<div style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;color:black;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">I like how the story is progressing. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">However, the complexity of all the kingdoms and rulers
of them<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">is just too many to follow. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">It’s worse than The Game of Thrones. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">I think their numbers have to be thinned for
simplicities sake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">If you decide you want to keep the complexity,
having a glossary, as many novels do, would be advisable. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">That way, the readers would always be able to
quickly reorient<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">themselves when they
feel lost. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">1147 words<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Part Eleven<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">Castle</font></span></st1:placetype><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">
of <st1:placename w:st="on">King Almero</st1:placename></font><font size="3">, </font><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><font size="3">kingdom</font></st1:placetype><font size="3"> of </font><st1:placename w:st="on"><font size="3">Silent Enigma</font></st1:placename></st1:place><font size="3">
<o:p></o:p></font></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">King Almero, the
dwarf ruler of Anathema in the </font><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><font size="3">kingdom</font></st1:placetype><font size="3">
of </font><st1:placename w:st="on"><font size="3">Silent Enigma</font></st1:placename></st1:place><font size="3"> (8:49),
critically reviewed the scrolls of information before him.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">The tandem
attacks by insane shadow of the <st1:placetype w:st="on">kingdom</st1:placetype></font><font size="3">
of </font><st1:placename w:st="on"><font size="3">Creeping Darkness</font></st1:placename><font size="3">(14:48) and Void
Shadow of the </font><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><font size="3">kingdom</font></st1:placetype><font size="3">
of </font><st1:placename w:st="on"><font size="3">Creeping Darkness</font></st1:placename></st1:place><font size="3">
(14:48) on Sworn to EnycE, the large undead province in Hades Legions. had
weakened it sufficiently for one of his smaller attackers to capture some land
from it, but the province remained a dangerous threat.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">shadow mhail's
(province of the kingdom of Creeping Darkness (14:48)) attacks on Sworn to
destruction (medium dwarf) and Critic (small Halfling) of Hades Legions hadn't
accomplished much as far as making the kingdom of Hades Legions surrender. He
couldn't understand. shadow mhail had almost destroyed Hollow Dogs, Then,
instead of finishing them off, his troops returned home followed by making
those two useless attacks, and hadn't done anything since. He would have to
talk to the king of Creeping Darkness and find out what was going on. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">All of the above is hard to follow<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Isn’t there a way you could simplify the whole
affair. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">Instead of using all those legalistic
descriptors,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">you could use more generic
descriptors, o at least leave out some of the words. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">I think the message is that despite a lot of fuss,
not much has changed, and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">the polittitians
don’t know why. That sounds familiar. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">Several other
outside provinces had attacked the original monarch of Hades Legions helping
them reduce it to rubble, but he had not surrendered. When Hades Legions
switched monarchs, he felt sure it was to surrender. But, the new monarch had
sent a peace offering, and messaged asking him to accept. He had immediately
fired back with a message suggesting that the new monarch surrender along with a
not so veiled suggestion that he and his whole kingdom would be destroyed if he
didn't. When he didn't surrender, they had switched their attacks to the new
monarch. It hadn't taken long to render that province helpless as well. They
would surely surrender now, he thought. But, a duck had walked onto the </font><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><font size="3">province</font></st1:placetype><font size="3"> of </font><st1:placename w:st="on"><font size="3">The Crystal Pond</font></st1:placename></st1:place><font size="3">, and set up
housekeeping. It's not even a warrior duck. It's a blind female duck. What
possessed them to elect an inexperienced bird monarch? Now, what is it with
this duck. He and Fly had promptly sent a message to The Crystal Pond pointing
out death was in her future if she didn't surrender. This was insane. Instead
of surrendering, she killed the dragon he sent. Then, she had the audacity to
give a party for the kingdom with the meat, and give away choice parts. At
least his thieves had gone and stolen what was left. The remaining dragon meat
was in his stores. Then, the duck ran away. Now, he had to convince his
partners that it was just a matter of time. All they had to do is keep the
pressure on. Hades Legions had to be running out of rulers willing to be
monarch. Hadn't they seen what happened to the first two? What was in process
of happening to this last one? I mean, the duck ran. It was just a matter of
time. Sure, they had held out longer than he expected. But, they had to be
close to the point of collapse. There was the matter of the dragon. How had
that fowl killed it so quickly. Dragons weren't cheap, after all was done, he
was going to roast that feathered Queen. Now, he had to pump up the troops. He
rose and headed out the door to his council room pausing a moment in front of
the polished steal sheet on the wall to make sure his majestic, royal attire
was suitably impressive.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">In The Council
Chamber<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">All eyes turned to
the doorway as it opened to admit King Almero. Stepping in, he looked around
the room at each face, making eye contact. Their clear trepidation at his
presence was immensely satisfying. “It is always better to have people fear you
rather than love you if you can't have both,” he heard his father's words echo
in his memory.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“I have been
reviewing the data for the enemy. They are weak and scared. They elected a
third monarch. A new comer to the kingdom. It is an inexperienced avian
according to reports. Killing our dragon was clearly an accident. Rumer has it
that she has run away. That will delay the surrender. They will need to elect a
new monarch as soon as they admit this one is gone for good. We must keep the
pressure on. Contact your friends outside the kingdom and make sure they wait
for your attack so we get the larger chunk of land. I noticed some attacks on
their non warrior provinces. That is a wasted attack. We must weaken their
attackers to destroy their ability to fight. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“That wretched
wizard is scaring my troops and his thieves are stealing me blind. I had to do
something,” complained the undead ruler of gotar .<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">King Almero
slammed his fist down on the council table. “Don't do it again. You were
attacked immediately after and lost land. Your little revenge cost us momentum.
There will be plenty of time after the peace to take your revenge.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“I agree with the
ruler of Gotar,” said the dwarf ruler of The Land of Darkness. “After the
surrender, we will be blocked from further attacks.”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">“We will get more
than we lose from the surrender,” insisted King Almero. He looked around the
room. He was losing them. The war had gone on longer than expected. “The </font><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><font size="3">kingdom</font></st1:placetype><font size="3"> of </font><st1:placename w:st="on"><font size="3">Creeping Darkness</font></st1:placename></st1:place><font size="3"> is backing us. “And,”
he added, his face turning dark and threatening, “they will be more than
willing to take care of any province that fails to follow orders.”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Eyes looked away.
He could see some swallow hard. All but Fly. The big Halfling who had been
exploring, his face expressionless, continued to look him in the eye. King
Almero turned his gaze on the big avian. “Sir Taran of Spielburg of Achlamar
sitting to the right of Sir Fly. “how long before you are ready to join the
battle?”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“It's hard to
say,” said Sir Taran. “There thieves and wizards are killing my troops, and
robbing my resources faster than I can use them. It would be of help to me if
some of our attackers could massacre their underground element. It would give
me a chance to build up. As it is, I'm just barely maintaining the troops I
have. I'm not able to get ahead.”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">King Almero knew
he was going to have to get rid of Sir Taran, But for now, he needed him. He
was his biggest attacker. But, Taran had been a monarch in another kingdom
before coming to Silent Enigma. Fly had been the former monarch of Silent
Enigma, but had stepped down when King Almero. expressed a desire to be
monarch. Fly had supported him, and encouraged the other rulers to vote for
him. As soon as this business was over, he resolved to speak to Creeping
Darkness about helping him remove both of them.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">to be continued<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font></div>