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 A tale from the Tavern of Khlulock  (9 ratings)by Cosmo Felton Page 1 of 1 The nobleman looked in distase at the tavern's ad:
"come to the Tavern of Khlulock, enjoy a good time! Neutral and safe territory, just the place for avyone! Live bands, good food and drink, rooms upstairs, drop by for soe fun!" He crumpled the yellowed parchment in his gauntleted fist and sneered at the others in the room. Yes, this was that selfsame tavern, and he didn't enjoy it in the least. Everyone else was seeming to have a good time, those who were staring like fools at the band onstage, or the others who were perched like drunken vultures at the bar in the back of the room. He didn't have to have fun here. He was here on business. Very inportant business for the crown prince at that. But why did they have to meet here? Yes, it was a good place for meetings, but there was a very small chance that he would be discovered and reconized. If that happened, then his days in royalty would be over for sure. "Hullo," His thoughts were interrupted by a very solem, depressing voice, that carried an undertone of rage, and most of all, evil. The nobleman glanced up at the dark, shrouded features of the Warlock, who was supposedly something like the prince of Hell. The nobleman didn't really know anything about that, he tried to stay away from all matters of religion, false or otherwise. "I see it that you have made it here safe?" Warlock asked in a faintly mocking tone. Mocking what, the nobleman didn't know. "Yes. I said the incantation, the portal opened, and and I came here, as was instructed. YOU sure took your sweet time." For but an instant the Warlock's features took on an even darker look, and his mocking smile dissapeared entirely. He slowly leaned over the nobleman. "Those who challenge the son of Satan end up being tortured to death,"he said in a quiet voice that was barely a whisper, then stood back up, his smile back once more. "You brought it?" The nobleman asked, more than a bit shaken. It wasn't the words that he had said, but it was the calmness in which he had said the words, with a sureness that it would happen. Frightening. "Yes, it it here."Warlock indicated a large, blanket wrapped bundle that he was carrying under his arm. "May I see it?" "Pay first." Warlock said as he glared at the nobleman. "ten million gold imperials, as we agreed before." "You mean right now?" "You mean to tell me that you don't have it? Well, then, good day to you sir," Warlock stood up as to leave. "NO, no! I, I have it. All of it. It is upstairs, you see. In the room I rented." The sum Warlock wanted did cut back into his budget quite a bit, but he would pay anything for what Warlock had. Without saying anything more, Warlock started up to the second floor, leaving the nobleman to rush up behind him. Upstairs in the very shabby room, Warlock finished counting out the gold. "Ten million exactly. Very good." he said as if congratuling a small pet. "Now, for your part of the bargain." He pulled up a small, rickety stool, and placed the blanket-wrapped object on top of it. He then removed the layer of cloth, revealing a small box that was enscribed with strange, runic symbols. "Is that it?" The nobleman asked, pacing around the room, keeping an eye on the box. "Patience is supposedly a virtue," was all Warlock said as he drew out a large key from a chain around his neck, and unlocking the box with it. He then took out another cloth wrapped object. "This it what you have paid me for." Warlock stated, removing the cloth to produce a small vial of clear liquid. Before the nobleman could make a grab for it, Warlock held it out of his reach. "Remember," Warlock said. "this is one of the most deadly poisons ever known in the entire universe. If it is exposed to air, then it will destroy over half your world's population of mortals." The nobleman didn't like how the Warlock said, "your world", or "mortals", as if he was some sort of inhuman creature. Warlock finally handed the small bottle to the nobleman, who started to leave the room. "Oh yes, one more small thing," Warlock said to him. "What is it?" He said turning around. The last thing that he saw was one of Warlock's steel and gold daggers coming straight for him. ----------- After the corpse had stopped twitching, Warlock wiped the blade on it's robe and seathed it. Such a fool. Who would ever think that for any price, that he would sell off his wonderful poison? Still, ten million was an okay amount. Not a large sum, according to his standards, but alright for one day's work. As he created the portal out of the force of his will, he pondered what to do next. Something big, that he knew already. Throwing the multiple sacks of gold through and putting the poison in his pocket, he started to laugh. Yes, a fool. They were all fools, and he would destroy them all. Laughing insanly, he stepped through, leaving the Tavern of Khlulock. He had a lot of work to do.
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