<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #FF0000"><span style="font-size: 200%; line-height: 116%;">Archibald the Puppet Master</span></span></div><br/><br/>It was no surprise when Archibald heard what sounded like a blow being landed onto the flesh of a victim, most likely that of the evil king's General who would be unfortunate enough to be within range of his highness' temper. For as long as the archmage has known the still very young necromancer king, he had been witness to a type of leadership that he both admired and supported as it made it easier for the mage to practice his dark arts. For anyone that was foolish enough to cross Damien, which was not a hard thing to accomplish, was as good as dead because the king does not tolerate incompetence nor insubordination on any level, as was the same for old Archibald. Many mortal servants that had slacked off in his presence paid for their insolence without mercy. Fortunately for the rest of the servants of the royal families' they learned to keep on the ball at all times. This made the kingdom better in the eyes of the Puppet Master and knew that king Damien understood that as well considering it was Archibald, who had been the Archmage for many years before Damien took the throne, who helped develop the young king grow into that mentality.<br/><br/>Contemplating on the easily irritable nature of the king, Archibald also considered the implications of General Francis being on the receiving end of such rage. It was one thing to punish the lowly servants, especially those vermin that still held their mortality, but a whole different case with such a high ranking official. No, Archibald held no feelings towards Francis on a personal level, in fact he could not care for the man aside from his proven ability to lead an army as well as his reputation as a fighter. But it was not wise for even the evil king to demoralize such a valuable pawn.<span style="font-style: italic"><span style="color: #FF0000">Unfortunately, it is his kingdom. Regardless of what advice I give, he can reject or accept it as he pleases,</span></span>thought the old mage just as he watched the doors open way to small skeleton that was to summon Archibald to see the king.<br/><br/>Without hesitation the necromancer waved off the creature and made his way to where two of the most powerful members of the kingdom had been meeting and talking, of what the mage was unsure of,<span style="color: #FF0000"> "Good morning, your highness,"</span>he spoke while bowing slightly before standing straight and looking to Francis, nodding his head,<span style="color: #FF0000"> "General."</span>It did not take any magic to feel the tension that had been packed into the room,<span style="color: #FF0000"> "What can I do for you, my king?"</span><br/><br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 200%; line-height: 116%;"><span style="color: #0040FF">Earl Seaward, the Archivist Assistant</span></span></div><br/><br/>No matter how many times he had gone through it, no matter how used he was to the master knowing exactly what he had gone through, Earl could still never help keep his face from turning bright red whenever the question was presented. He knew that Harold never really approved of the young assistant's entanglements with many of the women that Earl had been with, believing most of them to be beneath the growing lad's merit. Sure, Earl understood the worries of the man that had come to be like a father to him, that he would like to see the lad make a commitment to a nice woman, which Earl was not truly against. "<span style="color: #0040FF">It was not something I had planned, Harold," </span>the youth spoke in an apologetic yet explanatory tone,<span style="color: #0040FF"> "I had gone to get us some supplies and while waiting for the servants to prepare the cart, the woman and I began to speak with each other. After sharing many of our childhood memories and other pleasantries with each other we seemed to just feel this bond towards each other and, just like with all the others, the bond evolves quickly."</span>He could feel his cheeks starting to burn as he left out all the details,<span style="color: #0040FF"> "I believe she would have married me...if I had stayed."</span><br/><br/>Even though Earl knew that Harold had at many times talked about his adoptive child settling down with a good woman, the young man could never forgo his current duties with Harold, as well as his goal for justice for his parents, for another type of commitment like marriage, not yet at least. No, the boy loved his current life with the older man too much to let that go for now. He took in the embrace of the old man while returning it before hearing the news of the missing scouts and Harold's intuition of a sinister presence among them.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0040FF">"How long have the scouts been missing for? Do you think this presence you feel has something to do with that?"</span>The young apprentice knew Harold long enough to know that when he said he felt something, he was usually right about what it was he felt. Which meant that if he senses something sinister, then something sinister is definitely going on. This thought makes the hairs on the back of the young man stick up while he grabbing a piece of bread and a cut of meat from the tray.<span style="color: #0040FF">"You say you fear the worst, as in what?"</span>