"Zular, murdered?!" the King cried out. "The damn fool! And when
the news gets out every lord
and knight with half-a-mind will begin jockeying for position for their
share of the spoils. Damn that
young buck, the least he could have done was left an heir!"
"But my king," Councilor Vlado spoke up. "Although the political maneuvering due to this sudden ducal vacancy will most definitely be quite vexing for you, still this now gives you an advantage you did not have before. It is an opportunity to gain new allies within the Lordships." King Emry nodded at this. "True, very true." "Excuse me," Queen Sovay said as she reached out and touched her husband's hand, "are we not forgetting something?" The King looked at her inquiringly. She smiled back. "Duke Zular has been murdered. Should we not be concerned about the murderer?" "Of course my dear, you're quite right," the King nodded. "But if I know those Trescent lords at all, they'll have somebody swinging on a tree before the week is out." "Yes, of course," the Queen agreed, "but will it be the murderer? "What about Lord Fred?" Councilor Nim asked. "He is waiting outside. What should we do about him?" The King thought for a moment. "Gaining title to the Duchy of Suffex depended upon him succeeding in his Quest. Since he has failed that, I see no alternative but to strip him of his ducal claim. He and his sister can return to the fief from which their father was elevated so long ago." Turning to Vlado he added, "And that gives me one more ducal seat with which to dangle before my 'loyal' aristocratic subjects. Something good may come out of this after all."
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4/12/2001 9:37:57 PM
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