Read Online Knights of the Apocalypse (A Duck & Cover Adventure Post-Apocalyptic Series Book 2) by Benjamin Wallace - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Benjamin Wallace
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us.”
“But, sire …”
The king waved his hand and the man in the
robe bowed before disappearing out the double doors. The king placed his face
in his hands and rubbed away a headache.
“Heavy is the head, huh?”
The king pointed to the throne. “Red is the
ass. I doubt you got to see much of our kingdom on the way in.”
“I saw enough to jump to a few conclusions.
And, despite the tapestry of you getting your smite on, you don’t seem crazy.”
“That’s kind of you to say.” Elias leaned
back and rubbed his lower back. “Sometimes I wonder.”
“I’ve met my share of kings. Most are nut
jobs ruling over a kingdom of melons, or peasantry of sheep. This one guy ruled
over a kingdom full of dolls he found in burned out buildings. He had them all
lined up in front of him in his throne room.”
Elias cringed.
“Yep,” Jerry said. “It was creepy.”
“My people are happy here. They’re safe and
they’re fed.” Elias held out his arms to let the robe flow. “If this pageantry
gives them that comfort, then I’m happy to play my role.”
“Probably doesn’t hurt having all the
servants at your beck and call.”
Elias chuckled. “I’m not going to lie. It’s
good to be the king.”
“But you’ve got a problem?”
The king nodded. “I do.”
“Something or someone is threatening to undo
all of this and take it all away from you. To bring your kingdom crumbling down around you. Otherwise I wouldn’t be here with you. I’d
be in the mines with the rest of the dissidents.”
Elias nodded again. “You would.”
“Now that doesn’t sound like the act of a
benevolent ruler.”
The king turned up his palms. “What choice do
I have? This town didn’t have a dungeon.”
“I’ll give you props for creative problem
solving. You get your dungeon and your silver and gold.”
“You’d be surprised how much they left down
there when they closed this place. If you dig deep enough.”
“Sounds delightful.”
Elias waved his hands. “There’s no need for
you to find out. I want to give you a job.”
“Why me?”
The king smiled. “Well, it was nine men.”
“Could have been ten. You’ve got an army of
knights. Why do you need me?”
“My men are loyal, brave and capable. But
there are things even they can’t do. My kingdom unexpectedly has business in a
neighboring realm. It’s a kingdom we are peaceful with. But it is an uneasy
peace. If my men were found there it would be a violation of the truce. I can’t
risk a war. But, you’re not one of my knights. You could go. You’re not even a
citizen here.”
“I think the technical term is prisoner.”
“You came here looking for an auto part,
yes?”
“That’s right.”
“But you have no gold.”
“Nothing with your face on it.”
“Macroeconomics were never my thing, but my
advisors tell me it’s time to rein in the currency that’s in circulation. We
don’t want inflation getting out of hand.”
“Well, see, that’s what I figured.”
“If you do this for me, I will give you
enough gold to buy any car you want.”
“A king’s ransom?”
Elias smiled again. “Not quite.”
“I don’t know, Your Highness. You seem like a
pretty fair guy and my wife and I were just defending ourselves against some common thugs. I might want to throw myself on your mercy.”
Elias bit his lip. “No, I don’t think you’d
want to do that.” The king turned and climbed painfully back to his throne.
“The world is not as big as it was yesterday, you know.” Elias turned and sat
back on the uncomfortable throne. “It had grown for a while. Nobody talked. But
things are getting better. Communication is picking back up and we rulers of
men are in better contact than you might think. We may not like each other, but
we talk.”
Jerry’s stomach sank. The king didn’t have a
suspicion. He knew exactly who he was.
“I know who you are, Librarian. And I know
what you’re worth. Even I consider it a lot. And
“But, sire …”
The king waved his hand and the man in the
robe bowed before disappearing out the double doors. The king placed his face
in his hands and rubbed away a headache.
“Heavy is the head, huh?”
The king pointed to the throne. “Red is the
ass. I doubt you got to see much of our kingdom on the way in.”
“I saw enough to jump to a few conclusions.
And, despite the tapestry of you getting your smite on, you don’t seem crazy.”
“That’s kind of you to say.” Elias leaned
back and rubbed his lower back. “Sometimes I wonder.”
“I’ve met my share of kings. Most are nut
jobs ruling over a kingdom of melons, or peasantry of sheep. This one guy ruled
over a kingdom full of dolls he found in burned out buildings. He had them all
lined up in front of him in his throne room.”
Elias cringed.
“Yep,” Jerry said. “It was creepy.”
“My people are happy here. They’re safe and
they’re fed.” Elias held out his arms to let the robe flow. “If this pageantry
gives them that comfort, then I’m happy to play my role.”
“Probably doesn’t hurt having all the
servants at your beck and call.”
Elias chuckled. “I’m not going to lie. It’s
good to be the king.”
“But you’ve got a problem?”
The king nodded. “I do.”
“Something or someone is threatening to undo
all of this and take it all away from you. To bring your kingdom crumbling down around you. Otherwise I wouldn’t be here with you. I’d
be in the mines with the rest of the dissidents.”
Elias nodded again. “You would.”
“Now that doesn’t sound like the act of a
benevolent ruler.”
The king turned up his palms. “What choice do
I have? This town didn’t have a dungeon.”
“I’ll give you props for creative problem
solving. You get your dungeon and your silver and gold.”
“You’d be surprised how much they left down
there when they closed this place. If you dig deep enough.”
“Sounds delightful.”
Elias waved his hands. “There’s no need for
you to find out. I want to give you a job.”
“Why me?”
The king smiled. “Well, it was nine men.”
“Could have been ten. You’ve got an army of
knights. Why do you need me?”
“My men are loyal, brave and capable. But
there are things even they can’t do. My kingdom unexpectedly has business in a
neighboring realm. It’s a kingdom we are peaceful with. But it is an uneasy
peace. If my men were found there it would be a violation of the truce. I can’t
risk a war. But, you’re not one of my knights. You could go. You’re not even a
citizen here.”
“I think the technical term is prisoner.”
“You came here looking for an auto part,
yes?”
“That’s right.”
“But you have no gold.”
“Nothing with your face on it.”
“Macroeconomics were never my thing, but my
advisors tell me it’s time to rein in the currency that’s in circulation. We
don’t want inflation getting out of hand.”
“Well, see, that’s what I figured.”
“If you do this for me, I will give you
enough gold to buy any car you want.”
“A king’s ransom?”
Elias smiled again. “Not quite.”
“I don’t know, Your Highness. You seem like a
pretty fair guy and my wife and I were just defending ourselves against some common thugs. I might want to throw myself on your mercy.”
Elias bit his lip. “No, I don’t think you’d
want to do that.” The king turned and climbed painfully back to his throne.
“The world is not as big as it was yesterday, you know.” Elias turned and sat
back on the uncomfortable throne. “It had grown for a while. Nobody talked. But
things are getting better. Communication is picking back up and we rulers of
men are in better contact than you might think. We may not like each other, but
we talk.”
Jerry’s stomach sank. The king didn’t have a
suspicion. He knew exactly who he was.
“I know who you are, Librarian. And I know
what you’re worth. Even I consider it a lot. And
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