Tagstory

The young Lady Sparks returned to the stable after her morning ride with her escort. The stable door was standing open and the stable hand nowhere to be seen. She swung down from the saddle and stuck her head in to look around. He was asleep in a pile of hay near the door.

"That slug! That #sloth!" she muttered. "There he lays, that worthless thing."

"Huh?" said the guardsman. "Again!?"

She tied up the horse outside, hung up the tack and blanket, and began to rub down the horse as he stood, steaming in the early morning sun.

The stable hand cautiously opened an eye and exchanged a wink with the guardsman. They both knew how much she loved to do this part herself, but that she never would if someone was there to receive the horse. So they had made this arrangement to give her the excuse to do it herself.

The stable hand closed his eye and took care not to move.

"Well," said the Captain. "I guess it's time to go talk to the King." He opened his desk drawer, pulled out a bottle, and tucked it into his cloak.

"The King?" asked the Hero.

The Captain motioned and led the Hero across town.

"Isn't the castle that way?" the Hero asked.

"This way is shorter," the Captain said, leading him into a warren of narrow alleyways.

They eventually arrived in a dark space among the back side of buildings where the alleyways converged.

Pallets and crates were stacked up among garbage cans and piles of trash. Amongst them, a shadowy, unshaven figure reclined. He wore a boot on his head.

The figure emitted a wracking cough, then spoke in a booming voice. "Who soever approacheth the King?"