“Yes, in fact you did,” Hugo said. The Wizard of the West, handsome as he was, could get…a teensy but annoying sometimes.

“Ah. Well. You are going to die.”

“Hm? That’s it? I’m going to die?”

“What, not grave enough for you?”

“Well…we’re all going to die sooner or later, aren’t we?”

“Yes, yes, but I mean soon. You will be assassinated by an Imperial Ninja of the southern reaches of Hiwataki.”

“That’s rather inconvenient.”

“Quite.”

“How did you find out? A crystal ball, tea leaves, perhaps?”

“The Ninja himself told me. He happened to drop by when he was tired, I asked him what he was doing, he said ‘I’m off to assassinate King Hugo XXXXVI on Saturday, August 18th.’”

“Well at least he gave you the specifics. How should I protect myself?”

“I believe it’s inevitable, for I also saw it in my crystal ball.”

“Well that sucks.”

“Quite.”