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I could have tolerated a greatthat Rath is not dead beneath h the palace almost broke me

A king should at least enjoy the illusion of power, but I do not have that I sit on a throne held aloft by liars, traitors, and the self-interested And I have at least a dozen drinks insidemy tolerance for this And him

“Your presence is required at the palace It is al ceremony,” Krow says

“I’”

The stool next to me shifts and squeaks unco to try to relate toworse

“I went through this with your father”

“I cannot tell you how irritating it is to have every courtier, noble, coeneral, and clerk tell me hoith my father My father was a psychopath who hated and feared his own child and ended up dead because his chosen guard was fuzkin’ scum No thanks to you, may I add”

I a I can say what I want

I wait for Krow to take offense He won’t knohat to do with that He is used to others speaking in veiled and diplos to be preserved I no longer care to do any of that

“Stop being a spoiled brat”

That was not the right thing for him to say

I turn to Krow, grab hih the nearest wall, creating a Krow-shaped hole They always forget how ance ht In truth, I could kill every korabi in the palace in a single night if I chose to So it I am, after all, my father’s son

“My apologies, sire” Krow coughs as he rises to his feet I can see daylight through the here he fell Scum will soon start to use that as a tunnel, no doubt

Six