Press "Enter" to skip to content

To Summon an Emperor

 

[center]

THE BEARER OF THIS SOLICITATION IS ENTITLED TO

ONE FULL DINNER AND LIBATIONS

FREE OF CHARGE.

REDEEM OFFER IN PERSON AT

THE GANGPLANK

PRINCE DAKKAR STREET, CLOCKHAVEN
[/center]

 

 

 

Martin Malus stood at the counter of the Messenger Depot with a sealed envelope. There was only one available runner there, and he didn’t look like the brightest one of the bunch. That annoyed him. “Go find the Emperor and give him this envelope. Tell him it is a special invitation from The Gangplank. And make sure he looks like he understands what you said.”

“Ummmmmm,” said the scruffy boy behind the counter uncertainly.

“If he perks up then he got the message. Otherwise he’s just going to go back to sleep and forget you were even there. Don’t give him the envelope until he looks like he is happy to see you. It’s very important that he understands how special this is.”

The boy tugged on the forelock of hair that hung over one eye, not used to such complicated instructions.

Malus leaned over the counter and poked his finger into the messenger’s chest. “Get it right or I’m telling Brother Lapis that you can’t remember a simple address.”

The boy swallowed nervously and repeated everything back in a broken jumble. “But how do I find the Emperor? I don’t know where he lives.”

“If he’s not sleeping it off at the foundry then check all the bars. Where else would he be?”

“But…”

Malus put his hand on top of the boy’s head to turn it towards the window. Tobias was standing out in the street, enjoying a patch of sunlight. “You see my friend out there?” The messenger nodded dumbly. Malus leaned all the way over the counter and whispered in his ear. “Dunsany.”

The blood drain from the boy’s face, turning him as pale as the Morlocks who still lived deep under the streets. Malus savored the moment. It was delicious.

“You better not fail me,” Malus sneered softly. “Or I’m telling him too.”

The boy shrank back and his eyes grew wide. His hand darted to the counter to grab the envelope, then he dashed out the back door without waiting for payment. Malus smiled as he heard the door slam from the back room. Still smiling, he walked out the front door into Perdido Street. Tobias roused himself from his internal dialog with the morning sunlight and fell in beside him. It felt right. It was spring, the time for new beginnings. Malus felt something stirring within him.

He wasn’t sure what it was yet, but he liked it.

 

 

 

Spread the love

Be First to Comment

Leave a Reply