Tyranny of Steel

and yet despite his martial prowess, and his successful campaigns against the Irish, King Lawrence could not well afford such a magnificent drinking device.

Despite his early advances into France and the rebelling Duchies swearing loyalty to him and him alone, he was not exactly in the best mood. After all, the French had recently employed firearms in significant numbers, something that he had not expected to occur after his dastardly plot had succeeded.

Kneeling before the English Monarch was a man dressed in far more luxurious attire. This aging and feeble man was bound with a cloth gag and rope ties. He was none other than the French King Giles, who had disappeared from the Royal Court in Paris weeks prior. Lawrence, ever the ruffian, snapped his fingers, and in doing so, his guards immediately released the restraint that prevented the French Monarch from speaking.

Giles immediately panted for breath; after all, he was a mouth breather and was not well accustomed to breathing through his nose. Having secured his breath, Giles immediately unleashed curses upon his rival across the English Channel.