funranium | Galatia Epilogue #1 (Reply)

“Tea, m’lord?”

“Why yes, certainly. No yak milk please.”

“Do you think the war party will return soon, m’lord?”

He took a moment to gaze into the swirling tea. “Presently, my pet. Your courtyard will soon be graced by a most…unique…statue. My father-in-law is a most efficient motivator of men, even under trying circumstances.”

“Trying, m’lord? Bad casualties?”

“Remarkably light I should wager. After all, the Alderman isn’t fool enough to bring an elf into the ruins of Galatia.” Not as fool as we were.

They sat quietly for a while longer. Elias sighed deeply as he enjoyed the foot massage for few extra minutes, knowing that life was about to become interesting again.

“Alright, all good things come to an end." He stood up from the comfy chair. "Straighten your robes and come sit in your throne. I must be going.”

Elias paused at the door of the room, took the crown off his head and threw it back to the jarl. “Time for you to be my king for the smallfolk again, your grace. I’m off to entertain the wife.”

He could feel the resolve, independence, and dominance of the jarl’s unadjusted personality returning as he walked through the town. Much harder than Torgo to manage but so much more worthwhile. Shame the old woman had to die. Oma was a wealth of pithy hearth wisdom, much like Antler Bear used to be, but she could see the change and didn't like it. Ah well.

Elias watched the cart with the statue strapped to it roll down the road as it passed by his front window. He gave his rather pregnant wife a hug. She looked up and gave him a kindly smile

He returned the smile and looked back at the cart. Despite the tarps, the shape of wings was unmistakable. “All will be well. We are the innocent and angels shall be our protectors above.”

But we won’t lose their favor like Galatia did.