Prologue

There were small figures moving along the desert. They were likely another group of refugees, Lust figured, headed out to the Frontier to try and find a better life for themselves. There couldn’t have been more than twenty, and they were carrying a few of their number on stretchers. Maybe those were their sick, or maybe they were already dead, and the others were simply looking for nicer places to bury their comrades. She really hoped they weren’t holding on to them as a food source.

The group paused as they saw her on the horizon. There was some nervous shifting, and she read their timidness as a sign that some of the travelers and refugees that this group had come across had been less than friendly. It was to be expected, she supposed. In a memory as decimated as this one, the Thoughts had to do whatever they could to survive.

The small band of Thoughts realized who she was after a short distance away and their nervousness turned to excitement. They bowed to her as she approached, and even one or two of the thoughts in the stretchers tried their best to lower their heads.

“There’s no need for that,” she said, as she wandered through their midst, “really, it’s okay… please get up, the ground is dusty and dry, it can’t be good for your knees.”

They rose, but they still had a look of awe as they gazed up at her. They were dressed like a bunch of scarecrows, and red eyes and tufts of dark red hair poked out from under wide hats and hoods.

“You must be Thoughts of Hope,” she said, “what brings you through such a barren memory?”

“Your grace, I am Eric, leader of this group,” said one of the Thoughts stepping forward, removing his hat, and bowing his head, “and it’s as you’ve guessed. We’re Thoughts of Hope, and we’re on a journey to the Frontier. We pray you can forgive our sorry state, we dared not dream of meeting one of the Eight Queens in our travels.”

Bingo, Lust thought to herself, the only reason anyone would come this way would be a desperate shortcut to the Frontier.

“That’s not an easy journey,” she said, “what would cause you to leave home and risk such a trip?”

She already knew the answer, but she needed to hear them say it.

“The Memory we lived in was fading,” said Eric, “the war had already ravaged it to a wasteland, and it can’t support the Thoughts that live there now, so we decided it might be better for everyone back home if we were to try our luck elsewhere.”

Lust sighed. She had seen all types of groups traveling to the Frontier, but it was pretty rare to see some of Hope’s people. They were usually a stubborn and fearful lot.

“If we might be so bold as to ask a favor,” said Eric hopefully, “we know your Grace and our queen have always been friends-”

“The best of friends,” Lust said with a nod.

“-if it wouldn’t be any trouble, could you tell us if we’re close? Or on the right path? Most of us have never strayed far from the memory that we were born in, and though we have a map, there is still some anxiety that we’ll be lost in this desert. Please, we only want somewhere to plant our seeds, and it is rumored that the Frontier is lush and bountiful.”

“Of course,” said Lust, taking his hands, “that’s what I'm here for. And I’ll do you one better, I’ll send one of my angels to guide you through this wasteland.”

Eric’s cracked lips broke into a smile of disbelief.

“Oh, thank you, your Grace! It’s truly a blessed day to bask in your presence!”

There was a joyful murmur as the Thoughts whispered about this development. Lust smiled as she looked around them. Then her eyes fell on a young Thought that was frowning at the dirt between his feet. He looked up and saw her, and he seemed to be steeling his courage. He hesitantly shuffled up to her.

“Um, your Grace,” he whispered, his voice barely audible above the din of the other Thoughts, who had paid him no mind, “I’ve heard some rumors about the Frontier, and I was wondering, if.. well…”

“If it was as dangerous as they say?” Lust said with a frown, “it’s true that there are monsters out in the darkness, but you don’t need to be scared, the other Queens always have their armies out there to defend everyone. Hate is there all the time, and I even bring my own angels to help in the fight. We’ll keep you protected.”

The little boy smiled up at her, but he shifted nervously from foot to foot.

“I um, I meant the other rumors. Is it true that the Frontier is getting overcrowded…?”

Lust felt a pang of guilt as she remembered how many of her own Thoughts were living out there right now. She knelt to place a hand on the little boy’s shoulder.”

“Don’t you worry about that,” she said, “they’ll make room.”

The young Thought looked at her with his big red eyes for a moment, then smiled and nodded. She rose and let out a shrill whistle. In a flash of light and a crash like thunder, an angel appeared next to her. His naked, winged, body was rippling with muscles. A golden halo spun above his head, and his yellow, burning gaze, was averted towards the sky. He carried a heavy golden lance with a banner that snapped in the wind.

“Yes, my queen?” he asked, standing at full attention.

“Guide these Thoughts through this memory,” she ordered, “see them safely to the other side, no matter what.”

“It will be done, my queen.”

She turned to the Thoughts, were ready to be on the move again.

“Thank you for your aid, your Grace,” said Eric, “if there is anything we can ever do to repay you, do not hesitate to ask.”

“Certainly,” said Lust, “plant as many of those seeds as you can when you get there.”

Eric smiled again.

“As you wish, your Grace.”

The angel leaped into the air and the Thoughts began to follow him as he flew.

“May your days be filled with joyous surprise,” said Eric, bowing again to Lust.

“May you find love in all that you meet,” said Lust, nodding to him with a smile.

She watched them as they disappeared into the hills. She stood there a moment longer, enjoying the summer heat, but as she was about to leave, she heard the distant roar of an engine. She watched on the horizon as a green all-terrain vehicle sped towards her. It was coming from a different direction than the refugees had gone, and as Lust watched it approach, she supposed that in itself was already a stroke of good luck. Sloth’s soldiers had nothing against Hope, but what they saw usually had a way of getting back to Hate. Hate’s warriors had, allegedly, stopped firing on unarmed refugees, but the animosity was still there. Not everyone in the Frontier would be as welcoming as Lust’s Thoughts.

The ATV sped to a stop, and the soldier in green fatigues stepped off and saluted.

“Your Grace,” he said, “I’m here by order of my queen to extend an invitation to you. There will be a summit in one month’s time, held at the Ziggurat. All eight queens are being asked to attend. We sent an emissary to your castle, but they told us you were here.”

“I see,” muttered Lust, “okay, I’ll be home shortly to meet with this emissary, and we’ll see if this summit is worth my time.”

“Thank you, your Grace,” said the soldier, saluting again, “may you find rest in your work.”

Then he got back on the ATV and sped off.