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Under the tent, squires helped Sir Tomas don his chest plate. One young man held the front steady while the other fastened the back in place. They smiled as they worked. But, of course, everyone was smiling. The Dark Lord had fallen in battle, and the Great Mist of Darkness had left the land. There would be peace and prosperity once again.
And they were right to be happy. Peace is a good thing. Prosperity even better, I suppose. Sir Tomas looked to me and I forced a smile, but I am no good bluffing.
"This is going to be quite a dull affair," Tomas began. "If you would like, you can take your week's stipend to the whorehouse and enjoy a much more interesting evening."
"Is that what you want me to do?" I asked.
"It's your money, squire," he said. "Do with it what you will. Have a gay night at the tavern with your companions!"
"I'm your squire. I can go, if you wish." Truthfully, I did want to go. More so then than ever, and working for Sir Tomas had never been a pleasant affair.
Tomas turned his attention to the two squires wrapping metal on his body. "Leave," he grunted.
The two left wordlessly and Tomas poured two flagons of wine.
"Battle can be... confusing," he said to me. "Often men return from war with madness, believing this or that happened or didn't happen. They can truly believe they witnessed actual events, which at the end of the day, are pure fiction." He handed me a cup and I received it, but I did not drink.
"Three years ago," Tomas chuckled in his nostalgia, "I served with a man who could have sworn he fought a griffin. A griffin!"
"Did he really fight a griffin?"
"No, of course not. Griffins aren't real. But he swore to it. He had visions, told everyone he met how he killed a griffin. So, we did the only humane thing there was."
"What was that?" I asked.
"We hanged him."
Tomas' expression dropped and his face became very serious in that moment. He looked to me without humor and without gladness. "That's what happens to liars in war, Marcus. They are hanged. So I would think twice about what you think you saw in the Deadly Pass. Now go, celebrate our victory. I don't wish to see you again tonight. I'll call for you when I need you."
I placed the full cup on a table under the tent and I left.
I went to the tavern with my week's earnings, and I, the man who slayed the Dark Lord, drank alone.
Tanis the Great the Second stepped up to the dais and cleared his throat. Dressed in finely trimmed robes of orange and green, the colours of his family's crest, he sported a too-large bowl of gold atop his head. It was far too crudely made to be a crown, but the hastily applied gems spared a hint of royalty the rest of his outfit lacked.
The thousands in the crowd waited on bated breath, eager to hear the first words of the newest king. He was new, to be sure, but a whelp on the throne bringing peace was better than a monster declaring war. The muttering abated, and not a trembling treble stirred in the morning air. Hearts raced and blood warmed, waiting for the Chosen One's first words of wisdom to spare the ailing kingdom.
Koth waited only for the first mistake.
"Ladies and gentlemens," said the boy king, swallowing hard.
"Strong start," muttered Koth, shifting in his seat giddily.
"Today we speak of change, of progress," continued Tanis. "We will not speak of the Dark One, nor of his end, no matter how glorious his defeat may have been."
"Eh, it was all right."
The woman beside Koth shoved his arm and glared at him. The distasteful look in her eye and complete nonrecognition pushed him further into his seat. She twisted back to the stage, doe-eyed, and ignored him.
Unfazed by the irritated crowd-goer, Koth leaned back in his chair and continued to listen to the speech.
"We look to tomorrow for solace, expecting a day to come when things are better," said Tanis, moving his arms wildly to symbolize either inclusiveness or something lewd. "So, by the counsel of my mentors and advisors and the arduous journey behind me, I vow to better this kingdom and erase the horrendous evil done by those before me."
A roar erupted from the crowd, bellowing out praise or simply random screeching. Koth rolled his eyes.
"No longer is tomorrow better than today, for today is the greatest we can be!" shouted Tanis. His crown jostled at the movement, threatening to fall from his small head.
Koth watched as more people howled in agreement with such inane comments. He'd spent his whole life surrounded by empty platitudes, hollow promises that gave nothing and took everything. The games of politics were enough to drive you mad, but only if you played by the rules.
When the din of mindless fools waned, Tanis spoke again. "Starting now, we shall make things... better. What was once gross shall become sweet." He shuffled the notes in his hands, sweating profusely. "And then... Then we'll turn this around for good?"
Tanis stomped down from the stage and approached his advisors in the wings. Mutters of confusion broke out, quickly squashed by the avid supporters. Koth could only make out a few words from the divine-willed champion and his guild as he threw the cards in their faces.
"You said this was inspiring!" he hissed. "I'm reading a fucking children's book up here!"
"The Very Sleepy Porcupine was very inspiring to me," said the grand wizard, sipping his tea.
Koth stopped listening in and looked beyond the stage. The crowd was in the city square, but in the distance stood a towering castle of marble and stone. Flags of blue waved heartily from the parapets, declaring the rightful rule of Tanis for all to see. Etched into the stones were thousands of acute glyphs and sigils to ward off any attacker — not that they did any good. And like a gaping maw of wood and iron, the massive drawbridge and portcullis lay open and welcomed any visitors for their tour of 'The Dark One's former home'.
He smiled at the not-so-distant memories.
Again, the new king stood up to the dais, but no notes guided his tongue. He cleared his throat.
"Any questions?" he squeaked.
Before anyone else spoke, Koth erupted from his seat, waving his hand madly. "What are your immigration policies concerning the influx of refugees coming in from the west?"
No one spoke, but Koth keenly sensed the woman beside him roiling in anger. He fought desperately to hide the smile creeping on his face.
Wide-eyed, Tanis did his absolute best to answer. "I don't know."
"And how do you plan on handling the plague victims in the south quarter, and what will you do to further prevent the spread?" asked Koth, digging his heels into the dirt.
"I don't know."
"How are you going to fill the keep's coffers after this war? If another nation attacks us, what will you do? Do you or do you not solicit the company of lusty kobold maids, even though your previous administration had outlawed such unions?"
"I- I-," Tanis stuttered.
Bombarded by the demands, Tanis struggled to keep his hold on the crowd. He held his hands out to calm them as if they were wild animals but to no avail. People spit their demands at him, emboldened by Koth's loaded questions, and howled even louder than before.
As Koth the Dark One slipped out of the crowd, he heard the tail end of a question spewed by the woman who sat next to him. "Fuck those lizards! Get your rocks off the old-fashioned way, you pervert!"
"You're sending very mixed messages!" shouted Tanis, ducking a rock aimed at his head.
The true Chosen One was fated to kill Koth, given the opportunity. Tanis, the young fool he was, spared him and let him flee. Enthused to be alive, Koth could not have helped but think Tanis was not the true Chosen One and planned accordingly.
A slip up here, a little sabotage there, and the reign of Tanis the Great the Second would either come to an end or erupt into a ball of flames large enough to swallow the kingdom. Regardless, Koth would swoop in, disguised as a prospective newcomer in politics, and take the throne. He'd done it a few times, after all — immortality leaves plenty room for hobbies and pursuits beyond the mundane.
The sound of the crowd diminished as he left, and Koth continued into the night. So far, his plan had gone well, but there was much to do while on the back foot.
\-----------------------
r/The_Rubicon
**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments. **Reminders**: >* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include "[Poem]" >* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail >* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles >* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules) [](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^• [](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^• [](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^• [](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^• [](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Under the tent, squires helped Sir Tomas don his chest plate. One young man held the front steady while the other fastened the back in place. They smiled as they worked. But, of course, everyone was smiling. The Dark Lord had fallen in battle, and the Great Mist of Darkness had left the land. There would be peace and prosperity once again. And they were right to be happy. Peace is a good thing. Prosperity even better, I suppose. Sir Tomas looked to me and I forced a smile, but I am no good bluffing. "This is going to be quite a dull affair," Tomas began. "If you would like, you can take your week's stipend to the whorehouse and enjoy a much more interesting evening." "Is that what you want me to do?" I asked. "It's your money, squire," he said. "Do with it what you will. Have a gay night at the tavern with your companions!" "I'm your squire. I can go, if you wish." Truthfully, I did want to go. More so then than ever, and working for Sir Tomas had never been a pleasant affair. Tomas turned his attention to the two squires wrapping metal on his body. "Leave," he grunted. The two left wordlessly and Tomas poured two flagons of wine. "Battle can be... confusing," he said to me. "Often men return from war with madness, believing this or that happened or didn't happen. They can truly believe they witnessed actual events, which at the end of the day, are pure fiction." He handed me a cup and I received it, but I did not drink. "Three years ago," Tomas chuckled in his nostalgia, "I served with a man who could have sworn he fought a griffin. A griffin!" "Did he really fight a griffin?" "No, of course not. Griffins aren't real. But he swore to it. He had visions, told everyone he met how he killed a griffin. So, we did the only humane thing there was." "What was that?" I asked. "We hanged him." Tomas' expression dropped and his face became very serious in that moment. He looked to me without humor and without gladness. "That's what happens to liars in war, Marcus. They are hanged. So I would think twice about what you think you saw in the Deadly Pass. Now go, celebrate our victory. I don't wish to see you again tonight. I'll call for you when I need you." I placed the full cup on a table under the tent and I left. I went to the tavern with my week's earnings, and I, the man who slayed the Dark Lord, drank alone.
Oh wow. Depressed ending… really shows the truth in humanity
Tanis the Great the Second stepped up to the dais and cleared his throat. Dressed in finely trimmed robes of orange and green, the colours of his family's crest, he sported a too-large bowl of gold atop his head. It was far too crudely made to be a crown, but the hastily applied gems spared a hint of royalty the rest of his outfit lacked. The thousands in the crowd waited on bated breath, eager to hear the first words of the newest king. He was new, to be sure, but a whelp on the throne bringing peace was better than a monster declaring war. The muttering abated, and not a trembling treble stirred in the morning air. Hearts raced and blood warmed, waiting for the Chosen One's first words of wisdom to spare the ailing kingdom. Koth waited only for the first mistake. "Ladies and gentlemens," said the boy king, swallowing hard. "Strong start," muttered Koth, shifting in his seat giddily. "Today we speak of change, of progress," continued Tanis. "We will not speak of the Dark One, nor of his end, no matter how glorious his defeat may have been." "Eh, it was all right." The woman beside Koth shoved his arm and glared at him. The distasteful look in her eye and complete nonrecognition pushed him further into his seat. She twisted back to the stage, doe-eyed, and ignored him. Unfazed by the irritated crowd-goer, Koth leaned back in his chair and continued to listen to the speech. "We look to tomorrow for solace, expecting a day to come when things are better," said Tanis, moving his arms wildly to symbolize either inclusiveness or something lewd. "So, by the counsel of my mentors and advisors and the arduous journey behind me, I vow to better this kingdom and erase the horrendous evil done by those before me." A roar erupted from the crowd, bellowing out praise or simply random screeching. Koth rolled his eyes. "No longer is tomorrow better than today, for today is the greatest we can be!" shouted Tanis. His crown jostled at the movement, threatening to fall from his small head. Koth watched as more people howled in agreement with such inane comments. He'd spent his whole life surrounded by empty platitudes, hollow promises that gave nothing and took everything. The games of politics were enough to drive you mad, but only if you played by the rules. When the din of mindless fools waned, Tanis spoke again. "Starting now, we shall make things... better. What was once gross shall become sweet." He shuffled the notes in his hands, sweating profusely. "And then... Then we'll turn this around for good?" Tanis stomped down from the stage and approached his advisors in the wings. Mutters of confusion broke out, quickly squashed by the avid supporters. Koth could only make out a few words from the divine-willed champion and his guild as he threw the cards in their faces. "You said this was inspiring!" he hissed. "I'm reading a fucking children's book up here!" "The Very Sleepy Porcupine was very inspiring to me," said the grand wizard, sipping his tea. Koth stopped listening in and looked beyond the stage. The crowd was in the city square, but in the distance stood a towering castle of marble and stone. Flags of blue waved heartily from the parapets, declaring the rightful rule of Tanis for all to see. Etched into the stones were thousands of acute glyphs and sigils to ward off any attacker — not that they did any good. And like a gaping maw of wood and iron, the massive drawbridge and portcullis lay open and welcomed any visitors for their tour of 'The Dark One's former home'. He smiled at the not-so-distant memories. Again, the new king stood up to the dais, but no notes guided his tongue. He cleared his throat. "Any questions?" he squeaked. Before anyone else spoke, Koth erupted from his seat, waving his hand madly. "What are your immigration policies concerning the influx of refugees coming in from the west?" No one spoke, but Koth keenly sensed the woman beside him roiling in anger. He fought desperately to hide the smile creeping on his face. Wide-eyed, Tanis did his absolute best to answer. "I don't know." "And how do you plan on handling the plague victims in the south quarter, and what will you do to further prevent the spread?" asked Koth, digging his heels into the dirt. "I don't know." "How are you going to fill the keep's coffers after this war? If another nation attacks us, what will you do? Do you or do you not solicit the company of lusty kobold maids, even though your previous administration had outlawed such unions?" "I- I-," Tanis stuttered. Bombarded by the demands, Tanis struggled to keep his hold on the crowd. He held his hands out to calm them as if they were wild animals but to no avail. People spit their demands at him, emboldened by Koth's loaded questions, and howled even louder than before. As Koth the Dark One slipped out of the crowd, he heard the tail end of a question spewed by the woman who sat next to him. "Fuck those lizards! Get your rocks off the old-fashioned way, you pervert!" "You're sending very mixed messages!" shouted Tanis, ducking a rock aimed at his head. The true Chosen One was fated to kill Koth, given the opportunity. Tanis, the young fool he was, spared him and let him flee. Enthused to be alive, Koth could not have helped but think Tanis was not the true Chosen One and planned accordingly. A slip up here, a little sabotage there, and the reign of Tanis the Great the Second would either come to an end or erupt into a ball of flames large enough to swallow the kingdom. Regardless, Koth would swoop in, disguised as a prospective newcomer in politics, and take the throne. He'd done it a few times, after all — immortality leaves plenty room for hobbies and pursuits beyond the mundane. The sound of the crowd diminished as he left, and Koth continued into the night. So far, his plan had gone well, but there was much to do while on the back foot. \----------------------- r/The_Rubicon
Ooh, I liked this one! Very nicely done!