The old man, the grandfather of the current King of Verdan, reappeared practically immediately in front of his grandson, who had returned to his Kingdom where he waited in silence and reigned in anger.

  The location was the King’s study, and he sat behind his desk with a facial expression that made it appear as if he was waiting for something, and then that thing appeared…his grandfather. Upon seeing him he didn’t say a word, just looked at him waiting for what he had to say.

  The old man observed the boy for a few moments, who knows how many thoughts racing between his aged brows, and after a few painfully awkward moments of silence for the King of Verdan, the old man opened his mouth.

  “You were far more talented than your father, but you lack the same cool head that he had. You think yourself above the world, and for the most part you are, but there are certain beings that you should not cross, disrespect, or second guess, and the fact that I have to tell you this now means you, unfortunately, still have some growing up to do.

  “Even though you are more than a century old….and to think you likely thought that staying outside of the barriers that hold Mir within their land would keep you safe. You are a fool. If Mir wanted to break through that barrier. There is nothing stopping it from doing so.”

  At those words, the King of Verdan’s eyes widened like saucers. That was information he did not know, and how could he? The people who made that barrier would’ve never released that information.

  “But the only reason why Mir has not broken through that barrier already is because it is too bored to do so. It would much rather sleep because it knows, or at least believes, that if it breaks through, it will just get it remade at some point, so it doesn’t care. The only way that barrier will not break is if the people who made it are present at the exact moment Mir would try to break through.

  “So I say this one more time, you are a fool. Don’t forget your station. You are a King only because I do not wish to rule. Know your place and do not go back to Mir…you will die, and I will not step in to protect you.

  “Regarding our precious friend the King of Goblins, you all have failed. Mir has taken an interest in the vile thing, and I fear that means we are likely to see the strongest Goblin King in history rise to prominence. Mir will not allow its toy to be disturbed, meaning there’s nothing you or anyone else on this continent, save a very few, can do to stop it, at least not without embroiling the continent in an all out war where no one wins.

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  “But that’s not something I’ll allow to happen, and even if I did, there are others who would frown at the thought of a continental war with Mir and the Goblin King. So you and everyone else that was involved must do as I say. Call for another meeting between your fellow leaders and let them know to stay away from Mir.

  “I will not have one of you fools anger that creature any further. Its temper can be quite short. Then you will get this Kingdom stronger, and I need you to build a very specific force of elites over the next few years to a decade.

  “That is likely how long it will take for Mir to have its fun with the Goblin King, and if the Goblin King survives that period of fun before Mir gets bored, and there’s a good chance it will, then there is a good chance that It will be as strong as you or stronger.

  “Thus we need to be ready for that moment when it will no longer be defended by Mir. It will be strong enough to claim a piece of this continent for its own, and that is unacceptable.

  “That is it.

  “Tell the others to leave Mir alone and then get stronger. Do you understand, boy?”

  The King of Verdan looked intently at his grandfather, no emotion on his face, but he dared not keep his mouth shut for longer than he knew would be allowed.

  “I understand, grandfather. It will be done.”

  “Good.”

  And then the old man vanished.

  After the old man left, the King of Verdan did not move for a while. In fact, more than just a few hours passed as he sat there unmoving, and then eventually the desk in front of him, one that was made of premium material, shattered into bits and the walls of the room cracked all over the place.

  Then he let out a sigh.

  “Come.”

  At his word, a shadow appeared in the room.

  “Tell the Minister to get out of my Kingdom and never to return. I fear the next time I see him I will take his head from his shoulders.”

  “It will be done, my King.”

  “And it’s time for another summit to be held. All the world leaders who were there before — bring them back.”

  “Yes, my King.”

  “Ensure this room gets fixed. There was an accident.”

  Of course, with the level of damage in the room, the shadow and anyone with half a brain would know there was no accident, not while the King was present within. But the shadow didn’t let that thought surface on its face; it simply bowed, and when it realized the King no longer had anything to say to it, it moved to carry out the orders it was given.

  Meanwhile, the King of Verdan, still seated in the room, closed his eyes for a few moments before he vanished as well.

  But it wasn’t only the King of Verdan that had to deal with the fallout of what just happened. Rick, who was now alone in the office after Mir and the old man left, also had moves to make, and he too had to make them after taking more than a few moments to calm his anger.

  And the first move he made was to go check on the members of his Royal Guard, and once he verified they were okay and transported them to their respective barracks all by himself of course, he went back to his office and decided to make a few changes to his plans.

  There had been one too many times where he was rendered helpless before another being that he couldn’t begin to defeat.

  Things needed to be different.