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 Othello 2.0  (1 rating)by Mike Peel Page 6 of 6 Inexplicably, the outside of the ring had also been carved. Not with features,
though. Just letters. "Answerius Questarionous", or in modern language; "What
is the answer?" Vesuvius wondered whether this was at all related to the four
letters on the edge of the ring - A, B, C, and D.
Deciding that it must be one of the Duke's humourisms, he shrugged it from his mind, and focused on the matter in hand. "Now, as I was trying to tell Vesuvius earlier," the Duke started, "We have received some news from Acedia via ship this morning. Apparently, two hundred ships are approaching our newest outpost?" "I heard it was 140 ships" a Senator butted in. "Mine say it's a mere 40" another said. "I was told it was one surfer on a board," said a third. As everyone looked at him, he added, "Who needs 200 ships to win a surfing competition?" "We are not talking about a surfing competition, Alfred, "said the Duke. "We are talking about the impending invasion from Cyance." "Well, if you want to pay attention to that trashy stuff at the front of the paper rather than the decent stuff at the back? "Alfred pulled out the newspaper from Acedia, turned to the back page, and continued reading the sports section - dead to the rest of the Ring. "O-kay, then" said the Duke. "Moving on? "Vesuvius, we will send you to Acedia. Take your lieutenant and your second, and a group of soldiers and ships that you see fit. Also, take Bullet, for he knows the area better than anyone." As the Duke mentioned Bullet, Vesuvius looked up. "Bullet? I don't believe I know him?" A young man stepped forward. He was a handsome lad with short, blond hair, and the kind of eyes that most women might refer to as 'piercing'. In amongst their swooning, that is. He looked completely out of place in the senate. He was one of the youngest of them, and probably the most human. He didn't come near Vesuvius, instead staying about 5 feet away. Vesuvius wondered why this was - whether it was because he detested Vesuvius, or respected him, or to keep from towering over him, or to remind Vesuvius of his height? Reasons flew through Vesuvius's mind. Outwardly, he nodded at Hamlet, giving his approval. And turned back to business matters. "My wife will require accommodation while I am gone. I doubt that her father will let her back in?" "I won't need accommodation here, Vesuvius. I can come with you." "If there is danger, I don't want you anywhere near," Vesuvius replied. "I didn't fall in love with you to stay behind every time you go away! I would rather live with you - wherever that place is." "Very well. If the Duke permits it, you may also come with me." "That is fine. I'm sure that she will love Acedia - it's a lovely place. You will leave tomorrow. Footnotes: Partial maps of the underside of the ring do actually exist, although they tend to be floating somewhere out in space and weren't actually known about. It's amazing what some space-dwelling creatures will doodle, and then forget about?. Excluding Vesuvius, who was only 100 ? old by human standards, but only a teenager to dwarfs.
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