Epilogue Bob book 1
Barney looked at the huge casket that was being lowered into the crypt. Bob suspended in a barrel of healing potions was being lowered into the ground. Eric now called the Black watched with a few others. Barney called out “All bow before the king.” The few nobles did and they all headed to a local hall to get the deals done.
The hall was dark and stark. On the walls some torches were lit casting shadows. The lack of windows and single entrance showed that this was a room in a fortress. Barney sat in the plain and crudely made chair before looking around at the other few others joining him.
Barney nodded and began “So Bob becoming king is a bit of a shock to most of us. The old king is apparently resting in a lovely villa.” The 8 nobles looked at Barney with fear in their eyes. Resting in a villa who would believe that more than likely the king was either dead or in a dungeon being tortured for information.
A smile appeared on Barney's face “Now we are all men of the world. 7 years is the fastest Bob will be able to re grow his heart. Which means you all have 5 years of almost no taxes. You get a years notice and I have sworn this on my honour and with a magically binding oath. So lets not lie to one another Every copper you have to pay in taxes will be invested in the local orphanages. Eric the Black will run them and if any of you actually care you can send observers to make sure your gold is being well spent. Any questions?”
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One of the female nobles by the name of Katherine spoke out “Yes I have a question how are you so certain that the powerhouses you have somehow convince to join you will not see sense? They could kill all those they view as having betrayed the king.”
Barney smiled “A bit late for questions especially that one. All the human powerhouses sided with me and they all every last one of them will kill anyone who crosses certain lines. Now I am not saying that Bob being king when he wakes up is one of those lines. But for the next six months to a year none of you had better send any spies anywhere in the human lands on pain of death.”
Jonathan the oldest noble looked around and at Barney “Well I for one like the extra years Bob has brought to me. You look younger every day. The extra years I have been given are nice but I need to know if there are any rules that I do not know about that could get me and my family butchered? ”
Barney shrugged “I can not tell you most of us powerhouses do not know either. Just know this keep your head down do not ask any questions and I am working with the necromancers and even dark paladins and death cultists.”
Jonathan starred at Barney. “You would rather cut out your own tongue than take a drink from a dark paladin what could be so important you would ally with one of them?”
“Ally with them and worse” Three figures appeared from the darkness. The leader pulled down his hood to show a hansom face with red eyes and when he smiled his teeth were fangs. Jonathan looked at Barney “Vampires you are working for the undead? That is Jackson a vampire lord” Jackson smirked “He is not working for us we were ordered to help him on pain of death.”
Barney nodded “Like I said it was too late to back out even before we made you offers of power. Your only choice is death or service. This is not a bad thing for the human race we are all pushing in the same direction. What do you think Jonathan?”
“I think I am a greedy old man and given the power you seem to wield I will of course follow you. For as long as you have that power of course.”
