Read The Merchant Adventurer for Free Online

fight over estates and dominions that cover nearly a third of the known world.”
    “Perhaps you have a point. But
I
would draw the line at assassinating my own family.”
    “I do as well,” said the Duke with an air of resignation, “but only because I don’t have the talent to get away with it.”
    Dimsbury frowned. “Oh, and I should mention, I’ve dispatched a raiding party.”
    “Raiding party, well, that doesn’t sound so bad. I mean, it’s understandable. Fit of temper and all. “
    “Of Orcs,” said Dimsbury
    “Horks? What are those?”
    “They ride wolves, Weeveston. Wolves.”
    “Well whatever they are, they can’t be very large if they are riding wolves.”
    “They are very large wolves.”
    “Yes, but what is a Hork?”
    “No, no, good fellow, an Orc. No ‘h’. They are my latest work. Terrible, terribly murderously bloodthirsty creatures. Stronger and faster than a man. Some cultivars have tusks, other do not. They all have greyish-green skin,
almost
impervious to weapons–if not for the constant interruptions I would have gotten that bit right… Look, it’s important that you know how bad I feel about this. Wiping out your entire Kingdom–” at the sound of the word Kingdom, the Duke flinched. “Oh, sorry, sorry, Duchy. Very sorry about that, didn’t mean to rub it in. Anyway, I feel terrible about all of this old boy, really I do, but it seems the only way to get the peace I need for my work.”
    “Well, I understand, you were upset, but it’s just a raiding party. Probably do the old town some good. A little raiding. Till up the soil, attract more Adventurers. Rallying to the cry of ‘defend good ol’ Robrecht!’”
    “No, no that’s not the point. You see, old boy, I mean to drive you out. Work salt into the earth so nothing will ever grow here again.”
    “Wait, how many people in this raiding party? I mean how many of these Horks?”
    “Orcs”
    “…do you have?”
    “Oh, a few thousand, by now I should say!”
    “Oh, well, why didn’t you say so?” exclaimed the Duke, breaking out into a smile.
    “What difference does it make?”
    “Well if it was two dozen or so, it would be a mere raiding party. But a thousand, perhaps two. Yes, two thousand?”
    “I’m a Wizard,” said the Wizard, “just not with numbers.”
    “Well, a quick look at the treasury will reveal that neither am I. But, anything over 500 is clearly an army, right?”
    “So?”
    “Well, I wouldn’t have abdicated, you see. I would have been INVADED!”
    “Yes.”
    “Well, that solves my problem! I just slip away into the night. The warmth of exile in the Southron Kingdoms and the embrace of my wife–”
    “Weeveston, you’re married?”
    “Oh, yes, for ages now. Arranged, but she is pleasant enough, as wives go. But she took one look at this damp tower and left me. She repaired to her father’s estates in the south. Something about mold growing in her hair…
    “But never mind that now. You have released me old friend. You have released me! I will instruct my household to pack at once.”
    “Probably for the best. The Orcs should descend on the town shortly after midnight.”
    “Oh, how very gruesome and terrifying.”
    “Yes, I thought it a nice touch.”
    “The only thing, old boy,” the Duke said, the smile dropping from his face, “is my uncle. He will take it hard. He will come for revenge.”
    “No worries, Weeveston. I can handle your Uncle Torvalds.”
    “I wish you would.”
    “As a favor to you, I am happy to do it,” said the Wizard. Then he said, “Bon Voyage!” gave a half-bow, and, in the way of Wizards, disappeared in a puff of smoke.
    • • •
    He appeared, quietly, with no smoke or fanfare, in the shadows of a warehouse building along the river Swift. That had gone surprisingly well, thought Dimsbury. It would have pained him to have killed his old schoolmate Weeveston. Not much, but it is worth something to avoid even a momentary pang. To attack the