Introduction to the Truth

The clippers rubbed against Jared’s hands as he cut away at the snagged leaves of the shrubbery, causing that sensitive area between his thumb and pointer finger to redden and blister. The thick rubber handles stuck against his skin in uncomfortable ways, and Jared had to adjust them in his hand for what must have been the thirty-ninth time since he had begun that morning. He stood back a few steps, glaring at the shrubbery and trying to see if it had gotten any more circular than when he had checked an hour ago. Slowly but surely, the shrubbery was beginning to match a perfect sphere.

It was almost high noon, and the sun was shining down unmercifully on Jared’s head, magnified against the dull color of his blackening hair. He attempted to sweep some bangs away from his forehead, hot and sticky with sweat, but as it was, hair never really listened to anyone, and no sooner had he swept the bangs away, they came back to rest in front of his eyes with a quiet defiance.

Three more minutes, Jared counted on his watch. Then, and only then, would lunchtime begin, and he could enjoy the cold turkey sandwich his sister had made him that morning, along with that sweet bucket of potato salad and some refreshing water from the Queen’s own fountains. If there was one good thing about being a Queen, it was that your water was always fresh. Jared never drank water at his own home, not when the Queen’s was so much better.

However, there were still three more minutes to go, and Jared’s shrubbery was absolutely nothing like the perfect sphere he had been ordered to recreate. Of course, he was better off than some of the other Scholars, who obviously had absolutely no idea what a sphere looked like in the slightest. Old, deaf Atterby must have misheard the Queen again, for Jared noticed his shrubbery was looking more like his pair of shears than any sphere he had ever seen in his life. There were many others whose shrubberies had taken on the typical qualities of ovals, though the unfortunate Scholars didn’t seem at all fazed by this fact. In fact, they hardly seemed as though they cared about whether or not they Failed at all. But Jared, however, couldn’t afford not to care, seeing as he had a mother, three sisters, two brothers, a donkey, six cows, twelve chickens, two dogs, and a mangy cat to provide for one day. If he succeeded in this shrubbery, if he didn’t Fail, then he would get paid and perhaps promoted, and his overly large family would be able to eat more than stale bread and rotten mushrooms.

He clipped away, rounding the leaves of the shrubbery in what he deemed the most perfect way. If the leaves curved at this angle, then the sphere would be absolutely perfect. Or, at least, as perfect as a shrubbery of his could get, for nobody could get a shrubbery nearly as perfect as Quimberly. Quimberly was an odd name, Jared thought, but a suitable name for an odd person who could seemingly work wonders with shrubbery. That, of course, and everything else. He could lock swords with the best, scrub floors better than the Queen’s janitors, write essays so beautiful people swore it made their babies cry with joy, and ride a horse bareback without falling off. Quimberly was almost destined not to Fail. Quimberly was rich, handsome, intelligent, and every woman that was a woman longed to have Quimberly for a husband. Jared felt rather sorry for the women. Having a husband that perfect couldn’t really do that well for the self esteem, especially in a place where perfection was the only thing that mattered.

“SCHOLARS!” A shrill, raucous voice echoed through the garden, and Jared automatically turned and saluted, in perfect Queen’s style. The three minutes had passed, and it was inspection time. If he didn’t Fail, then he was to have his lunch and carry on with his duties. If he Failed…

Well, he didn’t want to focus on something so negative, especially with an almost perfect shrubbery like his own. He felt beads of sweat run down his face, most like due to a combination of the heat and the fact that he could hear the Queen’s boots tapping down the stone pathway to the garden. It would likely be several minutes before she got here; everyone knew the Queen’s voice was loud enough to travel several times faster than the Queen herself, and often arrived five to ten minutes before she did. Nevertheless, Jared stood in salute until she arrived, as was custom. If he was to shirk custom or put one toe out of place, he’d certainly Fail and he didn’t want that.

Sure enough, after a grueling seven minutes of saluting in the sun, the Queen strode into the garden. In plain view, she was absolutely stunning, but not stunning as in ridiculously beautiful, Jared noted, but stunning in the fact that she could wear the most frilliest, purplest dress he had ever seen in his life and not get mocked for it. Of course, she was the Queen, and the Queen could wear plaid stockings and not get mocked for it, for the Queen decided who Failed and who didn’t.

She regarded her Scholars with deep blue eyes and pursed her lips in quiet perseverance. Clearly there were some shrubberies not up to par, and Jared wondered who would fail this time.

“YOU!” She screeched. “Atterby!”

“Milady!” Atterby shivered. Jared was almost surprised that he managed to hear her, but then again, the Queen spoke so loudly it would have been a surprise if anyone hadn’t managed to hear her. The Queen continued to glare at him for moment before slowly walking towards him, her high heeled boots tapping the stone path as she approached him. The tapping was almost menacingly, like the crackling of a boat just before a hole bursts through it and fills the thing with water. Jared swallowed nervously, keeping his perfect salute perfect in case the Queen should turn her gaze to him.

“Atterby.” The Queen said quietly, only it wasn’t really that quiet because the Queen’s voice was in capable of dropping below that of a normal yell. “What on EARTH have you done to your shrubbery?”

Atterby pondered the question for a minute, making sure he had heard exactly what the Queen had said. “I did shears, milady, just as you requested.”

“Shears?” The Queen’s nose wrinkled, and Jared could have sworn he saw something like a malevolent force pass between her eyes. A sudden flash of anger, perhaps, though Jared knew that she was definitely much more than just angry.

“Shears…” The Queen repeated, walking daintily around the shrubbery to examine it. Jared could see Atterby practically quaking in his boots as the Queen looked at his piece of work.

“This…” The Queen finally stated. “Is GARBAGE!”

“G-garbage, milady?” Atterby trembled, wringing his hands nervously. “But…but I did what you asked, milady!” And Jared had to admit, if the Queen had asked for a shrubbery that looked like a giant pair of shears, Atterby most definitely would not have Failed, for it had been sheared most excellently. However, such was not the case.

“I asked for a SPHERE, idiot!” The Queen roared. “A SPHERE!”

“A s-sphere?” Atterby gasped. “That is impossible! I clearly heard the word ‘shears’ come from your lovely mouth!”

“Impossible?” The Queen sneered. “On the contrary, it is quite possible. You FAIL!”

“F-f-fail?” Atterby stuttered. “Milady, you can’t possibly fail me, I have a wife and two children to take care of!”

“FAILURE!” The Queen yelled. “Fail him! Take him from my sight and banish him henceforth from my castle! He is no doubt an undisputed Failure!”

Jared shivered in his salute as two Royal Guards dragged off a protesting Atterby. The Queen moved on as though it were nothing, passing through shrubbery after shrubbery until she came to a stop at Quimberly’s.

“You.” The Queen noted. “You are most definitely and irrefutably not going to Fail this morning.”

“Why thank you, milady.” Quimberly let out a smooth bow.

“This is a fine example of the most delicate and intricately sheared shrubs. I am pleased, Scholar Quimberly.”

“I am honored milady.”

Of course, Jared had been expected this. He would have laughed if Quimberly had failed, despite the fact that it would have been a complete breach of protocol. There was something about Quimberly that he disliked, something about the necessity of utter perfection that made Jared believe that Quimberly simply couldn’t be a nice guy.

This didn’t matter as the Queen strode over to his shrubbery. Jared swallowed again, his saliva seeming thick in his throat as the Queen mentally graded his shrub. Jared hoped it had been perfectly made enough, that he wouldn’t have to Fail, and that his mother, three sisters, two brothers, donkey, six cows, twelve chickens, two dogs, and mangy cat would be able to eat tonight.

“Well then.” The Queen remarked. “I’m not exactly sure how I am going to put this.”

“Milady?” Jared asked, puzzled.

“This shrubbery is passable.” The Queen answered. “’Tis a good shrub, well cut and well rounded, and most importantly very spherish.”

“Why thank you, milady.”

“But…” The Queen continued. “There is something unusual about it. Something that sort of screams the word purple, and that is the Truth.”

“The Truth?” Jared frowned. “Milady, pray tell, what is this Truth and how did it get in my shrubbery?”

“I’m not sure how it got there.” The Queen mused. “And as for what it is, I’m afraid I can’t exactly tell you that.”

“Why, milady?”

“BECAUSE THAT IS THE TRUTH!” The Queen roared, causing Jared to flinch backwards into his shrubbery. “And the Truth is something you have to find.”

“Well, if that is the case, milady, I have already found it.” Jared smiled. “It is here in my shrub, as you have said.”

“Ah, but it is only a small smidgeon of a Truth, you see.” The Queen explained. “The real Truth was stolen from my castle twenty eight days ago.”

“By whom, milady?” Jared asked, concerned.

“I don’t know.” The Queen admitted. “I have sent several of my best men after the thief, but it seems to have eluded them.”

“I see.”

“But now I realize that I was sending the wrong man.” The Queen grinned, showing pearly white teeth that reflected the sun painfully. “Clearly the Truth wants you to go after it.”

“Milady?”

“Why else would it have shown up in your shrub, you FOOL!” The Queen yelled. “Prepare yourself. Tomorrow, you shall find the Truth!”

“If that is what you wish, milady.” Jared bowed low.

“And when you bring the Truth back to me, there shall be a celebration unlike any other celebration before it. Do you understand me?”

“Of course, milady.”

“Good. Now GO!” The Queen pointed, and Jared hastily sped off towards the castle’s front gate. Most importantly, he had to get ready for tomorrow. If he was late, he’d surely Fail.