Phillip said as he walked into King Tyr’s private chambers. “Rascal wishes to speak to you.” “Indeed,” King Tyr said. “Have you made the preparations?” “Yes, Sire. The screen is in place and the cleaning wench is waiting.” King Tyr nodded and strode up to his desk. He picked up one of the neatly stacked, empty black coin purses and then turned to the row of gold coins. There were ten stacks of ten coins evenly spaced on a narrow, folded, black silk cloth. He took one gold coin from the top of each stack without disturbing the coins beneath them and put that coin in the coin purse. When he finished, he picked up the quill and made the appropriate notation in his ledger. Then he made his way quickly through the corridors to the meeting chamber he used for Rascal and the other rapscallions in his employ. As he approached the screen, he wrinkled up his nose and asked, “What is it Rascal?” “Well now, Sire,” Rascal began. “I bring news.” King Tyr glowered at the screen and held his sleeve to his nose.
