The Pinnacle Of Empire (Book 6) Read Online Free PDF Page B

tittletot. I thought the tales superstitions. How is it tittletots have hardly ever been seen?”
    “We tittletots bend light around us, making us invisible.  We must materialize, so to speak, to see and find food in this plane. I think I shall come with you, giant. My friends and relations are gone; I’ve little to stay here for.” The creature lifted his cap and scratched his head, then plopped his hat back on his head as if to banish his uncertainty and finalize his resolution.
    Zirkin sat upright in his saddle at the thought. “Will you, now?”
    The tittletot extended his hand to the king. When Zirkin realized the tittletot wanted a hand up, he chuckled then grasped the little fellow’s hand and lifted him gently up on the saddle. Zirkin tapped his horse’s flanks and the stallion started off again with the tittletot sitting in front of the king, bouncing like a plump child. Then, the tittletot chuckled as they rode.
    “What’s your name? Mine is King Zirkin of Zenobia.”
    “Yes, well… Tittletot will do for now. To tittletots, as you call us, our names are windows into our souls, and we mostly keep them secret.”
    “Tittletot it is then.”
    “Your hunting party is to the southwest about half an hours ride from here.”
    “How did you know I was separated from my hunting party?” Zirkin asked, reining in his horse. He looked around at Tittletot’s face. Tittletot looked smug, said nothing, then flicked his wrist. The great stallion started forward again as if the king had spurred him. “You’re a conundrum, Tittletot.”
    Zirkin and Tittletot met with the rest of the hunting party. After the initial turmoil over the sight of the new creature, all returned to the palace and the delights of the nobility. Zirkin noted the tittletot observed everything about the court, the people, and their behavior. He accepted the role of court jester for the time being and amused the royal entourage until his novelty wore off and people paid him less attention.
    *
    One day a messenger came to Zirkin from his ambassador at the imperial Powterosian court. The messenger brought news of the impending marriage of the new Emperor Saxthor and the Princess Imperial Tottiana at Engwaniria. King Zirkin was discussing the political implications with his chatra when the little noticed tittletot interrupted.
    “I should like to go to this imperial court.”
    “Would you, now,” Zirkin said, glancing down at the jester.
    “Majesty,” the chatra said. “Perhaps the tittletot could be a valuable asset at the imperial court. We know little about this Emperor Saxthor. If Your Majesty were to give the tittletot to the emperor as a wedding present, he could observe the emperor and court much closer than the ambassador who only gets formal audiences or second hand information.”
    “What say you to that, Tittletot?” Zirkin asked.
    “Give me, indeed!” Tittletot said, but stroking his beard, he smiled. “I shall go along with your plan and see this imperial court first hand.”
    And so the tittletot journeyed with the royal party to the imperial Powterosian court for Emperor Saxthor’s wedding.
     
     

3:  Governor_Hedrak &_Mendenow_Province
     
    Seated on the golden throne in the grand audience hall of Ossenkosk Palace, Emperor Saxthor was listening to the elf messenger from King Ahkenspec warning about the presence of evil moving down the peninsula. When finished, Saxthor sent the messenger directly to Memlatec in the palace wizard’s tower to repeat the warning.
    The court chamberlain clacked his staff on the marble floor and announced Lord Hedrak, Imperial Governor of Mendenow Province. Saxthor motioned for the governor to come forward. The late-middle aged man formally approached the throne. Imposing, rampant dragons spared on the elaborate court robes over his large frame. Hedrak stood straight; his raised head turned from side to side.
    He’s haughty, Saxthor thought, noting who among the courtiers acknowledge him.