Weekend Write-In Story Collection

Sadim

In 500 words, imagine what happens when a blessing becomes a curse. Written for the Weekend Write-In prompt themed "Midas" 7 - 9 August 2015

Sadim is following in her father's wake reversing the curse.

The Retinue

Sadim was at the rear of the large contingent that followed the King's extensive retinue. "The King has stopped for the day," her stalwart aide, David told her. "They're setting up camp, pitching tents and rolling out rugs."

"Let's do the same," Sadim said, "but remind everyone we still have much work ahead of us for the rest of the day. By the looks of it, far into the night. Daddy seems to have gone mad with his power."

"I've passed the word," David said as he returned a minute later. "Yes, he certainly appears to have lost contact with reality. How did it start?"

"It was after the tailors had fitted him with the gold cloth and lamé wardrobe and woven gold gloves," she replied. "Daddy could touch things again without turning them to gold. Things were back to normal again in Court.

"Yes, I understand that, but how did it start again?"

"It was when my brother asked Daddy to take a glove off and touch a fly. He took it to the jeweller to have a mounting pin added. The jeweller was astounded by the delicate gold work and asked about it. Then came a grasshopper, a dragonfly, butterflies, a turtle, and onward. I thought it would stop after the lamb."

"But it didn't. How has it expanded to this, to turning people into gold?"

"Some are blaming the sculptors for the latest aberration. But obviously the merchants and the collectors are driving the sculptors; they all want these solid gold sculptures. At first, it was simple, elegant poses, clothed. Then it went rapidly downhill to nudes. That's why we now have the all the tailors and seamstresses travelling along with us. And the cobblers."

"But now the merchants and the collectors are bringing in people for group poses. Where are they getting all the people to continue this insanity? What kind of stories are they telling them?"

"What we've been hearing is they are promised a personal audience with the King and a lifetime supply of gold. How greedy people are. Their greed masks their reasoning. Can't they stop to think that it sounds too good to be true? To wonder why they were chosen? The worst thing now is the emissaries from the Oracle of Delphi bringing Nubian slaves, the Anatolian princes, the Persian..."

Sadim paused and wiped her eyes. "But the saddest thing is that Daddy doesn't seem to know what he's doing. I think his mind has completely gone. Not just touched, Midas is insane and his councillors are all supporting and protecting him in their own greed."

"Princess, the first of the round-up carts are arriving, You'll soon be very busy again. I'll leave you to freshen and prepare."

She began her touching of the golden statues. "Welcome to your second chance. Please join us and stop this atrocity."

The last one of the day almost never joins; we have no golden conversions left to demonstrate. They want only the free clothes.