1)
“Palonder, what’re you waiting for? The King commanded you to go and procure us any enemy soldier!”
“Yes, Lady. I was merely waiting the end of discussion of that tactic, in case it enlightened me as to that soldier’s… #epicfantasy

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 18, 2020

2)
…desired condition upon arrival.”
“Ambulatory, obviously. Beyond that, I highly doubt we enlightened you.”
“A state of affairs I’ve grown used to, Lady, and so take comfort in. We all cling to the familiar. 3)
“Despite bitching about it, bitterly and often.”
“A popular way of clinging to the familiar, to be sure.”#epicfantasy

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 18, 2020

1)
“Do we know how many wizards are with this Ralandor, out in the herb garden?”
“Does it matter, Lady? Isn’t Wolf the equal of any dozen wizards?”
“Perhaps, but what if there’s more than a dozen?”
“You raise a valid point. Wolf?”#epicfantasy 2)
“I have, as it happens, given this matter due consideration, but the plan I evolved required an invading soldier, still alive and able to run, that we scare the dung out of and send fleeing to said wizards to cry for aid.”#epicfantasy

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 17, 2020

3)
“Oh. Gods SPIT. Well, uh…Palonder! Go find us another invading soldier!”
“And bring him back here alive for the Lord and Lady to properly scare, Sire?”
“Indeed. Sticking to Wolf’s plan seems the best policy.”#epicfantasy

Ed Greenwood 4)
“Well, it’s certainly worked out bright-swimmingly for Neverune SO far.”
“A trifle less sarcasm would be appreciated, Chant. ‘Worked out well,’ with the same dripping venom, delivers much the same effect.”#epicfantasy

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 17, 2020

The knave who filched dinner from the end tureen
Has fallen dead, and lies there quite green
So that’s tonight’s poisoning attempt, I wean

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 15, 2020

The back garden is simply a-crawl with spies
Why, I can see to read by the gleam of their beady eyes

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 17, 2020

And to every usurper, I as High Sorceress sweetly say
That avenging flights of dragons will be shortly headed your way

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 18, 2020

1)
In a trice, the guardroom is empty of living invaders. Four slightly out of breath Neverunians regard each other across the tangled sea of bodies.
Wolf looks around the room, then at his companions. “Right, are we all 2)
…presentable enough not to arouse suspicions at first glance? Some wizards DO have brains, and a handful even remember how to use theirs. Low odds, I know, but we don’t seem to be on the gods’ list when they… #epicfantasy

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 14, 2020

3)
…hand out good luck.”
Everyone passes inspection, so Wolf nods and waves Palonder to the door that leads out into the garden 4)
Chantratha steps into Palonder’s path. “Ah, Wolf, weren’t there some state secrets you wanted to recover before we left the Keep?”
“There were, and are, but my plans have changed. The real world tends to do that to my plans, …#epicfantasy

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 14, 2020

5)
…all too often.”
“So it seems we need a better real world.”#epicfantasy

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 14, 2020

A herald knows
The appropriate clothes
When you for the hangman pose
Is your best Court doublet and hose

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 11, 2020

Our ghosts prefer to haunt us
In plunge-front gowns, accessorized with the occasional cape
Because they know that headless corpses
Spoil the shape over which tailored garments are meant to drape

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 12, 2020

High Viziers subsist on daily spite, malice and guile
Which is why the king, from time to time, ventilates one of their bile

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 14, 2020

1)
“Look, d’you see all these armed and ready soldiers standing with me?”
“I do. They even look slightly competent.”
“Eh? What? Well, they outnumber you; did you happen to notice THAT?” 2)
“I did. That might keep them alive for a few more moments.”
“Eh? Are you threatening us?”
“No. I never threaten. Folk are so dunderheaded these days that they can’t see consequences when slapped across the face, so threatening…#epicfantasy

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 11, 2020

3)
…them is a waste of time. And the older I get, the more precious time is; right now, it’s my most valuable treasure.”
“You sound like a crazed man, d’you know that?”
“I do, having been told so before, many a time. 4)
…Some of those judging me may even have been right.”
“Oh. So you DO know you're crazed.”
“Matters of sanity are relative, friend.”
“Oh? You KNOW my relatives?”#epicfantasy

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 11, 2020

1)
Them? They’re murderers eager to please
Who favor poisoned snickersnees
To bring hardened heroes to their knees
When they’re not indulging in blackmail and minor vice 2)
And when business grows thin
They make poisons, and gin
And sell them so cheap they’re all gone in a trice
But they’ll take a lot of killing; better chop their heads off twice

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 10, 2020

1)
The surviving heroes of Neverune reach the chamber. Its walls hold six passages, including their own. What’s clearly daylight is visible down one. Wolf silently collects the ‘ready’ nods of his companions, then waves Palonder 2)
…to the fore.
Down that passage they proceed, until it opens out into a guardroom sporting a row of firing-ports opening to the outdoors, a battered bench and matching wall-rack of halberds, a stout exterior door, and half…#epicfantasy

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 10, 2020

3)
…a dozen veteran soldiers, all busily sporting unfriendly faces.
The ranking warrior among them barks at Wolf and his companions, “Hold hard! Down weapons, and surrender!”#epicfantasy 4)
Wolf keeps heading for the guardroom’s outside door. “Oh? Why?”
“Because I ordered you to, that’s why!”
“Ah. I see. I also see that I should try MY hand at this ordering business. Ahem. YOU down weapons and surrender!”#epicfantasy

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 10, 2020

4)
“What? Don’t play the fool!”
“Why not? It sounded like fun when you did it.”#epicfantasy

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) March 10, 2020