men saluted with their swords as Taylor bowed in return.
When the formal ceremony was completed, Taylor relaxed as Rordan stepped once more to his side to await their instructions. They were both surprised, however, when it was the advisor, Danui, who spoke instead of the King.
“Young Taylor, he said, “His Majesty is deeply concerned with the state of Alder.”
“Sir,” said Taylor, apprehensively.
“More precisely,” said Danui, “he is concerned with the state of Alder’s Lord Trevor.”
Taylor relaxed, but remained perplexed. Why did kingsmen never speak plainly? “My father is well,” he said, “and sends his duty to His Majesty.”
“Does he?” said Danui in such a tone that Taylor again went on his guard. “After handling the affairs of Alder in such a deplorable manner? And now our scouts report that King Rat’s spies walk freely in your streets! As I say, young Taylor, your King is concerned with the loyalties of Alder!”
Taylor’s hand flew to his sword, but Rordan grabbed his arm and held it firmly in check as the five generals drew their swords simultaneously and advanced.
“If you want to keep yourself alive,” hissed Rordan, “release your grip and hold your tongue!”
“Enough,” said the Queen, but no man relaxed his stance. “His anger was in earnest. He is loyal to Alder and Sacramore.”
The generals withdrew their attack, but Taylor was left trembling with fury. “What is this all about?!” he shouted. “I come to fight for my King and my family is accused of treason?”
“Easy now,” said Danui in a tone more suitable for an irate child. “What I said about King Rat’s men in Alder is true. My lady, the Queen, is gifted with heart-sight. It was necessary for us to anger you so that she could judge your true loyalties.”
“The Londe aren’t independent?” asked Taylor, his indignation giving way to uncertainty. He knew his father could handle a group of trouble-makers, but an organized group of King Rat’s spies . . .
“Leave us,” said the King and the five generals escorted the Queen and Princess from the tent. Danui then escorted the King to the council table in the corner and gestured for Taylor and Rordan to join them. When all were seated, Danui spoke.
“We need to hold this army in place for just a while longer,” he said. “In only seven days, the ancient folk will be joining us then and we may finally be able to drive Rat’s army out of Sacramore.”
“The fairies?” said Rordan. “Are things really that bad?”
“That killer queen of his conjures all manner of abominations to fight us,” said Danui. “We lost a full band of men in the ogre battle. She has also created dragons to guard their camp.”
“Only two months ago did I learn that Rat had been sending men into Alder,” said the King. “While we were busy fighting the army, he was sending in his spies to infiltrate the border holdings, to fight from the inside.”
“My father doesn’t know that they are King Rat’s men,” said Taylor. “He can’t–”
“He can deal with them for seven days,” said Danui. “Besides, we believe that it was an attempt to divert our attention from battle, anyway. When Trevor failed to report Rat’s spies in Alder, the diversion failed.”
“You’re a wizard,” said Rordan while Taylor took heart from his father’s inadvertent service to his King. “Can’t you fight the Queen’s beasts?”
“As you said, my dear Captain,” said Danui, “I am a wizard, not a sorcerer. It’s a kind of magicthat creates illusions, not solid realities. That is why we wait for the fairies who do have the power to fight her.”
“Why are you telling us this?” asked Rordan. “If all we have to do until the fairies come is hold the army–”
“We need information, Captain,” said the King. “It would be foolish to launch an attack with the fairies without knowing what Rat’s got in that camp.”
“Why us?” asked Taylor.
“The Black Queen creates special guards,” said Danui. “They are capable of remembering every face they have ever seen . . . and their memories are collective. Between them, they can remember each man in an entire army. You, on the other hand, have just arrived.”
“And we haven’t had the chance to be seen by one of her guards,” said Rordan.
“What do these guards look like?” asked Taylor. “How many does she have?”
“She uses the men in the army,” said the King, “so they look like any other man. We don’t know how many there are.”
“What do you want us to do?” Taylor asked.
“We will find you a way into the camp,” said Danui as he stood and began circling the table. “While you are there, you will discover everything you can about what Rat has in his power… especially the capabilities of the Black Queen.”
“How do we get back out again,” asked Taylor, “…to deliver the information?”
“Just as we have to wait for an opportunity to get you in,” said the King, “we must wait for one to arise to get you out, as well.”
“What if we’re discovered?” asked Rordan.
“My dear friends,” said the King, “for all our sakes…you must not be.”