Avalon: A Divine Dungeon Series (Artorian's Archives Book 12) by Dennis Vanderkerken & Dakota Krout

Author:Dennis Vanderkerken & Dakota Krout [Vanderkerken, Dennis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mountaindale Press
Published: 2022-10-11T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

The young Mage of Moss pushed herself up and out from the heap, her words cutting into the conversation. “When I met them, through their sham of a court appointment no less, I didn’t even get a say.”

The Mage wobbled to her feet. “They saw me, up from those fancy thrones, and informed me of what I was going to be doing. There was a way they wanted to do things, and that’s the way it was going to be.”

Her look was understandably foul. “So as far as I’m concerned, the rulers’ reason for doing any of this is the same reason why the entire zone is a prison. The rich want a society based on punishment, because a society based on care would render them obsolete.”

She scoffed. “Those two can’t handle the idea that anything could possibly work without them, and if you’re not with them, you’re against them. So enjoy the gravity, it’ll be a constant reminder until you bend the knee. Unless you want to brave the nine out of ten chances of being crushed to paste when leaving.”

“I’m sensing some deeper ani-Moss-ity here.” Aiden shook his hands to not crush his own knuckles. Then he growled out with a grin, aware of exactly what he’d done as Artorian closed his eyes and bent forwards, stifling a mostly muffled groan of pain.

“Please.” Artorian inhaled as he pressed his forehead to the table. “No more puns.”

The disguised Wolfman then backpedaled while the Moss Mage fiercely nodded. “There is a reason, Administrator, but I’m the wrong person to claw on the label of ‘good.’ When it comes to assigning blame… Let’s take Henry. It’s not that Henry is less to blame than Marie for the situation, it’s that he’s neither seeing the problem, nor fighting against the concept of ‘ruling’ that both he and Marie are stringently holding on to. Like an investment they’ve sunk too many costs into, they feel an awfully strong need to retain control and power. Even if that control and power comes at the cost of keeping their prospective citizens captive.”

Artorian was glad for the shift in topic, trying to understand the mindset. “As in, they’ve developed tunnel vision trying to accomplish a task, and the side-effects were forced onto the back burner, where those side-effects burned to a crisp and began to smell like month old fish?”

“That’s a kind interpretation of reality. I would…” Aiden bit his tongue to stifle the pun before it was said, then shoved his hands into his pockets. The wry grin still part of his face like the expression had been glued in place.

Aiden stopped giving the old man grief when Artorian looked at him with a stare that was leveled above imaginary glasses, well aware of the fine line between poking fun and being a problematic supervisor. Now that he’d had his fun, he had to turn around and be helpful.

“No more puns.” Aiden bit his lip, conceding. “Aye aye, captain. Let me know what the plan is when you’ve got one together.

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