The two old men bristle at each-other, each one blaming the other for the far away failure of a third old man.
“Exactly as it sounds. Our secret deal with the Assassin has ended in abject failure.”
Dunning and Kruger have never particularly liked each-other or had any respect for the other’s opinions. Both men originally sought the Stowanian crown for themselves and then, after Urdurel’s peace offer, both men thought that they’d be the first choice to be his named successor in place of his murdered daughter and disavowed son.
It’s fifty years later now though, fifty years of weaselly sycophancy and slyly currying favour. Decades of promoting their own self interest, while actively undermining each-other. Despite both men holding positions of great influence and prestige within the country, second only to Lord Urdurel himself, that promise of absolute power is still, frustratingly, beyond either of their reach.
The initial speaker; Dunning, whispers a second question.
“Do they know we were behind the attack at the border?”
Kruger purses his lips.
“No. No, I don’t think so. Danté’s association with the Witches is smokescreen enough.”
Both old men fall silent for a moment before Kruger continues.
“If we don’t find a way to stop Urdurel, he’s going to bankrupt the whole Kingdom. The army is swelling to a size that the realm can ill afford to pay for long and he’s sent those adventurers off to offer full payment for that ridiculous prison tower, plus interest, to the Gnomes of Ambergis!”
Dunning responds with an equally bleak tone.
“Poison’s failed repeatedly and, unless we find another way to… stop him, there’ll soon be nothing left for either of us to inherit, even if those accursed demons are beaten back.”
No comments:
Post a Comment