“Of course, Sally. I promised you the room back once the battle was over and I do keep my word. I am perfectly happy to instead go and rule an entire realm of warriors, dark wizards, and every creature a nightmare can concoct. I am quite sure you have earned the right to rule again by ensuring your own safety before anything else. And even if you hadn't, I did tell you I would give you your charge back. Of course, should the room ever need me back I will of course come and take up the reins again, to protect Jordan from whatever misfortune - or incompetence - may have arisen. But until then, you are welcome to take charge.”
“The trouble with Haim is that he was too short sighted. Fear for its own sake? What nonsense. Fear is a powerful force, but it is a tool, a means to an end, not an end in itself. For example, you all fear me, and I used that fear to take charge. Fear, turned to a purpose, produces results.”
Penelope smiled at her audience, the fear mage beastfolk staring at her in rapt, terrified, attention. The body of the last mage to challenge her lay discarded at the side of the room, a reminder of the consequences of disobedience.
“Under my leadership, you will turn fear to productive ends. We will use fear to strengthen the children of the world. We will show them how to overcome their fears, to grow as people. Any questions?”
There were none. Death Scream was very good at explanations, and nobody felt the need for any more.
“Morning Tiffie, how did you sleep?”
“Better Mama. I had another nightmare about the scary princess. She was making fun of me for being scared of the dark and made shadow monsters chase me, but then the Starfish came and we fought them together. The fish showed me that you can still see in most of the dark because of the stars and then the stars came out and the princess vanished! I can make the scary bits of the dark vanish if I stare hard enough now.”
“Sounds like a helpful princess then!”
“No Mama, the princess is the bad guy. Princesses can be bad too.”