1)
“It’s going to be a magnificent castle, Your Majesty,” said the Grand Vizier, as they stood looking down from the cliffedge. The worksite below was a busy anthill of scurrying workers, stone blocks being fitted everywhere,…#epic fantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) July 21, 2018
2)
…and groaning wagons bringing more from the masons’ quarry.
“Too slow and too expensive,” the king growled. “Why, in my father’s day…”
“We still had slavery.”
The king rumbled a curse under his breath. Then brightened.#epic fantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) July 21, 2018
3)
“Prisoners. Can’t we use prisoners from our dungeons?”
“We’ll have to feed them enough that they can work—a new expense—and we’ll need a lot more of them,” said the vizier.
“So make me new crimes, and start arresting!”#epic fantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) July 21, 2018
4)
“As you command. But prisoners don’t pay taxes. Less coin coming in.”
This time, the king’s curses were loud and long and eloquent. “Why do the gods TRY me so? Surely there’s an easier job than being a king!”#epic fantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) July 21, 2018
5)
“Tomb guardian,” said the vizier, “but you have to be undead for that. And not easily bored.”
“What if I went mad, and stopped building yon castle RIGHT NOW?”
“An option, to be sure, but it emboldens traitors, and darkens…”#epic fantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) July 21, 2018
6)
“…your reputation.”
“So?”
“So if you do it, go all the way: become a ‘Mad King’ and do all sorts of erratic and often cruel and violent things, and so become feared.”
The king brightened again. “I LIKE it. Any drawbacks?”#epic fantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) July 21, 2018
7)
“Well, yes. You’ll need a good strong castle…”
The king’s oaths were truly impressive this time. The vizier hadn’t anticipated their culminating in hurling viziers off cliffs. But viziers can’t anticipate everything.#epic fantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) July 21, 2018