Ascendants of Ancients Sovereign (Worlds of the Crystal Moon, Book 1) (94 page)

“You’re an ambitious soul,” Bloodvain praised. “I would not have employed such tactics.” Senchae paused. “I hate snakes. Perhaps you could attend this meeting on your own. My scouts will tell the serpent you’re their king as you’ve requested. I have a home to the south of here. I often use it to get away when I need moments to myself. With your cats, my guards, and your rat, this will be an acceptable place to hold your meeting.”

“I agree,” George replied. “Let’s go get your son. Perhaps you could have your cook prepare us a grand feast when we get to your castle.”

“We will feast, George, but I wouldn’t expect my leaders to be eager to dine with you. They’re barbarians, and this change will challenge their pride.”

Mosley lowered his head and began gnawing on his front paw. “I never saw that coming. I think George is smart to form this alliance. If he had killed Senchae, he would not gain the respect of the barbarian people. Senchae’s support will be the key to his success.”

“I agree,” Lasidious replied. “I’m becoming more and more impressed as we go. George is brilliant. He can dispose of the king later. It will be interesting to see how he handles the barbarian military leaders and the Serpent King.”

Mieonus added, “George is, indeed, worthy of being a king.” She adjusted her breasts to a sexier position. “I hope he succeeds.” The goddess was becoming a fan of the mage. She was going to keep a close eye on him. “I’m taking my leave now. Mosley, I’ve enjoyed your company.” She vanished.

Mosley and Yaloom agreed and then followed suit.

Lasidious smiled as he vanished. The God of Mischief had avoided the consequences of the lost wager.

CHAPTER 33

An Example Made

GEORGE, SENCHAE, SADRIDZ, MALDWIN, and KEPLER, along with the rest of their feline companions, arrived at the king’s castle. As they passed through the barbarian’s city, many heads turned. Most men did not travel with seven man-eating cats and an oversized rat.

Bloodvain was a rugged city. The area reminded George of a national park with equally rugged people living in it. The expanse of the city was built within a heavy forest. It extended to the north until the tree line ended at the beach of the Blood Sea and a Peak’s ride on horseback both to the east and west.

The Bloodvain River flowed from the Pool of Sorrow through the Dark Forest and through the center of Senchae’s city. Heavy wooden bridges spanned its depths, and the river was full of fish. During the moments it took to cross the bridge leading into the city, the group had seen two men catch enough fish to feed a small family.

As they walked through the trees, George’s frustration grew. Everywhere he looked, the place reminded him of log cabins—a lifestyle he loathed. He was careful to keep his feelings to himself, not wanting to strain his new relationship with the king. It was bad enough he had been sleeping on the ground, something he would never have done on Earth, but now he was faced with the likelihood of spending the rest of his life in a wooden shack. He hoped the king’s castle was much nicer. If it was, he would find a room there until he could build something that was more suited to his tastes. He was not about to live like an animal, and he missed his Gucci clothes.

As it turned out, Senchae’s home was nothing more than a giant lodge. It was nicer than the rest of the city, but the mage felt it looked like the home of the Brawny paper towel man. It was not a place for George. He would have to figure out a way to renovate, but for now, this termite buffet would have to suffice.

Everywhere George looked, he saw trophies from the king’s hunts. Heads of animals that looked like deer, boar, mountain goat, Minotaur, mounted fish, and various birds hung all over the walls. Life-sized stuffed animals in various poses were scattered throughout the structure. He saw bears, gorillas, buffalo-like beasts, and after the third giant cat, he stopped Senchae.

Kepler and his posse were agitated. The idea of their feline family being used as trophies was not sitting well with them. “Ummm ... Senchae, perhaps you should get rid of the stuffed cats,” George suggested.

The king was quick to apologize. He had his servants take the trophies out of the castle-lodge. This seemed to pacify the cats, and Kepler was able to calm his subjects.

Once in the throne room, the king sent Sadridz to find his mother. A moment later, the general entered with three high-ranking officers of the Barbarian Army. From the door they entered, they did not see their king’s travel companions since their backs were to them.

Fergus expressed his concern, “Sire, rumors are spreading through the city. They say you travel with undesirables. Is it true that you’ve allowed a southerner through the gates?”

Senchae looked around his general and nodded his head in George’s direction.

The leader of the army spun around. Realizing he had spoken in front of the king’s company, he faced Senchae and bowed. “Sire, please forgive my intrusion.”

Bloodvain frowned. “Stand up, Fergus! If the moment of your intrusion had been less than perfect, I would’ve had you beaten.”

George smirked. “General, I wouldn’t call my group undesirable. I’d call us diversified.”

Senchae grinned and then slapped his hand against the arm of his throne. “Introduce yourself to George, Fergus. I met him south of the city. He shall be my consulate.”

“What?” Realizing his tone, the general added in a softer voice, “My King, your consulate? How could you possibly let this … this—”

“This what, General?” Senchae questioned as he held Fergus’ glare.

George interrupted. “Are you suggesting I’m not capable of performing the task, or are you bothered because I’m not barbarian?”

Fergus looked at Senchae as if he was asking permission to confront the man from the south.

Senchae smiled as he looked at George. “Are you prepared for barbarian hospitality?”

“That’s what I’m here for,” the mage replied. “I think I’ll fit right in.”

Senchae slapped his hand again on the arm of his throne. “Then go ahead and speak your mind, Fergus.”

George decided to say something to stir things up before the general could speak. “I can handle this, My King.”

The thought of George calling Senchae his king angered Fergus. His dark-brown complexion portrayed his hostility as he flung his braids clear of his eyes. “You’re one of those pathetic souls from the south! Who are you to come into my home and act as if my king is your own?”

The manipulator held the general’s chaotic gaze. “I’m the guy who’s going to be protecting your king from now on. It seems you have a shortage of qualified subjects around these parts. Where were you when the king’s mages failed him? Where were you when his son was taken from his bed in the middle of the night?”

“Bahhhh! I don’t answer to you! I’d rather bash your skull in. I despise your ignorance.”

“Ignorance? The last series of moments I checked, there was no ignorance in true statements. Let’s face it, Fergus, you were nowhere to be found. You didn’t know where your king was. I’ll bet no one knew his son was gone until this morning. Maybe you should have used the word
insolence
. This would better describe the way I’m speaking to you. I’m pretty sure I’m being insolent.”

The leader of the army removed his fur cloak and pulled his war hammer from his hip. He pointed it at George. As soon as he did, the seven cats took defensive postures and snarled in a display of power. They spanned the width of the throne room and warned the overzealous barbarian that he was making a terrible decision. Even Maldwin was ready to use his visions. The rodent’s head was sticking out of George’s pack as he looked over the mage’s shoulder, and his nose was twitching with excitement.

“Only a swine would not fight his own battles,” Fergus sneered as he studied the opposition. He pointed to the stuffed trophies around the room. “If you didn’t have your companions, I’d add you to the king’s collection.”

George laughed. “My King, perhaps a demonstration is in order.”

Senchae stood from his throne and spoke to the general. “I’ll allow you to battle, but if you get blood on my trophies, you’ll replace them with your own. I warn you, it’s a mistake to fight this human. He’s not weak.”

“I know what I’m doing, Sire. You don’t need this swine spreading his stench throughout our kingdom. I’ll govern your protection, not this piece of garesh!” The general spun his hammer in his hand.

The king gave George a glance. “What of your cats?”

The mage turned and motioned for them to move toward the walls. He lowered Maldwin to the floor and asked Kepler to call the rodent to him. “Tell the tigers I don’t want their help. Make sure they don’t interfere.” He turned to Maldwin and held up his thumb. “Everything is A-okay, man!”

“Everything is A-okay, George,” the rat responded in a high pitched voice.

Again, the general rolled his hammer in his hand. “Are you going to play with your mouse ... or are you going to fight?”

George rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. Blah, blah, blah. Whatever, Sergeant Slaughter!” He looked at Senchae. “My King, perhaps there are others we should invite to watch your general’s display of power. I’d hate for the people of this great kingdom to miss an event like this.”

Senchae understood that George was going to make an example of Fergus. The king would allow an audience, since it was long past the moment for an apology.

The king clapped his hands to summon his servants and then sent them to retrieve all those who were in his castle-lodge. It was not long before the room was packed with onlookers who were tucked between the giant cats, and an area was cleared for the men to fight.

Senchae commanded the room’s attention. “This battle will be to the death. These men have points of view that must be expressed. May their blood stain the floor of my throne room. Glory is in victory!” Bloodvain was anxious to see the extent to which George would go to make his point.

Fergus nodded, and then he turned to face George. “This is to the death, swine! If you leave our kingdom, I’ll let you live. Go back to your pig-of-a-mother and crawl back into the hole you came out of!”

George yawned. “Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah! Are we fighting, or are you going to insult me into oblivion?”

Kepler growled. “End him, George! You can eat him like you eat everyone else.”

The mood in the room was so intense, and Maldwin was so excited to add his two Helmep worth that he screamed as loud as his tiny body would allow, “I like cheese, George!”

Everyone in the room turned, including General Fergus. They all looked strangely at the rat. After a moment of awkwardness, Fergus shrugged and then turned his attention back to his enemy.

“What can I say?” George said with a casual grin. “He likes his cheese!”

Without another word, Fergus attacked, swinging his hammer at George’s head. The mage dodged the advance, rolled out of the way and stood. “Is that the best you’ve got? You’re killing me, man. You’ve got to do better than that. Please ... don’t miss again.”

Fergus howled as he made his next advance. Again, he missed.

George shook his head. “Tsk! Tsk! Tsk, General. How could you be the leader of an army? Your movements are too slow. My King, you need a competent general ... not a fool. I’ve seen servant wenches move faster than this clown.”

Neither Senchae nor Fergus knew that the mage was using his magic to increase his speed. George would toy with Fergus a bit more before he took the offensive. “Perhaps you should hit me, General, or is the hammer you carry too heavy for you? If I’m not mistaken, that’s what it’s made for ... right?”

“You talk a lot for a doomed man!” Fergus snapped as he charged. Again, his hammer found only air as it smashed into the floor without hitting its target. But during the next series of moments, Fergus would not give George the chance to make another comment. He lifted his hammer and took another swing. Again, he hit nothing but air.

“Damn! I’m kind of disappointed in you, General. My King, is this the best our army commands? I guess they can’t all be built for war like you are, Sire.”

As he watched Senchae grin, George knew he had made the king sound strong with his comment and slammed the general’s pride during the same moment. With his point made, the moment had come for the mage to demonstrate his power.