The dragon set down on a nearby tree, and made a roar-hiss at Alex and Marshall. With a violent jerk, it launched itself from the tree with its hind legs, folding its wings in the process. It was basically like a giant arrow, aimed right at Alex.
--- --- ---
"Reports from Allocation Officers were pouring from all corners of Kandarin. The people were overjoyed by my sudden burst of kindness. In fact, this tactic was not mine. When I was but a mewling child, I have read a very interesting book. It was about a cruel but wise baron. I remembered him because of the symbol he had... It was a ram on a red background, I believe... but that does not matter. In any case, he had two nephews, one of whom would later take his throne. Interestingly, one nephew was a kind one, while the other was beyond tyrranical.
Later on, he felt that the reaper was awfully close to him, and thus, he had to choose who will inherit the title of Baron. Did he make up some wimpy test to see which one would be a better ruler? No, not at all. He sent the cruel one to watch over his lands. Eventually the nephew's notoriety overcame his own name - he was known as the Beast to the people. He executed men at his whim; he treated bugs better than his own people.
Some time passed. The Baron felt that the Beast has served his purpose, and sent an assassin to kill his own nephew. As I said, cruel but wise.
This way he had little choice but to give the throne over to his good relative. As strange as it may seem, the people not only had no problem with that - they welcomed him as their saviour from the Beast.
Thus, when the old Baron died, his people were nearly worshipping their new ruler. No matter what he did, it was never as bad as the horrors that the Beast inflicted upon his nation. This is kind of what I used myself. Without a doubt, the people saw me as a tyrant, the Beast, if you will. The last thing they expected was the sudden increase in pay.
-"My lord... One more thing that you may consider doing to further lift the peoples spirit... Perhaps there could be a public appearance of the Marshall before their people..."
-"Necirrejel, you know me too well to consider this." It just so happened that when my father was still in power, Necirrejel (then nothing but a cleaner) was one of my best friends. He was also the one who suggested tht my father was not doing the greatest job. "I DESPISE making any kind of interaction with a group of more than 20 people. I assume I will have to talk to them."
-"I will have the speech prepared, my Lord..."
--- --- ---
Steorra quickly dodged the spikes. However, one of them still managed to pierce her foot.
-"Ah! Damn you! Well, I'd say that that's more than an excuse... are you ready to die, you filthy demon?"
Her staff flared a light so bright that even through her hand covering her eyes, Steorra was almost blinded. It would most likely impair the vision of her opponent for at least 30 seconds. In that time, she limped behind Galak, and swiftly stole his bag of scrolls. //Without scrolls, he doesn't have any magic, right? That's what the signups said, anyway - it said he used "scroll magic", so i assume he needs scrolls to perform it.\\ She chucked the bag on a branch of a nearby tree.
-"Now, pig, I am willing to overlook my minor injury here, for it can be swiftly mended. What I really need to know is what the blazes © are you doing here? Why did you attack me? Answer, twerp, or your silence will be the longest one you will ever experience..."
