over him as this Keltar did now. The foul breath of the Malveel Lord. Those crimson, burning eyes. The claws! The noose! His heart raced! The torch! His mind reeled! A clatter near his feet drew his attention. Precious gems and red gold lay scattered about him on the floor.
“No! Those are mine! I earned them!” squealed Udas.
“Of course you did.” rumbled the giant coldly and he turned and moved back to his companions.
Udas blinked and regained his composure. He looked up from the fortune into the blue green eyes of a beautiful young woman. She held an empty saddlebag in her hand.
“This sack and its contents were recovered from the quarters of Udas.” announced the young woman. “The origin of the gems is difficult to pinpoint, but the red gold is most assuredly from the Ulrog mines of the Northern Scythtar.”
“ It seems your failings have no end, colonel. You allowed another uninvited guest into my chambers?” frowned Macin. “Albeit a lovely one.”
The young woman bowed to the Zodrian king and Macin returned the gesture.
“ I would like to be introduced to such a talented young lady, however I must first deal with the matter at hand. What to do with you, Udas?” continued Macin as he glared at supply commander. “Apparently, my supply staff has become a breeding ground for treason and sedition.”
The colonel glowered at the old king and spat on the floor.
“You all stand here scheming while Chaos gathers an insurmountable force against you! You fools think you can defend yourself against Izgra and his minions?!” scoffed Udas. “I’ve seen Amird’s chosen! He builds armies while you scrape for militia! He breeds death while you pray for salvation. The only way to survive Chaos is to join it you simpletons!”
General Wynard slid up behind the ranting colonel and quickly disarmed him. Udas’s troops looked about in confusion. Macin slid a short sword from beneath his throne and held it at the ready before those by the dais were able to react to the situation. Others from the General Staff drew their swords and closed on Udas’s troops.
“Some of you may be in league with this madman and some of you may have followed him out of loyalty or greed.” stated King Macin. “Your reasons will be determined and a punishment will be determined. For now, go quietly and the worst you will see is the front lines of a battle that will eventually envelop us all. I give you a chance to redeem yourselves.”
A heavy shouldered supply soldier near the platform glanced about the room. His knuckles were white from the tight grip he maintained on the hilt of his sheathed weapon. He finished his assessment and nodded to his compatriots. He slowly drew his sword from its scabbard and laid it at the feet of Macin.
“Mercy is the gift of the mighty.” mumbled the man with his head lowered.
Sergeant Deling burst into the room with a small contingent of Guardsmen. The Fox stood by his side heaving.
“Deling, where the devil have you been?” demanded Ader.
“Your pardons, Lord Ader. I was momentarily detained. After your departure, Udas’s guards found it difficult to relinquish their post.” stated Deling. “I was forced to instruct them that their departure was in their own best interests.”
“Sergeant Deling.” said King Macin.
“Yes, your highness.”
“Please take Colonel Udas and these others into custody. Be sure to treat them with respect. They have my word on this.”
“Of course, my lord.” returned Deling.
The old sergeant’s troop quickly rounded up Udas and his men and marched them from the hall. Macin watched them leave then shook his head and smiled at Ader.
“I will say this, old man. You certainly make life interesting.” laughed Macin. “Complicated, but no doubt interesting.”
Ader bowed to the king.
“It is time for you to look in the mirror Macin of Zodra. I am not the only old man in the room.” replied Ader.
“Tis true. I’m but one out of one hundred
“No! Those are mine! I earned them!” squealed Udas.
“Of course you did.” rumbled the giant coldly and he turned and moved back to his companions.
Udas blinked and regained his composure. He looked up from the fortune into the blue green eyes of a beautiful young woman. She held an empty saddlebag in her hand.
“This sack and its contents were recovered from the quarters of Udas.” announced the young woman. “The origin of the gems is difficult to pinpoint, but the red gold is most assuredly from the Ulrog mines of the Northern Scythtar.”
“ It seems your failings have no end, colonel. You allowed another uninvited guest into my chambers?” frowned Macin. “Albeit a lovely one.”
The young woman bowed to the Zodrian king and Macin returned the gesture.
“ I would like to be introduced to such a talented young lady, however I must first deal with the matter at hand. What to do with you, Udas?” continued Macin as he glared at supply commander. “Apparently, my supply staff has become a breeding ground for treason and sedition.”
The colonel glowered at the old king and spat on the floor.
“You all stand here scheming while Chaos gathers an insurmountable force against you! You fools think you can defend yourself against Izgra and his minions?!” scoffed Udas. “I’ve seen Amird’s chosen! He builds armies while you scrape for militia! He breeds death while you pray for salvation. The only way to survive Chaos is to join it you simpletons!”
General Wynard slid up behind the ranting colonel and quickly disarmed him. Udas’s troops looked about in confusion. Macin slid a short sword from beneath his throne and held it at the ready before those by the dais were able to react to the situation. Others from the General Staff drew their swords and closed on Udas’s troops.
“Some of you may be in league with this madman and some of you may have followed him out of loyalty or greed.” stated King Macin. “Your reasons will be determined and a punishment will be determined. For now, go quietly and the worst you will see is the front lines of a battle that will eventually envelop us all. I give you a chance to redeem yourselves.”
A heavy shouldered supply soldier near the platform glanced about the room. His knuckles were white from the tight grip he maintained on the hilt of his sheathed weapon. He finished his assessment and nodded to his compatriots. He slowly drew his sword from its scabbard and laid it at the feet of Macin.
“Mercy is the gift of the mighty.” mumbled the man with his head lowered.
Sergeant Deling burst into the room with a small contingent of Guardsmen. The Fox stood by his side heaving.
“Deling, where the devil have you been?” demanded Ader.
“Your pardons, Lord Ader. I was momentarily detained. After your departure, Udas’s guards found it difficult to relinquish their post.” stated Deling. “I was forced to instruct them that their departure was in their own best interests.”
“Sergeant Deling.” said King Macin.
“Yes, your highness.”
“Please take Colonel Udas and these others into custody. Be sure to treat them with respect. They have my word on this.”
“Of course, my lord.” returned Deling.
The old sergeant’s troop quickly rounded up Udas and his men and marched them from the hall. Macin watched them leave then shook his head and smiled at Ader.
“I will say this, old man. You certainly make life interesting.” laughed Macin. “Complicated, but no doubt interesting.”
Ader bowed to the king.
“It is time for you to look in the mirror Macin of Zodra. I am not the only old man in the room.” replied Ader.
“Tis true. I’m but one out of one hundred
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