[Lord Stanley]

CHAPTER SIXTY

Cloud’s hand automatically went down for his gun – and that was when he realized it was missing. He glanced around, and noticed a relatively shiny Barrage 32-A laser carbine that was in one Slig’s hands, most likely Cloud’s.

He went into a duck-and-roll, which was awkward due to the handcuffs still around his wrists. “All I want to do is tell King Glok that Lord Fragg intends to betray him!”

Crak frowned. “What?”

“My boss, Lord Fragg – he wants to invade Mantin City and kill Glok!”

Crak lowered his gun. “I don’t know about that…” He gestured at Cloud. “Frizzl, cover him. I’ll go comm. Mantin City.”

Cloud swallowed hard. He hoped Abe was far enough away that the signal-jamming wouldn’t affect the Bodhran communicators, and he also hoped that these Sligs would listen to him, and that they wouldn’t execute him on false charges.

As Frizzl moved over beside him, holding an old-model Blitz Packer gun, the soldier listened intently to the sounds coming out of the nearby comm. center.

“Yeah, this is Crak in Bodhran,” Crak was saying. “What? Yeah, o’ course it’s important.”

A pause.

Crak went on, “Uh, we got a Slig in town…says he’s from Lord Fragg’s army, but we don’t know any Lord Fragg and we don’t know any army –”

Another pause.

“You don’t say…well, I’ll put him on the line. He says he’s got a message for King Glok, top-importance.”

Cloud breathed out a sigh. At least, if he died, he would still have been able to send his message to Mantin City. Then it would be up to Crak to decide what happened to him.

Crak leaned his head out of the communications building. “Hey, soldier, get in here.”

Cloud took a deep breath, and moved forward into the building. He tried to glance around, but before he could even tell whether the ceiling lights were round or rectangular, Crak grabbed him by the pack of the neck and pointed to the comm. device.

“Talk into that,” Crak ordered roughly. “I’ve got Mantin City online.”

Cloud gulped once, and leaned in close to the speaker. “Uh, hey, this is Cloud…”

“Cloud who?”

The soldier frowned. “Worker-Class Slig Designation Number 3221.”

“Lemme see…ah…hold on for a second…”

Cloud fiddled with his hands, wishing he weren’t standing in the middle of nowhere with his hands cuffed.

“Okay, I gotcha. Whatcha callin’ for?”

“I have an urgent message for King Glok –”

“Sorry, but he was assassinated a few minutes ago. If you have anything else to say, call back later. ‘Bye.”

There was a sharp CLICK from the speaker, and Cloud just stood there, staring in disbelief at the machine.

“King Glok,” he whispered. “Dead?”

“This is a dark day for the empire,” Crak growled roughly.

* * *

“I have no idea how the king died,” Humphrey said, toning his high-pitched voice to sound horrified at the death of the Glukkon leader. “I came into the throne room…and he was dead!”

“You’ve said that several times,” the Glukkon advisor grunted.

Humphrey folded all four arms across his chest. “Well, you obviously don’t believe me.”

The Glukkon shrugged. “I believe you…but who’s going to be king now?” A smile appeared on his face. “Me?”

Humphrey shook his head. “No, I have a better idea.”

“You aren’t in charge here!” the advisor snapped. “I am!”

“We wait for Lord Fragg to get here,” the Vykker said. “And when he does arrive…we make him our king.”

* * *