"The inner King is the one in us who knows what we want to do for the rest of our lives, or the rest of the month, or the rest of the day. He can make clear what we want without being contaminated in his choice by the opinions of others around us. The inner King is connected with our fire of purpose and passion."

"The process of bringing the inner King back to life, when looked at inwardly, begins with attention to tiny desires - catching hints of what one really likes."

"A man whose King is gone doesn't know if he has the right to decide even how to spend the day. When my King is weak, I ask my wife or children what is the right thing to do."

"If we choose 'the one precious thing' - the object of our desire - then, according to the alchemists, the inner King in us that has been asleep for so many years wakes up."

Quotes from Iron John, by Robert Bly

In the café Aulden found the red-haired, feminine angelic figure, Peace, from The Elevated University. Although meeting an angel generally makes a huge impression, Aulden couldn't remember her name.

Aulden said to her, "Could I ask, what's your name?"

She said to him, "Yes."

Aulden repeated, "You name?" and began to guess, "Red? I'm not sure. Justice?"

She replied, "No, Justice is blind."

He finally recalled, and said, "Peace!"

She said, "Yes."

Aulden told her, "I want to learn about hearing and seeing, but any message you bring is a treasure to me." Peace did have something for Aulden, but it was different than he'd expected.

She held out to him a gold crown on a red velvet pillow. The crown was a plain, solid ring with twelve triangular points. She said, "Take this."

In the course of conversation, Aulden learned that he would need to find the archetypal figure meant to wear this crown. Aulden decided to begin by talking with the ten-year-old boy named Sonny.

Peace agreed to accompany him. They boarded the bus, and as they took their seats she mentioned to Aulden, "Did you know that the Bus Driver loves to take you on these journeys? He'd be disappointed if you didn't take the bus."

While stopped at an intersection, the Bus Driver opened the door and Michael Boulton entered and took a seat. This was a surprise to Aulden, because he had no special interest in Michael Boulton and his music; no feelings pro or con. Usually when a celebrity appeared to Aulden during his meditation, the celebrity was one who had already died, and a person whose life-story made a particular impression on Aulden, such as Will Rogers or Ed Wynn.

However, Aulden wasn't indifferent toward this celebrity. He was curious why the singer entered his consciousness. He approached Michael Boulton and asked, "Excuse me, I'm just wondering, what are you doing here?"

Michael Boulton answered, "I imagine a lot." That answered the question. Aulden understood that their imagination-work must have crossed paths, so her returned to his seat and continued his own journey.

They arrived at the hotel where Sonny resided. When Aulden and Peace entered the lobby they saw a woman whose presence cast a gloomy feeling over the room. Aulden recognized her as a non-human Distraction. He approached her and said, "Hello." The woman responded with anger, obviously to cover her fear, and she said, "If you are going to gang up on me I'm leaving!" and with that she ran away.

Aulden said to Peace, "I think the word is out that Skandi off'd one of them."

They met with Sonny. Aulden showed him the crown, and Sonny was excited to see it - as if it was a new toy. He picked it up, tried it on his head, and then put it back on the pillow. After Aulden explained that they were looking for the right person to wear it as the King, Sonny said, "Do what you want with your silly crown!" and ran away from them to play other games.

"What now?" Aulden asked, "Why did you give me this crown, Peace?" She answered, "To make you think. Is Poseidon the King, and so what?"

Until then, Aulden thought that if there was a King-figure, archetypally, he would be Poseidon. After all, Poseidon said that he ruled the waters of the unconscious, and several others had bowed to him. But Aulden was aware that there was a difference between ruling the unconscious and ruling the conscious ego.

As they again boarded the bus, Aulden asked the Bus Driver, "Do you want to try wearing this crown, Bus Driver?" He answered, "No, I know who I am. I drive the bus."

He took them to the Boardroom - the place they would soon begin calling the Throneroom. As Aulden and Peace entered the lobby, the Secretary greeted them. "Mr. Secretary!" Aulden said to him, "Do you want to try on this crown?"

The Secretary answered, "Not really, sir. It's not for me. I'm the Secretary."

In the Boardroom they found Poseidon. Aulden greeted him by getting to the point, saying, "Poseidon, would you like to try on this crown?"

Poseidon answered, "A crown? Well, let me see it!" But when he took hold of the crown he was unable to lift it from the pillow. Aulden was just a little surprised, and asked him, "What is your function?" He meant, of course, "If not the King." Poseidon answered, "To bring you beauty and life."

Skandi was also in the Boardroom, and he stepped closer and looked at the crown. Aulden turned to him and extended the pillow toward him.

Skandi lifted the crown from the pillow and said to Aulden, "Would you place this on my head?" Aulden took the crown from Skandi's hands and placed it on Skandi's head, and then he knelt on one knee before Skandi - King Skandi. Poseidon bowed in an exaggerated style.

King Skandi adjusted the crown and said, "I was born for this." He turned to Poseidon and asked, "Will you remain with me as my advisor?" Poseidon agreed, and reached to shake King Skandi's hand. As Skandi took hold of his hand, Poseidon fell to one knee as if he was forced to kneel.

King Skandi then said, "My first act is to say these words that you all know: Let the wine flow!"