[Oh god! How long has it been since I left!] Jack thought about how he was happy to finally be back in Saigunrai. He wasn't sure why he felt like it was home, as he only found out when he was on this trip. He was slightly homesick. He wondered if his skeletal body was more than just bones... If it had a memory as well.
Jack drew in another round of burnt offerings. Him and Boss Crag, who was present, had each day since he was offered, partaking this wonderful effect.
A few coughs and Boss Crag spoke, "Damn Witchy, I didn't know you were this hardcore... You've even put me to shame. I had brought twenty kilos of my Snap Dragon Dust... And we're down to only three kilos now..." Boss Crag shook his head and lamented that it went to fast.
"Ah, that's my fault. It's really fine dust. I'll compensate you somehow, but honestly... We need to market this. It's a damn shame you have been hoarding this to yourself!" Jack had said, he wasn't worried about being called Witchy by Boss Crag... Seemed that the Mafia loved to give nicknames. As good as this Snap Dragon dust was... Jack could care less.
"Well... To be honest, most undead can't take how strong it is."
"You're kidding... Make a different dust, and cut down on how much of the snapdragon flower you put into it?"
"Hmmmm... I'll get the boys in the alchemy lab to work on that. Wait? You don't mean to start marketing the dust directly do you?"
"Hmmmm? No... I plan to let you do it and tax the dust... All dust, and make a profit from it. If you want I can give you the taxes on your dust back so that you don't have to worry about any profit loss." Jack said as he was in taking another drift of smoke.
"That's too much bookkeeping, just keep it. I think I'm already going to make a lot of profit just by being in the government." Boss Crag nodded to himself.
[I wonder if they got Leslie's father's body... hmmmm... How many Officials did they execute from trying to leave while I was gone... I'm betting like... ten!] Jack chuckled to himself.
"What's funny?"
"Oh... It's time for a court cleansing. I left standing orders for anyone that wants to skip town to execute with no mercy."
"Whoa... Isn't that a bit harsh for you?"
"I'm not running a charity here," Jack said this with a bit of sarcasm.
"But ya running a church and country... Is it really okay to be like that?" Even Boss Crag thought it odd.
"Well... If I plan to unify the surrounding countries... I need to clean up my own backyard first."
"So, you're going to do the same thing ya doing with the Mafioso. Wait... Did you come to Souigak to recruit me?" Boss Crag's forehead beaded with a few drops of black sweat... Could the Witch King really have so much foresight?
[Not even close... I didn't even know who you were... But let's spin this.] Jack thought to himself.
"I expected to encounter your people when I got there. I went to retrieve my Mother-in-Law, but I will say I didn't expect you to show so quickly. It did save me a lot of time, thanks to your offer of a duel." Jack said with confidence, he was getting better and better at acting.
Boss Crag gave a hollowed laugh, "Yeah... Saved a lot of time, I did... Haha Yeah...."
"It all works out for the best. At least We started off on the right foot, and your people didn't get hit harder... Except for that one guy that was broke in two... Is he alright?" Jack asked this last question, as a side note.
"Yeah. We have a Darkfield Clan Bone Doctor. He put him back together, but it's going to take a month before he can walk again."
"Well, that's good," Jack said, as he overheard his Driver shouting.
"The City of Saigunrai is in view! The City of Saigunrai is in view! The City of Saigunrai is in view!"
"Good, good, very good," Jack said aloud. He had been waiting for a while. He missed Leslie and had a strange feeling of wanting to see Verruca, as well.
"How do you think they will react to me being here?" Boss Crag asked as he took in another lung of burnt offerings.
"I'm sure they already know. I wouldn't worry about it. I've been thinking. I'm going to wait on giving you a Title. I have need of your Mafia family to execute something for me first before I bring you officially into the kingdom."
"Oh?"
*******
[Oh my! Oh my! Oh my! He's back!] Leslie was in her new office in the palace. When she was taken as the Consort, she had an Office prepared. Lucius, though, ensured that she was given an Evening Tomb, as well. She had no idea why... As she had planned to sleep with Jack, and do... maybe more than just sleep.
She started to send mental messages to her subordinates, one to Lucius, and one to Verruca. She didn't really want to tell Verruca, but she had no choice. Verruca was in control of the city defenses, and was a necessary evil, in her opinion. Leslie went back and forth on Verruca... Sometimes she admired her, other times she wanted to get rid of her, and lately... She felt bad for her. She was a pure zombie undead. She didn't show even an ounce of bone.
Yes... Leslie's thoughts were still plagued by Jack being a pervert for bones. She mulled it over the last few days and decided he was a skeletal undead after all... It made sense to be attracted to what you were, and maybe she was the odd one, maybe they both had a bone fetish.
Soon the City was abuzz with the sound of the guards and troop movement, quickly a reception was put in place, the Officials were called just like when Ambassador Emily had arrived, Lucius and Verruca gathered. They all waited in bated breath for the Witch King to come.
As Jack entered the City, he heard the cries of the citizens of his city. They were welcoming him back with open arms. Shouting they loved him, and that he was the light that guided him. Jack felt like he was a superstar, in his last world.
[Just how loved am I?]
Boss Crag who was still sitting with Jack felt slightly strange. He had never had a welcome like this. Then again... Officially he didn't exist.
Jack figured he should be in range, and messaged Leslie, [Leslie can you hear me?]
Leslie who was standing at the reception stand shed a tear. Finally, his voice again, even if she hadn't heard him in a thousand years... These last few weeks felt like ten thousand years. Maybe it was because he had acknowledged her as the consort, but she really really missed him. She wanted to see him, to touch him, to be with him, to hear his voice, and to service him.
[Darling!] She exclaimed.
[Oh my lovely consort! How I have missed your voice.] Jack did indeed tell the truth. He missed that alluring voice of Leslie's.
[Well! I hope to spend time with you this evening!] She said with joy in her mind.
[I look forward to every moment, but We need to take care of a few things first.]
Leslie got serious when she heard this, [What's wrong?]
[Nothings wrong. We need someone to escort the carriage behind mine, it contains your mother and her... company.]
[No problem.] Leslie replied, and made some arrangements with her servants via mental messages. She was excited to see her mother again, but when she thought of her father... Her heart felt funny. So many emotions together made her feel light headed.
[I also have Boss Crag with me.]
[In the same Carriage?]
[Yes.]
[Ummmm... Have him wait in the Carriage. I'll make arrangements with the Driver to take him off-site for a few hours. We'll invite him into the palace afterward.]
[As expected, of you.] Jack said, as he felt Leslie was very good at logistics. He remembered how she coordinated her handmaidens and the court official's and their arrival.
The Carriage was being escorted by the War Breaker's as they approached the city, the Undead-at-Arms gave way to these colossal undead warriors that made Verruca's army.
Jack stood up from his desk and walked near the door. He turned to Boss Crag, and spoke, "Crag, I am going to leave first. Stay here, and the driver will take you off-site for a few hours. I'll get you into the Palace afterward. We need to keep this affair low-key, as I still need you in your current capacity."
"No problem." Crag replied quickly.
"How do I look?" Jack made a regal pose.
"Ummm... Like The Holy Witch King."
"Good."
The Carriage came to a stop, and the door was opened from the outside. Jack was able to see the familiar light of the Skull of the Sun god. He stepped out, and see the crowds of people. Not only were the Officials from the Court were present, but also the citizens present. They weren't called, they just wanted to catch a glimpse of their Holy Witch King.
No ordinary citizen had seen him for over a thousand years. When they saw him appear from the Carriage, carrying his Femur Ferula, and walking with the gate of a King. They were immediately silenced, as they were in awe of his presence.
Jack walked down the red carpet that was set out for him, and looked to the left and right. He saw that there were Officials on the right, and what he assumed where citizens on the left.
Jack held up his hand and staff, as he shouted the first thing he said as he had when he first entered this world, "May Holy undeath reign within the Holy Kingdom of Deagoth!"
After a pause, the Crowd went wild screaming to the top of their ability, as the shouted their response!
""""""""""May the Undeath of his Grace last forever!""""""""""
Silence resumed, but the fervor in the eyes of the citizens was clear, but opposite reflected in the eyes of the Officials of the court. They still remembered who ordered the cleansing, though many still didn't believe it was going to happen.