deep in the hollow sits the Queen unmoving her word is the hearth-fire her name is the binding oath all walls are raised to amplify her breath cell upon cell, the hall is woven a murmur here, a shout there one reed bends, many reeds hold no storm tears the roof we name no warrior of the swarm strike the wall and the air grows sharp they wake without bidding; they guard without sight they ask no question before the teeth, the buzzing comes a deep vibration drone felt in the gut a drum that silences thought bring flame to the hall and the hall bites back the woods give it wide berth, it is not a falsehood