David Bishop and the Legend of the Orb by T.C. Crawford (tools of titans ebook .txt) 📕

were set before them, and a small bowl of some kind of seasoned and melted butter sauce for dipping.

Finally, two large pitchers of a lightly colored ale were set on the table, while another man used one to fill crystal glasses before setting one each in front of the guests.

Once the plates and utensils were set in front of the companions, they eagerly grabbed a helping from each dish and greedily filled their bellies with delicious food and drink.

When they finally had their share and sat full and satisfied, Reginald finally appeared and waved for them to follow, ushering them into an adjacent room where the King sat patiently waiting their arrival.

He was a large, bear-like man with arms the size of small trees, yet he sat with a sense of elegance that complemented his station remarkably. He wore a thick, flowing cape that was made of some kind of animal skin and had a colorful tunic that went perfectly with his solid brown trousers. His boots were large to cover what must have been massive feet, and his beard was long and thick in contrast to his freshly shaved and polished head.

But, in spite of his large, swirling tattoos that covered his scalp and every inch of his skin, and his extremely daunting appearance, the man sported a childish grin across his face and held out his arms in a great welcoming gesture.

“Reximus! Welcome, nephew! It is good to have you back home. You have been greatly missed!” he shouted as he slowly walked towards Rex.

“It is good to see you, uncle!” replied Rex, embracing his uncle and king. “I wish it were under better circumstances that I have returned, but I must be blunt – I have not come to return home, but instead, to seek your help and that of our people” he said, getting straight to the point.

The king’s expression faded into a slight scowl as he considered the implications of what his nephew meant. “I see….” he said, absently stroking his beard. “Well, it is true that this news disappoints me, but nonetheless we are your brethren, and if there’s something you need, I am sure that we can assist.” He walked back to his chair and sat down, gesturing the others to sit in nearby chairs as well, before continuing. “What is it that you need, Reximus?” he asked.

“Recently there has been some troubling developments in the Northern Kingdom…” started Rex. “There was a coup, and the King was taken prisoner along with some friends of my companions here with me. This is David Bishop and Orin Nightingale” He gestured to David and Orin, who both smiled awkwardly under the King’s gaze.

“This coup was led by the leader of the King’s own Royal Guard, General Krauss – an evil man with even worse intentions. He intends to unlock the Dark Abyss and unleash the Defiant One, along with his army of demons, into the world of the living in a bold attempt to use their forces to conquer the world for himself.”

The king leaned forward after hearing the troubling news, tapping his meaty fingers on his knee before responding.

“Nephew…I hear your plight, and I sympathize with your friends. But you know very well how we feel about mingling in the affairs of the other kingdoms.” he said slowly.

“I know, Uncle, but if you could just –" started Rex, but his uncle swiftly cut him off.

“That is enough! You will let me speak, or you will leave!” shouted his uncle, suddenly enraged.

“Our people were once forced to fight alongside these kings, caught in between the battles of the North and South, forced to slay their brethren for the sole purpose of defending the pride of a pair of old men!

“After the war ended, we decided to stop that foolishness and look after our own families. Men from both sides left their homes and together, we settled our new lands, on the very grounds that had soaked up our blood!

“Now, look at us! We have grown to an independent people, free from the tyrant rule of a King, instead, led by our own, making decisions together as one big family.

“Now tell me, Reximus,” he continued, looking fiercely at his nephew, “Do you think, after the history that our people have endured, that they will be so eager to come to the aid of the very man who had forced them to kill their own family members some thirty years ago?”

The King finished his speech and stared at his nephew and slowly shook his head, knowing his message had hit home. But then, Rex spoke, a defiant look in his eyes.

“Uncle, what you say is true, but you fail to see the whole picture. If this man succeeds in his plans, an evil so great will be unleashed upon this earth that nothing will be able to stop them. It is true that the sins of the Northern King effected our people in the past. They were hurt deeply by the wars, everyone was! But if we do not stand up now and fight, we will be the next ones to fall under the blanket of darkness.” Rex finished speaking and stared intently at his uncle, trying to gauge whether or not the man was truly considering his words.

He finally responded, “Reximus, have you forgotten why we chose this valley for our new life? Our city rests atop a mighty mountain! A mountain that can only be reached by traversing a long, narrow passageway after having climbed for thousands of feet back and forth up a difficult and treacherous path. No army, no matter how large, could possibly pose a threat to us in this valley!

They would be forced to funnel their way through the passageway, weak and tired from the arduous journey up the mountain side. We would be standing at the other side, waiting and at the ready, like a mighty hammer we would squash them like a bug!” he pounded his fist in his