The thirty-year-old King Mozer sat at the head of the long table in the Great Hall with his chin resting on his fist. Silver Navy admirals filled the seats inside the beige flagstone chamber, which had purple pennants hanging between tall, arched windows. The royal servants finished serving turkey, potatoes, and mead. Sitting on King Mozer’s right was Lara, his tall, beautiful assistant who had been with his family before he was born. She was athletic and mighty at forty-five.

The feast ended as soon as it started. All twenty Silver Navy admirals inhaled their food.

“We enjoyed our meal this evening, yes?” Mozer’s crooked lips pulled up into a grin.

Everyone at the table nodded and smiled.

“Good, now we don’t have to waste any more time. There’s important business to discuss.”

The admirals straightened their posture and focused their attention on Mozer.

“Now, for the next few years, there’s a project we have to start in order to defend ourselves against the necromancers. They’re going to attack us again—there’s no doubt about it—and they’re going to be on the lookout for heavy artillery. Something so powerful, we wouldn’t have a chance at defending against it. I want you to search every inch of the seas, lakes, and oceans in your outposts. We’re going to be searching for skeletal remains, not just regular old bones, but the bones of something that died long ago, which existed before our time. A gigantic monster.”

A snicker slipped out from one of the admirals.

Mozer halted his speech and pointed to the admiral, who stifled his laughter. “You. What’s your name?”

“I’m Admiral Flannery, Your Highness.”

“This is no laughing matter. Have you seen what a necromancer is capable of summoning?” Mozer asked.

“I thought they were just dirty people who summoned up the dead remains of animals?”

“Do you forget what happened when Akara stormed this castle?” Mozer screeched as Admiral Flannery trembled. “She took the dead from cemeteries and turned them into skeletal warrior armies. Imagine that all over again, but combined with a prehistoric monster!”

Lara gave Mozer a side glance, but Mozer cleared his throat and continued, “I was in a good mood, and then Admiral Flannery here tried to ruin that. So now, I have a request for him. Get up, right now.”

Flannery scooted his chair back and stood up, facing the king with a slight frown.

“Please, step towards me.” Mozer beckoned, but Flannery hesitated. “I don’t have all vlarking night! Get in front of me now!” Mozer pointed in front of his feet.

Flannery hurried up to the king and bowed. “Your Highness, I’m sorry.”

“I want everyone to look right now. Yes, all eyes on Flannery.” He scowled. “What could I do to embarrass you in front of your peers?” Mozer asked, but there was no reply. “I said, what could I do to embarrass you in front of your peers!”

“I don’t know, sire!”

“You’ve already embarrassed me by just existing! Now, what can I do to make your skin crawl?” Mozer raised his voice and moved forward, inches from Flannery’s face. “Perhaps a tickle of the nose?” Mozer raised his finger and traced the bridge of Flannery’s nose, causing Flannery to wince and back away. “I didn’t say you could move! Come closer!”

Flannery leaned forward.

“Perhaps the tickle wasn’t good enough.” Mozer caressed the admiral’s face. “Maybe a slap would suffice?”

Mozer smacked Flannery’s cheek with so much force it knocked him over, and he collapsed to the ground.

Lara jumped out of her chair and put her hand on Mozer’s shoulder, whispering, “Your Highness, I think it’s time to end the meeting.”

He slowly turned to his trusted assistant and grinned with his perfect teeth flashing. “How dare you tell me what to do. Do you want to be made an example of next?”

Lara took a deep breath and retreated to her seat. Mozer bent down and pulled up Flannery by his hair.

“All of you. Find me those bloody remains. And don’t you dare question or laugh, because what I say is law.” Mozer unleashed another seismic slap across Flannery’s face that echoed through the Great Hall. Flannery smacked the ground, face first. “Don’t get up! Stay there!” Mozer returned his attention to the admirals. “You sorry saps are so lucky. I defended this kingdom from that wretched Akara! If she killed me, she’d be queen, and all of you would be dead. They’ll attack again, so we need to mobilize and prepare for the worst. If you’re aware of any necromancer activity, you report it to me immediately, and it will be handled. And lastly, I will not open this discussion for questions. Asking questions is weak. If you can’t follow my directions or listen to me, then you shouldn’t be an admiral. I think I’ve made the objective quite clear. Now, go, all of you.”

The admirals stood up, and Lara escorted them to the door, but one took his time rising from the table.

“Get out, now!” Mozer scolded, but the man stood tall in front of the king.

“I just wanted to make sure Flannery wasn’t forgotten about. He and I are in the same carriage,” the admiral said.

“What’s your name?”

“Admiral Holtmeyer, serving the outpost at Lostonia.”

Mozer took a step closer to Holtmeyer, and Mozer’s lips curved up. His eyes scanned Holtmeyer’s body up and down. “I like you. You have some honor.” Mozer turned around and used the cane resting on the table to poke the back of Flannery’s head. “Come on, get up, and get the vlark out of my sight.”

Flannery scrambled up and joined Holtmeyer’s side. The two of them followed the rest of the admirals out of the Great Hall. Mozer stood there by himself and grinned. He admired his cane with the crystallized skull at the top and then chugged the mead that still rested on the table. He drank the other goblets that went unfinished by the rest of the admirals.