Gunnar III Eriksson Crovan
Emperor of the Crovan Empire, King of the East and West Vikings and of the North and South Skraelings, Lord of Sino, Pontifix Maximus, Rightful King of All Poland and of the Germans, Life-President of the Sino Trade Company.
In Which Peder's Plan Backfires, To Some Extent
(4 July 1634 – 7 July 1634)
Peder and Dagmar are talking in whispered tones in her chambers.
“I’m sorry Dagmar, I just can’t see any way past this. Anastasia is onto us. She’s trebled the guard and she never goes anywhere without Gunnar. You’ve finally been bested by one of his wives.”
“No Peder, I’ll not go down that easy.
She has to die before that child is born! I’ve got a plan. Every evening, Gunnar, Ana and the guards stroll the perimeter of the Palace. I will join them this evening. At the Southwest Tower, you create a distraction. I’ll kill her in the confusion.”
Peder sighed. Dagmar, it seemed, was going mad. “And how do you propose I do that?”
Dagmar whirled on him. “You want a crown Peder? Earn it.”
She stormed out of the room.
Late that afternoon, as the Imperial Party slowly approached the Southwest tower, Peder sat alone at the window.
“Gaah. Damnit, think man. What can you do?”
“Hello Peder.”
“Ah! Oh, Bard. You surprised me there. You should probably run along now.”
“Hello Peder.”
“Uh, yes. Hello. Now run along Bard.”
“Hello Peder.”
Peder sighed. He could hear the Emperor’s approach. Time was running out. “Yes, yes, hello Bard. Look, I’m under a lot of stress right now could you…”
“Hello Peder.”
“Oh My God Bard! Has Gunnar knocked the last bit of sense from…
Hold it. I’ve got it!” Peder was excited.
“Hello Ped…”
“Bard! Shut up!” Peder grabbed a hefty book from the case. “Remember how Gunnar always throws stuff at you? Well, here’s you chance to have some fun. Why not throw some heavy stuff down on him! He’s under this window right now!”
Bard cackled uncontrollably as he hurled everything unbolted out the window.
“Huhuhuh huhuhuh huhuh Bonk time for Gunnar! Bonk time for Gunnar! Huhuhuhuh huhuhuhuh!”
Under the window, pandemonium reigned, as tables, chairs, books, a small globe, really all sorts of things reigned down on the Imperial Party. The guard shielded Gunnar as best they could, but the distraction was exactly what Dagmar needed. The only problem, from Peder’s perspective, would be what was going to happen when Bard ran out of crap to throw.
And so, the reign of Gunnar comes to its final conclusion. What does the future have in store for Dagmar? For Bard? Well, find out on the next exciting episode of