Leslie looked back over. [Is Jack asking if I wish to address the court? I'm just a consort...] While Leslie thought this, a warm feeling spread throughout her soul.

"...I wish to be on the council that reviews the Grimnight Clan..." Leslie whispered back.

[Isn't that a conflict of interest...] Jack thought, but decided to grant her request.

"Before We bring this session to a close, I will be appointing a council of investigation responsible for reviewing the Grimnight Clan and other corruption. I appoint Consort Leslie, Grand Minister Lucius, and War Marshal Verruca to this Council. Judgment can be made by an agreed decision by these three, or if needed, can be brought to me for final judgment. War Marshal Verruca will be charged with imprisonment or execution of the guilty. She does not need my permission to execute the guilty."

Clink...

Jack looked down to Lucius, "Convene court for a year unless it's urgent."

Lucius nodded, "Court will be adjourned for one year's time unless pressing concerns bring us again."

Jack rose and walked down his Throne. At the base, he waited for Leslie to make her way down, as well. As soon as she made it to him, he held out his left hand. She again took the hand, and they both walked hand in hand, as they walked out of the Throne room. The double doors of the Holy Entrance closed behind them. The court erupted in talking. Most of the Undeath Officials excused themselves, quietly, and left.

*******

"Ah, Marquis Mark... Should I call you a Marquis, still?" A large Zombie undead lumbered toward Mark. This large zombie undead wore royal attire, with a large sweeping red robe. The robe was embroidered with gold images of a great bat. The Symbol of Jakahn.

"No, I left that Title behind. You can call me Merchant Mark because I do business."

The large Zombie stopped in front of Mark, towering above him with his height. "I can't help but notice, that you haven't bowed before the King of Jakahn."

Mark looked around the Royal Hall of Jakahn. The walls were lined with Bat warriors, a special elite of the Kingdom of Jakahn. If Jack was here, he would have thought [How do I fight an army of Batmen???] The great open-air hall was carved out of Blackrock stone into the side of a mountain. The entire palace was set upon the great mountain of Jakahn, even the City was named Jakahn.

Mark turned his gaze back to the towering undead king of Jakahn. "Your Majesty, this isn't my kingdom, so I do not have to bow before someone that isn't my king..."

"Is that so?" The King of Jakahn released a burst of pressure, showing the regal of a king ranked cultivator of Unholy magic to press down Merchant Mark.

Mark stood unfazed by this dark pressure, as he stared at the King, neither back bowed or knee bent.

[King rank?!] The King of Jakahn inwardly exclaimed. [Why wasn't his Title higher in Deagoth...?] The King was slightly disturbed... But his face did not betray his feelings.

He retracted his aura, "Ah, I didn't know We were receiving an honored guest. You should of let Us know! Come in, come in!"

The large king of Jakahn turned his huge frame showing the door to the back of the Royal Hall to his private chambers.

"Let Us retire to a more conformable location." The king motioned with his hand, as Mark walked beside him to the large exit.

"Say Honored Guest Mark, We just got some great dust imported from the Kingdom of Dragon's Jaw, called Dragon's cough. I'd love to get your opinion."

"Of course." Mark didn't correct the King's way of addressing him, as they walked into the king's private office.

*******

"Soooooooooooooooo..." War Marshal Ken rode beside the caravan that held Lady Emily, a top his undead steed.

Emily turned her tiny head to face Ken, "Yes?"

"What brings The Grand Tomb of Neolith to our Kingdom?" Ken was trying to make chit chat.

"Business and politics, mostly," Emily responded in her cute voice.

"Well, it is odd ya know. Considering what happened at Femur's reach and all." Ken responded with humor in his voice.

"Well, many things have changed in Neolith since then, and We need new allies now."

"You're not afraid that his Grace will, I don't know, Call down the Angel of Death again and wipe out all of you?" Ken asked slightly serious, but slightly jokingly.

"Well, I doubt that a group of ambassadors could call the wrath of The Holy Witch King to that extent, and his Grace has never been a rash person."

Jack had finished disrobing his regalia, and felt a chill run up his bony spine... [Is this how undead feel when someone is talking about them????????]

"I don't know about that... So, tell me more about you." Ken asked, striking up another conversation.

"I'm not interested in you, sir." Lady Emily responded flatly, but even with a flat voice, it sounded cute.

"I.. er.. No, I already have someone that I like." Ken said while stuttering. Ken was a real socialite but really fell apart when the subject of Verruca was brought up.

"Oh, as the number one War Marshal on the southeastern border of the Holy Kingdom of Deagoth, who could catch your eye?" Lady Emily asked while giggling.

"I'm the only War Marshal at the southeastern border..." Ken replied slightly sadly. He was very relaxed while talking to what had been his enemy for the last thousand or so years. Either he was very powerful, or very stupid. Ken hadn't lost a battle in the last seven hundred years; he was more of the former than the ladder.

"Don't try to change the subject... Who is she or is it a he?"

"No, it's a she... War Marshal Verruca, I doubt you know of her..." Ken responded shyly... This was the only subject that Ken was shy about to others, but oh, was he bold to Verruca when he was on leave!

Emily giggled again, "Who doesn't know the War god Verruca of Deagoth."

"Oh, what does Neolith call me?" Ken asked ready to get an ego boost.

"That guy at the border..." Emily said while watching ken's body language. While this was actually what Neolith called War Marshal Ken, it was because his name had become taboo for the military. Ken was like a great plague on the battlefield to any commander of Neolith.

Ken's back bowed slightly while he was riding his undead steed.

"Why Verruca? I mean, I get why you would admire her, but why her?"

"She is bold, courageous, and honorable. These are the qualities I like in a partner." Ken responded, passionately.

"Oh, but from the way you have been talking, there hasn't been any progress?"

"I have no place in her heart. I don't know who has her heart, but she gave it a long time ago. Others might not know it, but how couldn't I know. What's worse, I can't even be mad at the one that has her heart. They must also be amazing."

"You think you know who it is?"

"I think its War Marshal Frostgard. They have always been very close." Ken added his conjecture.

"Isn't War Marshal Frostgard a woman. Is War Marshal Verruca into women?" Emily tilted her little skull and looked at Ken.

"Well it isn't that uncommon, and why else wouldn't she respond to my advances?" Ken added. Ken honestly thought that Verruca was into other women because she didn't pay him any attention. He was that vain.

Emily stared at Ken for a moment, [How unbelievably vain... We have been losing to this for the last five hundred years...]

Emily spoke, "No wonder Verruca is uninterested in you." She turned to look forward, no longer paying attention.

"Huh... Why?" Ken asked, feeling slighted.

Emily didn't say anything. A long period of time passed, when Emily finally asked, "How much longer before We make it to the Capital?" She was growing bored.

"...about two weeks..." Ken spoke, reluctantly.

[Oh... Please, mother spider... Grant me the patience to suffer this undead, until I meet The Holy Witch King...] Emily was chanting in her mind.

*******

"Consort... Leslie... Countess Leslie... Exile Leslie of the Grimnight Clan is now the Consort of our kingdom." The Clan Head boomed within the hall of elders of the Grimnight Clan. He had heard this news prior but didn't believe it. Today, he had got confirmation, and even an emergency telepathic relay message stating she had her own Throne next to The Holy Witch King! She wasn't even his first Wife yet!

"So it would seem." First Elder spoke, "But more importantly, What of Undeath Official Jordan..."

"....sigh... Jordan is no longer an Official. Based on the report received, he has been stripped of his position. He even confessed to the court about our involvement in his businesses." The Clan head, spoke... finally calming down to speak coherently.

"The Holy Witch King is going to have our bones!" Third Elder exclaimed with fear in his voice. He had heard from his private channels what The Holy Witch King had said in his last session about cleansing the court, and the Third Elder didn't think he was going to stop with just the court.

"No. We need to wash our hands of all of this." First Elder made his decision. While the Clan Head was the leader of the family on the surface, it had always been the First Elder leading the family from the shadows.

"How do We do that? Let us not forget what the Clan Head had just said. Exile Leslie is now the Consort... Both her father and mother have been humiliated..." Second Elder calmly described.

"Then it's simple. We snuff the unlife from both of them. Make an accident happen at the mines, and find someone to rob Matron Jade, at her brothel." Clan Head Grimnight spoke while making a devious smile cross his zombie face.

"Hmmmmmm." Second Elder made a thinking sound aloud.

"Does Exile Leslie know the location of her parents?" First Elder asked.

"Far as I know, I don't believe so..." Clan Head Grimnight replied.

"We don't need to think... If she knows, then The Holy Witch King knows. How much of a coincidence could this be..." Third Elder spoke fearfully.

Rubbing his stringy white beard, the First Elder finally made a decision, "But true dead don't talk... See to it Clan Head."

Clan Head Grimnight laughed loudly! "Let's see how the little exile will despair now! Consort or not, shes still an exile!"

"No, Clan head. We can make use of the little exile. We can use the true deaths of her family to dump her into an abyss of despair, and We will use the clan to comfort her... We can get close and use The Holy Witch King... Do you think his Consort will allow her clan to be annihilated?"

"Blah... I'd rather not..."

"This isn't up for debate... Do it... Find her old clan friends, and bring them together."

*******

Jack and Leslie walked out of the wardrobe room, as Jack had come to call it. Coming out, they walked into War Marshal Verruca. Standing against the wall on the other side of the hall, waiting for Jack.

Before Jack had a chance to talk, Leslie spoke up, "What brings you here, Verruca?"

"When did we get so close, that you could call me by my name, Leslie?" Verruca stuck out her blue tongue.

"Ah!" Leslie was called by name as well!

"HOLD IT!" Jack spoke loudly... A little too loudly, as the entire palace heard his voice, and dust shook from the bones that made up the ceiling.

Leslie covered her ears, while Verruca just stood there chuckling.

"I'm sure Verruca is here because I asked her to be. Remember, in court, We need to talk about the court cleansing?"

Leslie was still covering her ears. Jack's loud voice had brought a single black tear to her eyes. As it spilled and ran down her right cheek, Jack lifted his skeletal hand to catch the tear.

"I'm sorry, Let Us all retire to my Office to discuss the defense of the kingdom."

As they were walking, Verruca noticed that Jack brought up the single tear to his own bony cheek and left it there.