“Stacey cheated on us,” Eddie said.“If Vic hadn’t weaseled his way in, this never would have happened.”
“Weasel my way in?You were the one who messed up the schedule!”
“Hold fast,” the Prince said.“Tell me what troubles you.”
“We share a woman,” Eddie said.“Stacey.While we were gone, because of her misgivings about our situation, she fell to the charms and wits of Brother Aleister.”
“And it wouldn’t have happened if you wouldn’t have been such a dick!”Vic said.
They struggled against each other again, growling and punching, and then the Prince stepped forward.
“Stop,” the Prince said.“This is a place of law and rule.Fighting is forbidden in this part of the palace.If you have woes, they can be fought about in the Coliseum.”
Flag-Staff did not look happy about this.
“But, my Lord,” he said in English.“Your servants—”
“Lord Flag-Staff, can you go and summon the King?”the Prince asked.“Venom-heels, in his infinite wisdom, should come and have a judgment on this quarrel.”
“Ah,” Flag-Staff said.“I shall return shortly.”
He padded quickly down the way.After some time, and some fighting and yelling as the Prince tried to intervene, Venom-heels himself, nearly seven foot tall and built like a BattleToad, walked into the room.He croaked, throat bobbing, and the Prince went and whispered, a series of quick ribbits and groans as his throat-sac barely inhaled.
Venom-heels nodded, eyes squinted.He pointed at Eddie, gibbering, and then spread his arms wide.
“I disagree,” the Prince said.He croaked and gurgled back, gesturing to Vic, and set his own stance.
The two stared at one another.
“Oh dear,” Flag-Staff said, and there was an undercurrent of great glee in his English.“Listen to them.The two disagree.Venom-heels supports your companion Eddie.He says he takes his side—that Vic came in later.The Prince agrees so strongly with Victor’s plight, however, that the two have bashed heads together.They are—oh.Oh, Great Gods of Old.They have invoked the right to the Crown over the ensuing Coliseum battle.”
“You seem quite excited,” I said.
Flag-Staff blinked, turning his head to me, his wide, hooked-teeth grin demonic.
“All Aquans love the thrill of a fight,” he gloated, throat sac inhaling obscenely.He marched into the crowds, gesturing and croaking.Aquans all around him filtered through the halls.“Please make your way to the Coliseum!”he called, in English.
It seemed, for now at least, that Flag-Staff’s plans were well in motion.
A crested Aquanstood over the Arena, bellowing words that echoed.Flag-Staff stood, narrating in English for our audience.
“King Venom-heels has challenged Prince Dorsl to a duel.They each back a different lover.Aquan society detests those who do not stay loyal.There are those who wish to keep them close, and those who wish to… to… I’m sorry, what?”
Flag-Staff turned, confused, towards the announcing Aquan.
“The King has decided that those who are not loyal are to be killed,” the Prince continued, in English.“I, however, have requested mercy on your behalf, Flag-Staff.”
Flag-Staff croaked.
“What?”he asked.
“You have been charged with sedition,” the Prince said.“Untrustworthiness.Lack of loyalty to the Rules of Law.You have been charged with treason against the Crown.How do you plead?”
“Confused, your majesty,” Flag-Staff said, in English.He switched languages and began creaking and croaking.
“No, no,” the Prince said.“There is naught that you can do at this point to undig your efforts at fostering a divide between the Undead community and the Aquan community.That you sought to go against our rightful King, Venom-heels, and therefore turn my allegiance through outside influence is treachery, plain and true.Perhaps you believed me some tadpole, wet behind the ears still?”
“My Lord,” Flag-Staff said, voice obsequious.
