"Kren" Part Ten: (Hey, That Rhymes)

Koppa snapped to attention then bowed low.

“Greetings, Belanus Thane. My name is Koppa, acting Herald for Taryn, now High King of Morg City and the Tributary States.” He straightened himself. “My mission is to travel the lands of the East…”

The Hetman raised a thin hand sharply.

“Have you any identification?” he demanded. “A scroll of commission, or a badge, or even just a herald’s rod?” It was apparent to Kren that the youth had no rod on him. Such a thing couldn’t be hidden.

Koppa was taken aback.

“Well, uh, no, as a matter of fact. I’m not here to demand anything, or enforce anything, or even to announce anything. I’m just to examine the lands out this way and report on the state of things to the King.”

The Hetman’s lips curled a humorless smile.

“This ‘King Taryn’ of yours?”

“Well, yes.”

“A human King in Morg City?”

“Yes!”

The Hetman’s eyes blazed.

“And not, say, Bharek, the Black King of the North!”

At his words the room erupted in a sudden hooting panic. Chairs overturned and mugs went crashing. Ventil and Mazzak took an ominous step closer to the stranger, as if to shield their master.  Koppa looked stunned.