“It’s like this. The Queen can see the kingdom is facing fiercest siege. So she has sent secret word out among the allies, that those who will favor her cause shall have the breadth and depth of her support, material, and … nonordinary. It is this latter boon that represents the opportunity to prevail, though the former is also of urgent use. In any case, she knows this: it’s the final call. She’s got to somehow parlay her assets into victory, which is survival to the kingdom — and for this goal no worthy request — even be it extreme — will she deny.”

— an a i