Pika-la-Cynique

She had lost her temper, which began everything. She’d lost hope, briefly, in the outer maze; but then he’d lost his servant’s loyalty. She’d defied him again and he’d lost his cool. He’d accused the dwarf of losing his head over her – ironic, by the final tally. She had lost much of her innocence, in his crystal ballroom; but then, unexpectedly, had found him. And his arms. And then… … he had lost the game.  And the Goblin King harboured a growing suspicion that his heart was also gone, but “lost” would imply he did not know who had it.