Behind each dread door an undead wizard dwells
Go no nearer unless you wield truly awesome spells

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 13, 2019

Princess tall and princess tender
Princess graceful and princess slender
Their bones crunch in my jaws
I eat their every virtue, and all their flaws

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 15, 2019

My heart sinks, I can feel that we are near a fatal fall
For here comes dread monster, that sees us without any eye at all

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 16, 2019

1)
“Are you, or are you not, Wolf, sworn—BLOODsworn, with spells cast upon your blood that employ your blood as part of them, so breaking them breaks YOU, fatally—to serve me? THE Rightful King of Neverune?”
“I am, Your Majesty.”#epicfantasy

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 15, 2019

2)
“And although for years you’ve, ah, creatively reinterpreted this LOYAL service to be whatever you want to do at this or that moment, you ARE bound to obey ALL direct orders from me, are you not?”
“Not, Sire.” 3)
“ANOTHER little reinterpretation, Wolf? OR trap or weasel-hole, if you prefer? I have passed beginning to find this tendency on your part MORE than tiresome.”
“It is much like being courtier to a king, then. However, if we…#epicfantasy

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 15, 2019

4)
…both smile false smiles at each other and persevere, something called ‘civilized society’ may break out. And even waver along for some time. The way life in the Castle has for YEARS.” 5)
“Ah, yes. The smiles my uncle the Old Duke once called ‘the drying of the teeth.’”
“Indeed. I understand, Elvar, that folk even manage it in some other courts, and realms.”#epicfantasy

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 15, 2019

2)
…deep to proceed with due caution.”
“Meaning push Palonder to the fore, and see what happens to him?”
“I see you’ve grasped the basic tactics.”#epicfantasy

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 16, 2019

1)
“So is an annoyed, betrayed one, Wolf!”
“Not now, Elvar, we’re in the midst of a battle. Those smouldering soldiers yonder weren’t alone, and my spell isn’t strong enough to fry all the others I see in the distance. …#epicfantasy

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 13, 2019

2)
…And if I can see them, they can see YOU.”
“AND you.”
“Yes, but you’re the one wearing the crown.” 3)
“I…this is another trick to try and get me to take it off, isn’t it?”
“Elvar, when it comes to you, I never bother with tricks. I don’t need to.”
“Oh. Ah, that IS a compliment, isn’t it?”
{Sigh} “Yes, Elvar. Yes, it is.”#epicfantasy

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 13, 2019

Some fought with shouted words, or ideas, before all peace was ended
But now the war we’ve settled, for with sharp swords we contended

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 10, 2019

Those dark dragons gout deadly flame
And villages burn, no matter how good their wells
And villagers shriek and die as vainly ring the temple bells
No matter the pride of the place, or who of fame there dwells
Its doom will come just the same

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 11, 2019

Then to the dungeon unwillingly I came
The front door monster knew my name
And smiled as it promised to eat my fame
Forever-grinning dead it soon became

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 12, 2019

1)
“So, whither now?”
“Around this copse, to one of the Keep’s secret back doors.”
“You WANT a hungry embrace of tentacles?”
“No, but I don’t want a three-day walk across open enemy-roamed terrain to the next gate.”#epicfantasy

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) August 2, 2019

2)
“Did I hear you have no magic left?”
“Yes.”
“So what’re we going to do?”
“Go into the Keep and get some.”
“Tentacles or no tentacles?”
“I’m not anticipating a choice. Go back and get that soldier there; we’ll need a sacrifice.”#epicfantasy 3)
“Ah, Wolf?”
Wolf turns. Chantratha is pointing at the tentacle. Which is still following them, hundreds of yards from the Keep walls.
Wolf sighs. “I hope Palonder didn’t kill those others. We’re going to need more sacrifices.”#epicfantasy

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) August 2, 2019

The castle is full of ghosts tonight
The younger servants have fled in fright
We older ones tarry to hear all we can
For the shades recall many a forgotten plan
Unfinished when they their time outran

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) August 23, 2019

Over their tallest turrets the bodies of our enemies we hurled
In great agitation the ghosts of their forefathers wailed and swirled

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) August 25, 2019

1)
“Well, it’s nice to know I’m not UTTERLY talentless. The talentless must be the worst sort of kings.”
“No.”
“No?”#epicfantasy

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) August 22, 2019

2)
“The worst sort of kings, Elvar, are hair-trigger-temper, energetic, paranoid, cruel, unbiddable tyrants. ‘Despots,’ if you just want one word.”
“Because they refuse to be the puppets of their courtiers?”#epicfantasy 3)
“Exactly. Courtiers know best. They’re professionals.”
“Ah. Like the scantily-clad ladies who await trade at alley corners of evenings.”
“There IS a difference. We courtiers have better working conditions.”#epicfantasy

— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) August 22, 2019