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"The Vengeance of Karl Eldritch"
May. 27th, 2022 11:58 am"The Vengeance of Karl Eldritch"
8/28-8/29/1980
I.
After the Tel Shai knights had been escorted from the room, old King Gowain sank wearily into his chair. He felt ill at the deceit he had been pressed to carry out against those who had so recently helped him. Lifting his goblet, he saw only a thin film of wine remained in its bottom. Then he heard something and lurched to his feet. On one wall hung a life sized portrait of his father, Ulmic the Bold, in full armor. This painting now swung open from behind, and a huge bulk filled the space behind it.
"What? Who knows of my secret passage..?! Oh. You." Gowain dropped back into his seat.
"You did well, my lord," said Karl Eldritch. He wore the tan uniform of the palace guard, the loose blouse and trousers and high polished boots, but without insignia of any kind. Instead of the usual saber, he bore a strange metal device strapped to one hip, and a long knife at the other. At six foot seven and more than three hundred pounds, he was the biggest man to have ever been in Bruenig. Eldritch kept his head shaved, and his pale hazel eyes stabbed out from beneath heavy black brows.
"Can I keep nothing from you?" demanded the King wearily. "Since I accepted you as my advisor, your influence has grown too much over the court. The army. The people. You were meant to be a power behind the throne, not the throne itself."
"You have nothing to fear from me, your highness," said the huge warlock with a smile. "I am not Bruenigan. How could I wear the crown? No, I am content to merely help you against your enemies."
( the rest of the story )
8/28-8/29/1980
I.
After the Tel Shai knights had been escorted from the room, old King Gowain sank wearily into his chair. He felt ill at the deceit he had been pressed to carry out against those who had so recently helped him. Lifting his goblet, he saw only a thin film of wine remained in its bottom. Then he heard something and lurched to his feet. On one wall hung a life sized portrait of his father, Ulmic the Bold, in full armor. This painting now swung open from behind, and a huge bulk filled the space behind it.
"What? Who knows of my secret passage..?! Oh. You." Gowain dropped back into his seat.
"You did well, my lord," said Karl Eldritch. He wore the tan uniform of the palace guard, the loose blouse and trousers and high polished boots, but without insignia of any kind. Instead of the usual saber, he bore a strange metal device strapped to one hip, and a long knife at the other. At six foot seven and more than three hundred pounds, he was the biggest man to have ever been in Bruenig. Eldritch kept his head shaved, and his pale hazel eyes stabbed out from beneath heavy black brows.
"Can I keep nothing from you?" demanded the King wearily. "Since I accepted you as my advisor, your influence has grown too much over the court. The army. The people. You were meant to be a power behind the throne, not the throne itself."
"You have nothing to fear from me, your highness," said the huge warlock with a smile. "I am not Bruenigan. How could I wear the crown? No, I am content to merely help you against your enemies."
( the rest of the story )
