Epilogue


    “What is happening in the meeting room?” King Eon asked one of his guards between gasps as they rushed down the stone stairs to the cold basement. There was no way a man of his bulk could run. Even at this increased walking speed, he would soon pass out.


    “My Lord,” the guard said, “Jenson sent word that the portal is expanding, and there appears to be something happening on the other side.”


    Eon gritted his teeth and continued down the stairs. The last time this happened, he had been saddled with that monstrous powerhouse, Samantha. She was useful but uncontrollable. He liked biddable women who wouldn’t question his actions. She’d been infuriating until Tysone’s memory spell had taken care of most of that.


    “Blast! It’s time for second breakfast,” Eon hit the wall with his fist and shook it to relieve the pain. “Why couldn’t this happen later?” He rounded the corner of the last twist and entered the dungeon hallway. Grabbing the doorframe, Eon sucked in a deep breath and shivered. The cold stone was frigid to his touch and always hurt his appetite. He needed to compose himself. Unlike the one at the warehouse, this portal wasn’t big enough for more than one person. In addition, he was the king. There was a certain amount of dignity to maintain.


    The door was open, and Jenson was poised in front of it with his sword drawn.


    “Report, soldier!” Eon said, coming up to the door, gasping for breath.


    Jenson bowed to Eon and returned to the door. “When the portal suddenly expanded and filled the room, I sent Myaka to the captain. Since then, there has been no movement, sire.”


    Eon rubbed his belly and cringed at the sweat. His steward would have to arrange a bath tonight. Luckily, there was a new towel girl to break in—one of the beast men they had captured from the old Sywind territories. Eon had been looking forward to using her tonight. “Has the Backer made any attempt at contact?”


    “No, sire,” the soldier started when the portal changed. The blue ripples began in the middle and spread out at ever-increasing speed.


    Eon took a step back as his soldiers surrounded the doorway. He watched as a foot emerged from the ball, and a powerful black-suited man carrying a large bag stepped through. His clothing was singed and messed up as if he’d been in a battle, but his confidence commanded the room.


    He stood taller than the soldiers and glared down at them. Eon took in his handsome face, powerful chin, and wide shoulders and felt a shiver travel down his back. There was some grey at his temples, but it only made him look more dignified. It was those cruel eyes, however. Eon hated those eyes.


    “Lord Robert! What are you doing here?” Eon rushed between his soldiers and pushed them out of the way. They didn’t need to provoke the man. The last time he was here was when they moved the second portal to the warehouse site. Eon lost twenty stone from sweat alone.


    “Eon,” Lord Robert nodded his head, adjusting his suit. “I require some accommodation. There has been an ‘incident’ in my world, and I would like to accept your hospitality.”


    “I see. What sort of problem?” Eon swallowed. This was the last thing he wanted. Just looking at Robert’s scowl set off another bucket of sweat.


    “The girl you allowed to go back home has disrupted my timetable. I had to abandon my activities there, so I must continue my quest here in person,” Robert said. His eyes narrowed. Eon turned away from his glare to cough.


    “Sorry, dust,” Eon’s smile dropped and gulped. He forced himself to stand up straighter, even if he only reached Lord Robert’s chest. He was still the king.


    “That is terrible news, Lord Robert. I hate to think what is happening over there,” he said. What about the potato? Eon didn’t want to be without his new favourite food. The crops they had planted wouldn’t come in for another two months, and his supply was running out.


    “As of now, Samantha is probably planning on returning. She is a vindictive one. My daughter should be able to delay her for a few days, but I need you to watch the other portal and inform me when she arrives. Don’t interfere with her, though. I don’t need her causing Nadia any problems.” Lord Robert turned to the portal and set down his bag. Opening it up, he took out a small box.


    “What is that, sir? If I may ask?” Eon twisted his head and stared at the device.


    “It’s something created to take care of this,” Lord Robert responded and pushed the button on the top of the box. The portal started to waver and shrink. It collapsed in on itself and continued to hover in the air. Lord Robert slid the front of the box’s panel open and walked over to the small blue ball. He scooped the ball into it and closed the box by sliding the panel back on. “Now we can move it, and nobody else will be able to get through.” He placed the box back into his bag and stood up. “Please take me somewhere I can freshen up. It’s been a long journey, and we have lots to discuss.”


    “Of course, Lord Robert. This way.” Eon directed one of the soldiers to get his steward. The rest formed around the two men as they started up the stairs. Eon looked at the other doors and clicked his tongue. It would be so easy to leave him here and take the bag. Now that he knew how to move the portal, he could set it up in a better space. If he could contact the other side, maybe he could make a better arrangement. The woman was easier to talk to and didn’t cause him to sweat so much.


    This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    “Don’t go getting any ideas, Eon,” Robert warned. “My daughter is still in control of the other portal and has orders to stop trade if she doesn’t hear from me.”


    Eon gasped and placed a hand on his chest. “I wouldn’t think of such a thing. I value our arrangement too much.” When Robert turned his head, Eon scowled and stared daggers at his back.


    Coming out to the landing, Eon’s aged steward met them. “This way, Sire.” He bowed and directed the party towards the living quarters. Eon was panting. This was more exercise than he had received in years. He was going to need a third breakfast at this rate. The living quarters were situated on the opposite side of the castle from the dungeon portal.


    After walking in silence for twenty minutes, the steward paused in front of a door. “Here you are, Sire.”


    “Is this the best room you have, Eon?” Robert turned to the king and stepped back. “What’s wrong with you?”


    Eon was soaked in sweat. The beads worked their way off his bald head and dripped to the floor. “It is rather warm today, Lord Robert. I would appreciate it if I could have some time before we meet to compose myself.”


    “Of course,” Lord Robert said, stepping into the room. “I’ll need some time myself. My departure from London was rather hasty and violent. We’ll meet this afternoon.” He turned to the steward. “Please have water and some food sent to me.” He closed the door.


    The steward turned to the king and raised an eyebrow. “Sire?”


    “Do as he said and prepare a bath for me. Send me the new girl and lunch,” Eon grumbled. “He’d better have a good reason for coming.”


    *******************


    “You mentioned your quest. Does this have something to do with the former imperial mage you asked me to find?” Eon asked Lord Robert. They were sitting at the dining table. There was a small plate of pastries in front of the man. Eon’s plate was empty, and he was picking at the crumbs and glancing at his guest’s plate. Lord Robert had washed his face and cleaned his hair. His face was still as hard as ever. The queen would have loved him.


    No. I need to focus on something else. He rubbed his eyes to get the sleep out of them.


    The new Beast girl was wonderful. She had cleaned all his crannies, getting under the folds of his stomach. She was strong, too. The last girl strained her shoulders, lifting his bulk to remove the sweat build-up. Besides, just watching her move had built up an appetite. It was almost time for the Second Lunch. He always enjoyed this lunch. There was more bacon and now the potato.


    Lord Robert nodded. “I will need you to give me a commission in the army. As a general, I can move around freely.” He took a sip. “I heard Tysone was seen in the South last before disappearing.”


    “I see. Is there any particular place you need to go?” Eon licked his fingers. The very mention of that man sent waves of dread flowing down his back. He couldn’t focus on anything else. That name echoed through his skull. Tysone, Tysone, Tysone. Eon needed to drown that name in grease. He didn’t care that it made him a laughing stock.


    “Stop eating when you’re talking to me,” Lord Robert said, glaring.


    Eon gulped and wiped his fingers on his doublet. Lord Robert’s face was hard, and his tone was the same from the time he had cut off all trade. “I’m very sorry. Is there anything else?”


    “I need to know as much as possible about Kolori. I will be heading there after I get the commission.”


    “Done.” Eon raised an eyebrow and started drumming his fingers on his stomach. Anything to keep his mind away from that Mage. “If you are here, does that mean you have solved the rejection problem that plagued your men in the past?”


    “Yes. Samantha provided the final clue to that puzzle. I would have figured it out eventually, but she made it easier,” said Lord Robert. He took another sip of his tea and narrowed his eyes at Eon.


    “What?” He felt himself start to sweat again.


    “Do you know what Saltpeter is?” Lord Robert asked.


    “No. Is it a food?” Eon was hopeful. The potato was everything Lord Robert had said it was. Eon was counting down the days to the first harvest.


    “I should hope not. It’s a common element in animal excrement. I need a source of it. I’ll need to talk to your stables. With some refinement, they should be able to make me some.”


    Eon gagged. “Very well. Steward will assist you in setting that up.”


    “I’ll also need some charcoal and sulphur. Can he help me find those ingredients?” asked Lord Robert.


    “I suppose so.” Eon shrugged. “What do you need those things for?” He looked up and smiled. Steward was finally bringing Second Lunch. Eon frowned. There were ten plates today, just a light snack. He’d waited so long. Eon rubbed his hands together and picked up a fork.


    “Why do you eat so much?” Lord Robert’s question burst through Eon’s gaze, and he turned from the heavenly smells embracing him.


    Eon paused. This was a difficult question, and he didn’t want any misunderstandings. “Food is my only solace. My son hates me. I have no way to breach the gulf between us, especially after his mother’s death.” Eon trailed off. He didn’t like remembering her. “I loved her so much. It was a pity she had to side with my enemies.”


    “What do you mean?” asked Lord Robert, his face going even harder than before.


    “My late queen decided that it would be a good idea to take a lover. I wasn’t as fat as you see now, but I didn’t care much for physical relations then.” Eon slapped his stomach. “I didn’t mind, but she had to get pregnant with a child. That was inexcusable. I cared for her too much, so I had her exiled to a small place in the north.”


    “Why would you do such a thing like that to a woman?” Lord Robert sneered, raising a lip in contempt.


    “The standard punishment for infidelity is death, but I couldn’t do that.” Eon picked up a piece of bacon and shoved it in his mouth. Lord Robert hated speaking to him when he was eating, but Eon didn’t care. He needed to get away from this conversation. “She died in childbirth.” He swallowed the bacon and washed it down with some wine. There was another reason tucked in the back of his mind, but he refused to dwell on it. The thought disappeared, and bacon filled the void whenever he reached for it.


    “I see.” Lord Robert was silent. He finished his tea and stood up. “I’m sorry for your loss. If I can get those materials I asked for, I would appreciate it.”


    “Of course, but again, why do you need that stuff?”


    “The armour failed. Your enemies are much stronger than you let on. I didn’t want to introduce this to a primitive society like yours, but gunpowder will change the direction of battles forever.”


    “What is gunpowder?” Eon asked, swallowing another piece of bacon.


    “When it’s ready, I will show you. Until then, I need to speak with your potion alchemists.” He bowed slightly and left the room.


    Eon tugged on his summons rope, and his Steward entered the room.


    “Ten plates won’t be enough today,” said Eon to the aged Steward. “I have a lot to forget, so please bring three desserts as well.”


    “Very well, Sire.” The man bowed.


    “Also, see to it that Lord Robert gets everything he needs.”


    The Steward bowed and left the room. Six guards were posted outside to prevent anybody from getting into the dining room. After Samantha’s little incursion, Eon made sure he was protected.


    “Why’d you make me bring her up again?” He snarled at the door. “It’s not my fault she died.” Eon turned back to his lunch.