Alas, poor Estmere... (Patreon)

Snatches of the Mephitist requiem ceremony sprang to my mind, but unfortunately this was no time to eulogize Estmere.  Events had been set in motion and forces were no doubt gathering as I stood there, seething, in the Coronation Chamber.  This was not right - not right at all.  My half-brother loved venery and fighting, in the good old elfly tradition.  It was shameful for him to have died this way, and those responsible for it would pay:  The Sisterhood, the Vulpitanians, the Queen ... was there any significance to the way my Ixie daughters suddenly withdrew from my presence?  I would have to watch them with suspicion.

The fact that I was (practically, almost) King now would help me rid the Empire of these Unseelie elements ... but in order to become King, one had to be crowned, and it must be done by another elf.  Not even Irenaeus had the hubris to crown himself.  Then there was the matter of succession.  Even though I had been legitimized as the King's brother and had the clearest claim to the throne, Edessa could still contest it - and when her child was born, it would have a strong counterclaim.

Clearly it would be in the Queen's best interest to have me eliminated, since I stood in the way of her ambition.  The Vulpitanians also probably wanted an end to the Empire, and the Duchess of Daisies .. well, she must have known there was no chance in the Netherhells I would ever marry her, so she probably also had me marked for death.  How many of these parties knew my present whereabouts?

I quickly decided that I needed to get back to my army.  Since my original purpose in coming to Albric Tor had been thwarted, my only path to safety now lay in a display of overwhelming force against my enemies.

I hurried out of the Hall, past the Guard - who seemed to be shaking off the effects of whatever intoxicant he had consumed.

"You're a disgrace to that uniform!" I yelled at him as I strode past.  "If you're still alive after I conquer this city, I will expect you to report to me for discipline!"

"Prince Adler?" the Guard asked drowsily.  "What are you doing here?  Come to think of it, what am I doing here??"

I hustled onward, across the park and down a side-street.

Avogadro stepped around a corner and pointed at me.

"AHA!" he shrieked.  "STAND AND FACE YOUR FATE, YOU DESPOILER OF MY MISTRESS'S VIRTUE!  WHAT DID YOU DO AFTER STRIPPING HER BARE?  WHERE HAVE YOU TAKEN HER?"

I didn't have time to parley with this chump.  I strode up and punched him a good one right in the snout, then kept on truckin' toward the nearest city gate.

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