Стража! Стража!

           "I’mjustsayingyoucan’tgoroundgivingpeoplethronesjustbecauseofstufflikethat,"saidCarrot."That’swhatCaptainVimessaid."

           "Nicejob,mind,"saidNobby."Goodhours,kinging."

           "Hmm?"Colonhadmomentarilybeenlostinalittleworldofspeculation.Realkingshadshinyswords,obviously.Except,except,exceptmaybeyourrealrealkingof,like,daysofyore,hewouldhaveaswordthatdidn’tsparkleonebitbutwasbloodyefficientatcuttingthings.Justathought.

           "Isaykinging’sagoodjob,"Nobbyrepeated."Shorthours."

           "Yeah.Yeah.Butnotlongdays,"saidColon.HegaveCarrotathoughtfullook.

           "Ah.There’sthat,ofcourse."

           "Anyway,myfathersaysbeingking’stoomuchlikehardwork,"saidCarrot."Allthesurveyingandassayingandeverything."Hedrainedhispint."It’snotthekindofthingforthelikesofus.Us-"helookedproudly-"guards.Youallright,Sergeant?"

           "Hmm?What?Oh.Yes."Colonshrugged.Whataboutit,anyway?Maybethingsturnedoutforthebest.Hefinishedthebeer."Bestbeoff,"hesaid."Whattimewasit?"

           "Abouttwelveo’clock,"saidCarrot.

           "Anythingelse?"

           Carrotgaveitsomethought."Andall’swell?"hesaid.

           "Right.Justtesting."

           "Youknow,"saidNobby,"thewayyousayit,lad,youcouldalmostbelieveitwastrue."

           Lettheeyeofattentionpullback..