The Wrath of the King

"Your dragon is dead, kingling! I control him now!" screeched a horrible alteration of Belboaz's voice as soon as the scroll is unrolled. The scribe dropped the scroll, a humiliated Fred dropped his head under his claws, and the king was aghast.

When Fred awoke, he had been outside of Belboaz's cave. He'd found himself sitting on his haunches with a scroll in his grasp. Belboaz was standing over him with a kind enough expression, but as an experienced warrior, Fred could feel the bonds of magic woven around him. When Belboaz told him, "I've a new quest for you. Take that to the King. It's vital to the kingdom, so I do hope you hurry."

With that, Fred turned mechanically and walked away from the caves. Once out he took to the air and winged his way northwest towards the King's castle. His sense of mortification at the new 'quest' had grown with every landmark passed, for he found himself unable to turn away from the task at all... It was, at least, faster than walking had been...

After a moment, the king demanded, "Is that all? Pick it up again!" The scribe summoned up the courage to pick up the scroll again and opened it up. This time it did not screech. In a wavering voice the scribe read from the scroll,

"The dragon is dead, Kingling! I control him now! I, Belboaz the Young, greater in power than any necromancer of my age has been before, have slain your dragon. He is a dracolich and serves me. Your farms will not be burned and your children will not be taken.

"At least, they will not be taken so long as you serve me as well. I demand a ton of gold every four years, free access to all graveyards in the kingdom, and a ban on cremation. In exchange, I will not threaten your reign.

"If you agree, then my magic will be used to your benefit. I'm certain I could help with those war-like fools to the north... I warn you though, deny me and you will be contending with the full might of myself and my dragon! I will have your head, kingling, and then I will have your throne!

"The choice is yours. I can be your friend or your enemy."

The king sighed and rubbed his forehead, thinking. Then he called for a meeting of his advisors. As they approached the throne one of them nearly stepped on Fred, who gave a startled chirp and tied the advisor's shoes together reflexively. The poor man yelled and crashed to the ground. Warned, the others gave the unhappy little dragon a wider birth.

The king looked around his advisors, then let his gaze settle down on Fred.

1. "Send me back!" squeaked Fred defiantly. "I'll beat him!"
2. "We should take the offer," said one of the King's generals.
3. "Collapse the caves to buy time while we rally the army," said another general
4. "Send him back," mused a court mage, "But with magical backup this time."
5. "That's the third time this week!" remarked the jester.

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