CSENTA.

In a land beyond the far Blue Mountains there was a king who had two daughters. One was tall and slim, and all the knights admired her for her beauty and grace. The other daughter was not as tall nor was she as beautiful. The knights never spoke of her. They didn't really ignore her, but they didn't think of her because they were thinking about her sister, and, as we all know, a knight can only think about one thing at a time!

The king loved his two daughters and tried as all good kings will to make his children into courtly and presentable young ladies. For these were to be the future rulers of the land at least that's how it was supposed to be.

The kingdom also had a magician named Silas. Silas was wise and knew that two sisters could never rule one land anymore than two dogs could share one bowl, so he approached the king and told him that he had seen the future.

And just what have you seen, magician, inquired the king?

Your daughters, Sire, replied Silas.

In good health, I presume? and the king glared at his servant as if glaring would give him the answer he wanted.

Silas was an honest man and had given the king much help, but he knew the king would be angry at the truth. Silas, however, was also a brave man, and he answered the king's question boldly, One of your daughters is a great queen. The other serves our land no longer.

The king frowned, but before he could reply, Silas spoke. Your daughters war, Sir. Like two enemies they fight over what they both believe is their own.

The king snorted and said, Magician, you do yourself a disservice.

Silas knew that, but he was determined to tell the king what he needed to know in order to save the kingdom. The future has not happened, but the future I see could happen and shall if you do not prepare your children to inherit this land. If you leave it to them both, they will fight for it.

A lunatic suggestion!, the king raged. My daughters shall each receive equal parts of the kingdom to rule. And if to show his intelligence he added, equal parts to rule for equal time, thence to exchange and rule the other.

Equal parts to be ruled equally is a hope, but in this world you forget that your daughters shall never lead equal lives. They shall marry different men, raise different children, and find favor in different counsel. Herein lies the seeds of war, Sire. Only you can change this future because you have created it!

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