All Hail the King [Louise Madison's Hear Ye Challenge]

by THX 0477

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“ALL HAIL THE KING !”

And so they did, in echoing waves of adulation. The cry was taken up again and again, all the way from the Gate of the Wastes to the royal palace. To return a conquering hero is a heady thing.

But King Ferrious III felt no cause to exult. His eyes remained fixed foward, locked on the upper spire of the West Tower. Seven years at the campaigns, slaying his enemies, outwitting their generals, and suffering every privation, had left him a stranger to his own throne. Or more aptly put, left his throne a stranger to him.

Yellick the mage met him midway across the drawbridge with a deep bow, “Your return graces us as a testament to the gods’ favor on our kingdom.” The conniving man’s tongue flitted about his mouth as if he had not engineered a near total usurpation over the past two years.

King Ferrious dismounted, drew his sword and kicked the man to the ground, “Vile dog!”

From the ground he feebly attempted, “All hail the king?” before being run through by a royal blade.

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Comments

Average Reader Rating: 5.0 stars out of 5

  1. All Hail the King [Louise Madison's Hear Ye Challenge]

    Kermitgorf's Buddy Icon Kermitgorf

    Posted 8 days ago

    wow abrubt end i was hoping for a sequel, or to sequel it myself. hmm. love the dialouge.

  2. All Hail the King [Louise Madison's Hear Ye Challenge]

    Mistress Elsha Hawk's Buddy Icon Mistress Elsha Hawk

    Posted 8 days ago

    Fantastic! Love the cynicism and abrupt end! Also that this is different from the other entries :)
    LoA

  3. All Hail the King [Louise Madison's Hear Ye Challenge]

    thebetweenspace's Buddy Icon thebetweenspace

    Posted 8 days ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    I really enjoyed the following line: The conniving man’s tongue flitted about his mouth as if he had not engineered a near total usurpation over the past two years.

  4. All Hail the King [Louise Madison's Hear Ye Challenge]

    Jenunique's Buddy Icon Jenunique

    Posted 8 days ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Wow. Just wow. What else can I say?

  5. All Hail the King [Louise Madison's Hear Ye Challenge]

    Valley Fey/Pinprick's Buddy Icon Valley Fey/Pinprick

    Posted 7 days ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Amazing, as usual. I liked Or more aptly put, left his throne a stranger to him.
    LoA

  6. All Hail the King [Louise Madison's Hear Ye Challenge]

    Louise Madison's Buddy Icon Louise Madison

    Posted 7 days ago

    Simply stunning. You really packed a great description of distance by other priorities well in such a short story. Wonderful, as always. Thanks for responding to my challenge with such an entry.

  7. All Hail the King [Louise Madison's Hear Ye Challenge]

    .:band baby:.'s Buddy Icon .:band baby:.

    Posted 7 days ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Oh my! Didn’t see that coming at all. I wonder why.. sequel perhaps? very nice.
    LoA

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