he day was bleak and cold in Tzalmir, and more than a few took notice
as a brightly outfitted minstrel strode toward the palace of his
Imperial Majesty, Ghoras. Most wise men wrote him off, hoping he
would not catch their glance. A few children stared, but their
mothers pulled them away, warning them to have nothing to do with the
strange person.
But the man strode with his head high towards the guards before the palace. ``I have come to speak with Ghoras!'' he declared. ``I have many songs and poems to play for him. Allow me entrance to the palace, please.'' The guards simply informed him that Ghoras had no interest in such things. ``Why certainly he does! I have met with him before, you know.'' The guards would still have none of it. The minstrel sighed, played a short, sad tune on his fife, and pouted at the guards. ``Fine,'' he said. ``Inform someone that the Earl of Doria is here. His Imperial Majesty is expecting me.''
Soon thereafter, the stranger was admitted to the palace, much to the surprise of onlookers. The rest of the story is just rumor, of course, for not many see the inside of the Imperial Palace.
It is said that the stranger was indeed Gilano, the Mad Earl of Doria. Well some say he is mad anyway. Some say he is a prophet. Others know him as a jester and fool who frequents the courts of royalty.
Once he was in Ghoras' presence, he smiled. ``What does one call the son of Ghoras?'' he cried out to those assembled in the throne room. The jester looked about at all of the horrified faces. He turned to the imposing figure of Ghoras, to the creature who had conquered so much of the known world, to the dark sunken face whose eyes glowed red, but showed no expression. Gilano turned back to the assembly and laughed. ``A son of a lich! Get it?!'' Nobody laughed. Gilano was lifted off the ground by an invisible force and hurled against the wall, where he slumped to the floor. The lich-king's skeletal features seemed to form a smile.
``We can trade more jokes,'' his voice crackled like the stroke of lightning in a summer storm, ``but I sense you won't be able to take many more.'' Gilano caught his breath and stumbled back before the tyrant.
``My apologies, Majesty,'' gasped the fool.
``What news have you brought me?'' Ghoras hissed.
The wry grin slipped back across the Mad Earl's face. ``Flattery will get you nowhere.'' He smiled broadly. Nobody else did. ``I might have some knowledge that you might be interested in, Sire. But first, might I be indulged slightly? I would like to tell you a story.''
It is said that the stories of Gilano often hold many secrets for those who look hard enough. Ghoras replied, ``Slightly. I do not feel you deserve much more of my patience.''
``A short one then. There was once a kingdom whose king was a student of the skies. He would watch the clouds and marvel at the sun. One day, one of his wise men told him that he would go blind if he continued to gaze at the sun. The king was unhappy with him. He told his guards to throw this wise man out of the castle. But eventually the king did go blind, as the wise man had said. The king was angry at him for predicting this, and had him found and killed for causing his blindness. Was this a wise king, your Majesty?''
``Of course not, Fool.''
Gilano visibly sighed, and continued, ``I bring you portents for the land, Sire. Three things, I tell you. One day soon, soon for you, you will no longer be able to see --- if all continues as it does now. Moreover, due to that which takes your sight, you will no longer be able to rule. Instead, my Master will, for a time.''
``Lotho?'' Ghoras spat. ``You are indeed a fool.''
``Lotho? LOTHO? My Master? Heh. HEee hooo hahahahahah!!! No. Not that one. Not at all. That is all I will say. But beware\ldots something you will do will cause you no longer to see. So perhaps if you do something differently, then everything will be fine, Sire.''
``Tell me more.''
``I cannot.''
``I will take it from your mind,'' he hissed.
Gilano, whose face had been merry up to this point, stopped and stared into the face of Ghoras. ``No, you won't. You've been in here before, haven't you?'' he said pointing at his temple, ``And you didn't like it one bit. I don't like it either, and I have to live with it. But by all means, go ahead. Maybe you'll carry some of the mess in here back with you... and I haven't had guests in ages.''
``Get him out of here,'' said the tyrant.
``Remember!'' Gilano said, ``The Lord of Order has our deeds laid out for us in the future. It is very hard to avoid this path, but it can be done! There is always the opportunity to escape Order! Embrace the Breaker of Minds! You will see!'' And the automaton guards removed him from the room. Some who saw him leave the palace heard the stranger cackling and muttering the word ``Lotho'' over and over again.
It is said that day that once Gilano had left, the mighty lich-king dismissed those around him, and went to his window, from which he stared at the sun.