Most survived. The palace was destroyed, the village houses washed away. Fields turned to flood. But my people shared my gifts, did not have to fear the water.

[ And that was supposed to be good, wasn't it? Most. What else could a ruler want? I took my people to war, and most survived.

No one, no one at all, met her eye anymore. Her enemies dared not say a word in her presence. She was not loved, and now she was feared so resoundingly, she did not think there was ever a way back. Maybe there never could be for rulers.

How much, she had wanted to be loved.

Most had survived. That was all she had to take. ]

My middle child did not.