Evil King Wendrick was deeply dissatisfied.
"Evil King Roderick to the North has built a
tower of
unholy evil, which bestows him vast
power. And now he encroaches on
land that has been in my evil
family for generations!!" King Wendrick glossed over the formality of Roderick being his
second cousin, making the land that of their same evil family. "Where is my tower of unholy evil?!" he demanded. The question seemed directed to the
aether, but immediately thereafter he turned and shot his burning gaze at his toadying, wizened
Vizier, who was never more than a few steps from the
throne when the King sat upon it.
"My liege," the Vizier responded with the slightest bow, "this can be done. It will take some time, and require some dedication of resources. And, naturally, the
ruthless application of
violence to the
innocent. But you can have constructed a tower of unholy evil which will utterly
eclipse Roderick's."
"Ruthless violence?" Wendrick smirked. "Excellent. I shall look forward to it. My
army is at your disposal -- let this
vile deed be done!!"
----
One year later, standing in the dark
chamber in the
heart of his tower of unholy evil, the last
brick having been laid on the highest
parapet that very
morning, the evil King Wendrick was even more deeply dissatisfied.
"We've spent much time and treasure constructing this tower of unholy evil," he growled to the Vizier, "and yet it still hasn't yielded the promised benefits. I have had my evil servants follow your every instruction. Slaving chained peasants to
death at the end of the
lash, and mixing the
blood of the tortured and oppressed into the
mortar of every brick. Having
blasphemous and
obscene rituals in the subterranean levels, night after night until they seemed countless. Invoking the name of every unholy
spirit. And yet, no great demonic power at all has emanated from the place!! All the while, Evil King Roderick to the North continues to bask in his power. Where is my power?!"
"My liege," the Vizier began, "there is just one
element remaining to infuse to turn this tower into a source of most abject evil power, able to
dwarf those commanded by Roderick."
"One more element?!" the evil king sputtered. He drew ominously close to the Vizier, almost nose to nose,
rage filling his face. "What new 'element' is this?! You told me we already had everything we needed!! We've murdered scores of people here. We've had
orgies of the
flesh on this very spot. We have committed every infamous and egregious act which can be conceived. What other 'element' could their possibly be?!"
"Just one thing -- a stunning act of
betrayal."
"Betrayal? What betray--" suddenly, the King looked down, seeing the
dagger plunged deep between his
ribs even before he felt the
stab. "Betray...." his words tapered off with his last
gasp.
The King collapsed in a heap. After just a few moments, his
corpse seemed to
shudder. And then a deep
vibration passed through the walls of the tower, as if every cursed
soul bound up in its stones had silently
howled together. As if a sightless glow of pitiful horror were emanating throughout its floors and walls, like a chill passes into bones.
Black-armored guardsmen rushed up the stairs and into the room. The sight of the Vizier standing, bloodied blade in hand, over the corpse of their freshly fallen King, left them unsure of what to do.
This was no matter to the Vizier, as he slowly turned towards them. The same red glow suffused both blade and eyes. "I rule, now. Do you understand?" His voice was terrifying in its
calm. His power, undeniable.
"Y-yes my Lord," the guardsmen replied in near unison.
"Good. Summon all the captains of
my army. Soon we move against Roderick. And then.... all realms."
----
Tender Lumplings Everywhere: The 2018 Halloween Horrorquest