1)
Wolf’s one-word reply is somewhere between grim and terse. And is followed by a brief silence.
“Well?” Palonder asks again. “Haunted HOW, exactly?”
“By the ghost of murdered Kings of Neverune past.”#epicfantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) May 1, 2020
3)
“Which particular bit of it? You spout so many!”
“In this case, the bit about believing one whit of royal propaganda.”#epicfantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) May 1, 2020
On this day far too luminous
I’m moved to pen odes far too voluminous— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) April 30, 2020
When I rode down beside the sea
A rusty sword they gave to me
To defend the sandy shore
And for a shield I had a tin cup
With pieces of foe I’d fill it up
But I left behind their gore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) May 1, 2020
For many long nights I lay awake
And watched for the beacons, for the realm’s sake
Until the night I saw every beacon blaze up into the sky
As the dread devouring dragon smilingly flew by
And I knew we were all doomed to soon die— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) May 2, 2020
1)
“For a king, good enough. Now if it please Your Majesty—or even if not—pray give us all SILENCE for a good long time, as I try to track down and pounce on a very old and elusive memory. About our best way out of here.”#epicfantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) May 6, 2020
2)
“Wolf, d’you have memories of fast ways out of every keep and castle in the kingdom?”
“No. I specialized in the bedchambers of noble ladies, if you must know.”#epicfantasy3)
“I HAVE wondered from time to time why all the young nobles presented at the Castle bore such a more than passing resemblance to you.”
“It’s something in the water, Chant, nothing more.”
{snort} “You expect me to believe that?”#epicfantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) May 6, 2020
4)
“No, but ’tis treason to publicly dismiss it. Since I got Elvar here to sign a certain decree.”
“And how did you manage THAT?”
“It was easy. It’s not like he bothers to read what he signs. A tradition upheld by many rulers.”#epicfantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) May 6, 2020
1)
“And why should a King ever be satisfied? How will society progress, and lives get better for all, if kings content themselves with being satisfied?”
“I admire your logic. If only it wasn’t built on the fallacy that kings give…#epicfantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) May 5, 2020
2)
…a flying about anyone else.”
“What? Oh, but we do!”
“Oh? Who?”
“The princesses we’re going to marry, and the mistresses we’re going to NOT marry. We require them all to be beautiful, ardent, and utterly loyal and obedient. 3)
“And how has that worked out for you, thus far?”
“Miserably. THAT’S why I need society to progress, so MY life will get better. I’m part of the ‘all’ too, you know!”#epicfantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) May 5, 2020
4)
“I’m glad to hear it. That makes you a king greater than all the others. In naivety, if nothing else.”
“Er…is that good?”#epicfantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) May 5, 2020
In my dreams, I see armies and emperors and kings
Gleaming gold, winking jewels, and wonderful things
Splendors unfolding in so bright and grand a way—
But they’re always gone, when comes the day— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) May 4, 2020
A king should always say what’s true
And declaim only when he’s spoken to
And behave mannerly at his grand table
At least, as far as he is able— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) May 5, 2020
I climb trees by night, to see what I can see
In fairyland, beyond the moon’s bright-gleaming sea
To where I am lord of castles five
And all my dreams come dancingly alive— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) May 6, 2020
1)
“What’s THAT?” the King demands.
Wolf sighs.
“They’ve released the Ghaurog. And it’s hungry.”
“To eat us, yes?” Palonder asks.
“Indeed. So now we must hunt with urgency.”
“Hunt?”
“Seek a certain way out. While the Ghaurog hunts us.”#epicfantasy2)
“What about the ghosts?”
“The Ghaurog will find devouring them impossible. And so, incapable of sating its hunger.”
“I mean, will the ghosts harm us before the Ghaurog does?”#epicfantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) May 3, 2020
3)
“You want to waste our fleeing time with wagering on our fates?”
“Well, can we trick the ghosts into fighting the Ghaurog? And what IS a Ghaurog, anyway?”#epicfantasy 4)
{sigh} “The NEXT time the kingdom’s invaded, remind me to seek the company of COMPETENTS, will you?”#epicfantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) May 3, 2020
1)
“Oh. I…see. Does that mean these ghosts will want to murder me? CAN ghosts murder the living?”
“Yes, and yes,” Wolf replies, as Chant beckons him away from the King, to where she can murmur to him in private.#epicfantasy 2)
He comes to her, eyebrows raised in a silent invitation to query him.
“Are all kings so pig-ignorant?” she whispers. “Or just this one?”
“Ignorant kings guarantee courtiers jobs. And room to operate.”#epicfantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) May 2, 2020
3)
“I’m aware of that, but sometimes our Elvar seems cunning and canny—but sometimes as dense as a post.”
“That’s because there are other creatures riding his mind. Sharing his skull, if you will.”
“Creatures? MONSTERS?” 4)
Wolf shrugs. “We are ALL monsters, Lady.”
“Hoy! What’re you two whispering about? I am your KING; keep no secrets from me!”
“Just discussing bathroom needs, Your Majesty,” Chantratha calls back. “FEMININE bathroom needs.”#epicfantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) May 2, 2020
5)
The King shudders, and waves them both away.
Chantratha sighs.
“Dolt.”
“At least he didn’t leer and express interest,” Wolf points out.
Chantratha takes her turn at shuddering.
As an eerie howl rises in the subterranean distances.#epicfantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) May 2, 2020
1)
When Wolf regains consciousness, it’s because Palonder, King still draped over one shoulder, is shaking him and saying kindly, “Good speech, Lord. Short, but memorable and pithy. 2)
Wolf stares at him through eyes swimming with tears of pain and manages to mumble, “You ARE a bastard, Palonder. Couldn’t you have left me unconscious until the agony subsided?”#epicfantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) May 12, 2020
3)
“No, Lord. The kingdom requires your service. These ghosts are still furious—and something I think might be the Ghaurog just showed up. We need that fast escape route you remembered.” 4)
“Too bad,” Wolf tells him. “Because I was bluffing.” And passes out.#epicfantasy— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) May 12, 2020
