Diabolical Dragon Act 1-3 Omnibus by Marcus Sloss

Author:Marcus Sloss [Sloss, Marcus]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-10-28T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 7

Iglam - The King’s Court

Day 312 of the 3rd year of Marrin’s Reign

As expected, there was no brandy with the King that night. I had to wait until the next day during lunch to discuss terms with the King. This provided ample time in the library to study up on Cleo. She was another mystery this trip had given me.

“And your counter?” Marrin asked from the head seat at the long table.

I was way down at the other end, at the guest of honor’s seat. His wives snacked on light lunches, obediently staying silent as we talked.

“There is none, my lord. The gods themselves couldn’t convince me to take a title change.”

“Come now, Viscount Orion. I need more capable dukes!” he said enthusiastically.

Nope. Super not interested. “I’ve sat in this very chair, that recliner in the private chambers, and even at the war table three rooms over - always asked, always declined. I do not wish more power,” I said loud enough for a slight echo.

“Fine. Titles are free to bestow,” he grumbled, barely audible at this range. Good to know he was a hoarder like me. Kings were wise to hold onto treasures. “Which is it, if I must buy your time: tax reduction, trinkets, land, raw gold, or women?”

A fey like me went into these situations prepared. The trick was to never offer first but to be clear what you desired.

“My academy is expanding, requiring skilled labor that is in short supply. I need healers, wives to help me appease the gods, and raw gold is always able to fix problems,” I said to smiles from the table. “However, your highness. I’d like to think of myself as an honorable man. Vivian was there when I signed a hundred-year tax agreement. Sticking to that is fair to the great King Okarna.”

There was a salute of glasses to the past king’s mention.

The king patted the wife on his left. “This is Loork’s niece, Pormia, and a key to my heart,” the king said in a political lie. She was likely a binding of the previous reign to the new to help transition the crown. “What do you say I offer the Master Mage?”

She wiped her lips, standing. A king would call on his faithful for advice, the action considered an honor.

“You humble me, your highness. A man like Master Mage Orion has everything. A lavish estate, wealth, a title he prefers, women in abundance, and powers most fear. My training would be to offer him a fancy bride, but… he’d decline,” Pormia said.

“Indeed, ladies of stature, such as the fine women at this very table, would find my methods…”

“Unbecoming,” Pormia said to gasps. “The man doesn’t get offended easily.” I shrugged; she wasn’t wrong. “His deal with the gods means he must sire children by the wagon loads. Something he is clearly capable of handling himself.”

She snapped. A servant from the side of the room came running to the queen. There was whispering, the king’s jaw dropped, and I relaxed, amused by something that shocked even the king.

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