Korvos: "Hmm,
I should send a definite message... Find some prisoners or peasants and
have them executed."
Racius: "Whoah! Isn't that a bit extreme?"
Elmuth: "Are you sure my lord?"
Korvos: "It will send a good warning and reassure the nobles, will it
not?"
Elmuth: "I suppose my lord."
Racius: "This is wrong."
Korvos: "I know what I'm doing."
Elmuth: "Execute them now?"
Korvos: "I want them dead as soon as possible."
Theguis entered the room, dressed in a purple and red dress, ornate and
overflowing. She found the entire room quiet and somber. "Did I miss
something? You all look like someone just died."
"It's nothing of consequence," declared Korvos as he eyed Racius.
"Right, nothing to be bothered about," agreed a petulant Racius.
"O-kay then," replied Theguis, letting the matter drop. "Shall we go?"
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The foursome
made quite a picture. Korvos was dressed in gold and black, with a long
black velvety cloak across his shoulders. A ceremonial sword was in a
scabbard hung from his waist. Next to the Prince and a little behind
came Elmuth, who was dressed in the black and white robes of the High
Priest of Korath. Bringing up the rear were Princess Theguis in her
royal dress and Racius in the red and orange dress uniform of a Royal
Alberothian Cavalryman.
After Elmuth excused himself to prepare for the ceremony, the trio
continued to the main hall. Rounding the last bend, Korvos spotted a
group of Korathian nobles waiting for him to arrive. At their head was
a bearded and portly man, wearing an elaborately jeweled robe.
"Looks like a band of brigands," commented Racius. And indeed, the
group of nobles, although at first glance the picture of fine nobility,
on closer glance had worn and faded finery, with even the leader's robe
being almost threadbare in a couple of places.
The leader stepped up to Korvos. "Greetings, Prince Korvos, I am
Ionus," he greeted to the Prince. "If you would oblige, I would have a
word with you."
"I'm on my way to my coronation," dismissively replied Korvos.
"Certainly it can wait a few more minutes," insisted Ionus.
"Are you suggesting I put off the coronation?" asked the Prince in a
dangerous tone.
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