Drone

Epilogue

Paramount Stewart watched them from a mound in the distance. The flaming compound blazed like a torch in the night as peasants pulled the fallen Shardarin away from the fire.

What just happened? The Sharderin had single-handedly slaughtered Paramount Godwin and his men.

"Unexpected Stewy?"

Paramount Stewart turned to see Charlie propped against an apple tree in the dark.

"Was he supposed to go back to that forest of his?" Charlie eyed an apple emphatically before taking a gargantuan bite.

"Was this your doing?" Paramount Stewart asked as he held in his irritation. "Did you turn him around and keep him here?"

"Not me." Charlie spat out chunks of apple as he tried to speak. "Don't you hate it when pawns do the unexpected independently?"

Paramount Stewart turned his attention back to the tiny figures in the distance.

"Aww, don't be sour Stewy," Charlie said. "Even the best of us miscalculate at times." Charlie took another colossal bite of the apple before throwing the half-eaten fruit aside. He skipped to Paramount Stewart and threw his arm around the Stoic figure.

"There is your miscalculation," Charlie laughed as he grabbed Stewart by the chin and forced him to look down at the broken Sharderin boy. "You see, this one is not a pawn. He's at least a knight."

Paramount Stewart shook Charlie off in annoyance. "Laying one's hands on another is distasteful." he chastened.

"That's your limitation, not mine, Stewy," Charlie said.

"What are you doing here?" Stewart demanded.

Charlie shrugged. "Where is here? I just followed you because I love the drama you stir up, which makes me wonder, what brings you here? I know at least a dozen nearby places offhand where you could have chosen to play your little game."

Steward frowned. "Absence of foresight is your limitation, Charlie."

Charlie shrugged. "I'm really in it for the ride, not the destination. So where are we?"

"This is Momalgar."

"Hmm," Charlie mused. "I don't think I've been here before. Why are you here?"

"What happens here at this time will shape the outcome of this whole world. This is not a game to me. This is work. Are you going to make my job difficult for me, Charlie?"

Charlie grinned from ear to ear and nodded frantically. "Every step of the way," he promised.

"You are the roach that I can never crush." Stewart groaned. "Why do you always meddle in matters which don't concern you?"

"I just want to play you, Stewy," Charlie whined.

"I already have an opponent. There is no room for you."

"Have you found him yet?" Charlie asked.

Stewart shook his head. "He always hides in the most humble situations, which makes finding him difficult."

Charlie giggled to himself.

"You know where he is, don't you?" Stewart deducted.

"Yes, yes, yes!" Charlie jumped as he cried.

Stewart, generally emotionless, could feel himself growing irritated. Charlie was the only being who managed to do that.

"You know the thought that there can only be two players is ridiculous," Charlie continued. "True that there can only be two sides, but don't be surprised when your enemy starts to recruit more players, and I would bet money that this young knight will become a player in this game." He pointed down at Niklas.

Paramount Stewart shook his head. "He will play a part and then die."

"So many miscalculations." Charlie shook his head.

"I have been doing this much longer than you, imp," Stewart said. "Don't tell me my calculations are off."

"But you have never played me."

"You don't keep rules, how could you play?"

"Games don't have rules; the players have rules. All I need to do is figure out the players' rules- once I do that, the players themselves become the game."

"Are you saying that I am the game to you?" Stewart asked.

"Indeed. In the end, I am the only player because I am the only one without rules," Charlie puffed his chest triumphantly.

"It seems I don't have much choice," Stewart said downcastly. "Very well, a game of three players."

Charlie smiled. "Cool, bro. What are you called here?"

"I am a paramount, Paramount Stewart"

"Hmm..." Charlie pondered. "So regal, I think I want to be a holy man. Call me Father Charles."

"Very well," Paramount Stewart said. "See you on the board."

The End.