A Simple Thing

Richard didn’t fall asleep the moment he returned to his tent, instead thinking about the current situation. He hadn’t had the time to prepare in his rush to Klandor, and now that he was here he realised just how much he had underestimated this continent. At the same time, his current decision was the only one he could have taken. If he’d wasted time to prepare an army, an endeavour that would take weeks on end, the sacred ceremony would already have come to an end.

And yet, participating in the sacred ceremony was a gamble. He was hoping the barbarians wouldn’t openly desecrate their code of honour and kill him, but having to expect that unknown was extremely embarrassing. Such things could be found in youths or real rulers, but it definitely wouldn’t be found in any council of...