The Peasant, the Bully, and the Queen

 Once upon a time, said the farmer to his son, there was a queen.

    Now, the queen ruled over a kingdom, but near her court was a village. And from time to time she would step into the village in disguise, looking over its keeping in a more direct manner than monarchs are wont to do. But this queen was particular, and believed that she could gauge the health of her kingdom by the doings of the village, and as such, she paid attention.

    On such a day in such a village, a merchant bully pushed a peasant. 

    A moment later, the queen's power hit the sky, in as much as her fists hit her side, and she marched toward the fallen man and his aggressor. She breathed once, her power fading, and extended her hand to the peasant, who rose, and offered his hand to the merchant. The bully, on the other hand, was shaking too hard to do anything but stare at his feet.

    'Never. Do. That. Again.,' said the queen when she finally turned to the merchant.

    The merchant shook his head profusely. He saw the hand of the peasant, and took it, vowing then in his heart to adhere to the queen's warning.

    The peasant said nothing of it, though it had been a plain enough encounter for all to see, and went home. Once there, he kissed his children and his wife, and went about his business. 

    And that, my son, is wisdom in three parts. 

     

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