Catherynne M. Valentes belovedFairylandseries is finally coming to an end withThe Girl Who Raced Fairyland All the Way Home.
It had legs and fists but only the barest beginning of a face.
It did not even have a name.
HELLO, said the First Stone politely.
It sat on the grass, carefully trying not to crush the violets.
September, Queen of Fairyland and All Her Kingdoms, waved back shyly.
She hadnt the first idea how to be a Queen.
She thought of the Marquess and Charlie Crunchcrab.
She thought of the Whelk of the Moon.
She thought of everyone shed ever met who was in charge of anything.
After all, in chess, the Queen does whatever she wants.
It always took a while when her father did it.
The Changelings Hawthorn and Tamburlaine understood right away, having been in middle school only last week.
They raised up their hands immediately.
Hawthorns huge, mossy troll fingers and Tamburlaines dark, slender wooden palm shot up into the air.
Saturday extended his long blue arm.
They sat up as straight as they could instead, stretching scrap-yarn nose and gramophone bell toward the ceiling.
It was no good.
A Wyverarys back is rather knobbly and pointygood for riding, but a terrible podium.
Saturday thatched his fingers together to help her hoist herself.
He kissed her cheek as she put her toes into his hands.
barked Blunderbuss, when September was safely aboard.
I always thought a Queen would weigh more!
Once again, Queen September put her hand into the air.
She did not say a word.
A duchess here, a pharaoh there, a brace of congressional banshees in the corner.
asked Pinecrack, the Moose-Khan.
She looks quite, quite stupid.
I shant have the first pang of guilt about impaling her with my doom-antlers.
Perhaps its some new gesture of power at court.
But she didnt stop smiling, even as she spat at Curdleblood: You painted the whole country black!
I was still scrubbing behind the mountains when I lost my crown!
I dont want the Queen to think me old-fashioned.
Pinecrack sat back on his haunches and lifted one hoof into the air.
The Headmistress, ever conscious of manners, followed suit.
snarled Charlie Crunchcrab, who had been King Charles Crunchcrab I only ten minutes ago.
Her?Shes not the Queen.
And that name is a Naughty Word, you know.
Shes a revolutionary and a criminal and a dirtycheat.
Shes a human girl!
She hasnt even got wings!
If shes the right and proper Queen, then my hairy foot is the Emperor of Everything!
At least I was, he finished uncertainly.
And he raised his hand in the air.
Oh, I see, youre trying to show me up!
He stuck one sooty, filthy arm up with a sneer.
Thank you, said Queen September, lowering her hand.
