1)
“Er, YES, Your Majesty.”
“Hmph. That sounded less than convincing.”
“That, Elvar, is because he’s learning.”
“Oh? Learning insolence?”
“No, learning that rulers must be obeyed, but only idiots obey them with enthusiasm.”#epicfantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 23, 2020
2)
“Well, then, have him obey me unenthusiastically, then, just so long as he obeys me. With alacrity and precision.”
{cough} “I am in fact standing right here, Your Majesty. You CAN address me directly.” 3)
“Yes, but if I give orders to Wolf, instead, I hold him accountable for your behavior. Which means, if I know Wolf, you WILL behave.”
“You doubted me?”
“Palonder, I’m a KING. My entire life is a doubt-fest.”#epicfantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 23, 2020