What about Bob?

"These are the men who have been damned, by His Majesty's authority, for crimes, felonies, and misdemeanors against His Majesty and the Kingdom of Allaria. Let them be confined to the Great Dungeon for the duration of their natural lives, to serve as a warning for all folk tempted to wander down the road to destruction.

ITEM, ...Bob the Barber, who has written short works with blatent continuity violations."

"WHAT?!?" said Fred spit coming forth from his lips as the shock of the first name on the list hit him square in the cerebellum. "Bob? the Royal Barber? for writing short tales?"

"With continuity errors," added Reaibn. "Don't forget the continuity errors."

"I don't even know what that MEANS!!!" screamed Fred. "I don't know what ANY of this means!"

"Oh my," said Reaibn. "This isn't good, not good at all." He paused as if thinking, then snapped his fingers. Three servants came over from some hidden corner, three hulking men with necks as thick as Fred's arms and muscles that made Astra nearly swoon in lust. "Boys, Sir Fred isn't feeling well, he doesn't know what's going on. He needs his rest before the Big Ceremony."

The three men reached for Fred. "No!" yelled Fred. "I already had my bed- rest, I am not tired, I am not sick! I just want to know--" Fred stopped. He saw how his tantrum was affecting the others, even Astra. He could only think of the madness that surrounded him, the great big mess in which he has found himself... it all began with killing the Dragon of the Southern Caves and discovering that it had a higher Master. Fred had no idea that the cause of this current madness was the Hazyus, he didn't even know that such a power existed, let alone in the sub-sub-basement's hidden corridor underneath the King's Castle, and so he pondered now as he had since coming into this bizarro-Allaria ~~is it the power of this Master that is tampering with the way things should be? is this Master impersonating Reaibn, the simple man I had come to know during my two year stay in Caemlyn while training as a Dragon-Hunter? what chaos reigns here? if I die or am led away what greater dangers may surface? is there no one to whom I can give my trust? Yet by screaming and roaring I am not biding my time, I am losing my sanity... and without that I am truly lost!~~

"Sir Fred?" asked Reaibn with a pleading look of awe and respect and an earnest worry. "Are you alright? I had breakfast arranged just for you... I thought that you would be happy with the company after so many weeks alone... I... are you OK?"

The three men had yet to pull Fred from his chair though they stood ready. Fred looked at Reaibn, or the imposter if that is what he truly was. Was he crazy or only pretending? Mad or something else? Was he a key to unlocking the door to the unchained power that must be behind this crazed world, or was he only a victim? Fred did not know, but he did realize that this man who has spent his whole life cleaning up after the nobility in Caemlyn now had authority in this bizarro-Caemlyn. Fred knew that he must hold on. "No," said Fred. "It is I who am... sorry. You have done nothing but care for me since my coming here. I owe you a debt. I... I cannot eat for I am too... excited about this morning's ceremony. As for marriage" (he eyed Astra who had been eyeing the whole tantrum with extreme diligence) "we can speak of that later... you know, my injury and all."

"Ah yes," said Reaibn. "Nasty things, injuries and all. But what about Bob?"

Fred still was clueless about what 'continuity violation' might mean, but he had known Bob as well, the royal barber who cut the hair on head and face of every nobleman who stayed any length of time in the King's City. "He shall be pardoned," said Fred with as regal a tone as he could muster. "In fact, I'd like to speak with him... this morning... before the coronation!"

Reaibn looked surprised. "With Bob, a criminal?"

"Of course!" said Fred not really knowing why. "If I can't spend some quality time with a criminal soon to be pardoned, then with whom can I???"

"If that is what you wish," said Reaibn.

1. When Bob was taken from custody and told he would see the next King of Caemlyn, Jerome and Paul both became stricken with a sissyfit...
2. Breakfast continued though Fred ate little...
3. Before seeing Bob Fred was surprised by yet another, well, surprise...

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