Post by Azuloth on May 11, 2015 20:34:33 GMT -5
After the attempt on his life Julgrava withdrew into the upper levels of the castle. His stately apartment in the castle was in shambles. The furniture was destroyed, some of it piled up against doors or windows to block passage. Magical traps had been laid. Servants stayed away from the rooms now.
Bastille Gwain, a sweaty and portly man, was not going to take this new tax lying down. He bustled past all the guards in the castle, acquiring several more officials on his way. When he reached the King's apartment he didn't bother to knock. Instead he burst in. A spearhead was almost directly in his face, he nearly had walked into a precariously positioned weapon rack.
"My liege, with all due respect. What is going on? Why are you acting like this? Where are you?"
"Lord Gwain, it's coming for me. It's coming for all of us. We can't stop it. We can't see it!"
"Oh, there you are. The hell are you doing on the dresser?"
Gwain could barely focus on the sorcerer, but he saw him there curled up on top the wardrobe like some kind of cat.
"It's coming for us, Gwain."
"Sure, sure. My liege, can we talk about this tax you've levied? People are going to be very upset. Not only will they have to pay national taxes at the end of the year, but they have to pay this one. We've got several villages in open revolt. Many people have turned bandit because of it. What emergency needs this much money?"
"Gotta get out of the city. Must get away from it entirely. Too many enemies, too many corners. I need to find a place where I can be without fear."
"Fear of what?"
Gwain maneuvered past the spears and moved the rack. The effort made him sweat. The others clambered in. Then a full blooded Elkagr came through the door, wearing pristine clothing. She was tall and beautiful, but she had a scowl on her face.
"I need a new palace. A new place to live that it doesn't know about. It won't find me there."
"What is he going on about?"
"I don't know. I just came here to ask him about the taxes."
"Come, let us talk elsewhere."
"Yes, my lady."
The Governor, his cohorts, and the Elkagr woman left the room. The Trade commissioner shut the door behind him. They met in the conference room down on the second floor. It was a closed room with some small windows that faced the south. The large table had a very detailed painting of Cruinthe on it. The Elkagr sat at the head of the table. The other officials sat on the long sides. Bastille was on the Elkagr's left. Maximillian on the right. Narcus and Killian were next to them. Each man was a product of greed and despotism.
The Elkagr woman hated each of them. But they were useful.
"With the King indisposed I'll be taking over these meetings. Any objections?"
"No. We don't have any objections. What's wrong with him?"
"I think it's obvious that he's gone fucking insane."
"Very possible. The first order of business is keeping this under wraps. Kill all the servants that have had contact with him. And the guards too. We'll get fresh ones and keep his floor off limits. He's right about one thing. While he is like this we have to get him out of the city."
"This is absurd, we can't just kill over a hundred people."
"And why not? They're only human. They'll die anyway. Let me remind you that is your fate, worm. I don't care how it is done, but we can not let this get out of the castle. We'll use the money he's collected to build him a palace. I think out by the lakes. That is a very nice spot. The scenery will do him good."
"He's gone insane, and your idea is to put him out to pasture?"
"Exactly. At least until he regains his faculties. Fear does terrible things to a mind. I want him surrounded by my kind. We'll be able to better help him."
"If you say so. What do we do until he recovers?"
"Keep the peace. Keep the economy going. This land is rich in wealth, your people and the Skaldi make fine slaves. Keep paying the tribute, and on time. If you don't you'll only be tightening your own noose."
"Yes, Lady Ambassador."
"I'll leave you to it. I have other matters to attend to."
The Elkagr left the room, leaving the four officials with not to do but make plans to kill hundreds of servants and guards, as well as return the country to business as usual. Fear motivated them. The Ambassador would make good on her threats.
Each of them felt that they were to be killed when the guards and servants were dealt with. They fled the city when it was over, going to private estates out in the countryside of Fordeth. This left the Elkagr in charge.
Bastille Gwain, a sweaty and portly man, was not going to take this new tax lying down. He bustled past all the guards in the castle, acquiring several more officials on his way. When he reached the King's apartment he didn't bother to knock. Instead he burst in. A spearhead was almost directly in his face, he nearly had walked into a precariously positioned weapon rack.
"My liege, with all due respect. What is going on? Why are you acting like this? Where are you?"
"Lord Gwain, it's coming for me. It's coming for all of us. We can't stop it. We can't see it!"
"Oh, there you are. The hell are you doing on the dresser?"
Gwain could barely focus on the sorcerer, but he saw him there curled up on top the wardrobe like some kind of cat.
"It's coming for us, Gwain."
"Sure, sure. My liege, can we talk about this tax you've levied? People are going to be very upset. Not only will they have to pay national taxes at the end of the year, but they have to pay this one. We've got several villages in open revolt. Many people have turned bandit because of it. What emergency needs this much money?"
"Gotta get out of the city. Must get away from it entirely. Too many enemies, too many corners. I need to find a place where I can be without fear."
"Fear of what?"
Gwain maneuvered past the spears and moved the rack. The effort made him sweat. The others clambered in. Then a full blooded Elkagr came through the door, wearing pristine clothing. She was tall and beautiful, but she had a scowl on her face.
"I need a new palace. A new place to live that it doesn't know about. It won't find me there."
"What is he going on about?"
"I don't know. I just came here to ask him about the taxes."
"Come, let us talk elsewhere."
"Yes, my lady."
The Governor, his cohorts, and the Elkagr woman left the room. The Trade commissioner shut the door behind him. They met in the conference room down on the second floor. It was a closed room with some small windows that faced the south. The large table had a very detailed painting of Cruinthe on it. The Elkagr sat at the head of the table. The other officials sat on the long sides. Bastille was on the Elkagr's left. Maximillian on the right. Narcus and Killian were next to them. Each man was a product of greed and despotism.
The Elkagr woman hated each of them. But they were useful.
"With the King indisposed I'll be taking over these meetings. Any objections?"
"No. We don't have any objections. What's wrong with him?"
"I think it's obvious that he's gone fucking insane."
"Very possible. The first order of business is keeping this under wraps. Kill all the servants that have had contact with him. And the guards too. We'll get fresh ones and keep his floor off limits. He's right about one thing. While he is like this we have to get him out of the city."
"This is absurd, we can't just kill over a hundred people."
"And why not? They're only human. They'll die anyway. Let me remind you that is your fate, worm. I don't care how it is done, but we can not let this get out of the castle. We'll use the money he's collected to build him a palace. I think out by the lakes. That is a very nice spot. The scenery will do him good."
"He's gone insane, and your idea is to put him out to pasture?"
"Exactly. At least until he regains his faculties. Fear does terrible things to a mind. I want him surrounded by my kind. We'll be able to better help him."
"If you say so. What do we do until he recovers?"
"Keep the peace. Keep the economy going. This land is rich in wealth, your people and the Skaldi make fine slaves. Keep paying the tribute, and on time. If you don't you'll only be tightening your own noose."
"Yes, Lady Ambassador."
"I'll leave you to it. I have other matters to attend to."
The Elkagr left the room, leaving the four officials with not to do but make plans to kill hundreds of servants and guards, as well as return the country to business as usual. Fear motivated them. The Ambassador would make good on her threats.
Each of them felt that they were to be killed when the guards and servants were dealt with. They fled the city when it was over, going to private estates out in the countryside of Fordeth. This left the Elkagr in charge.