Dreadful

by Caitlin Rozakis

then a great number of very uncomfortable questions he did not have answers to would result.

then a great number of very uncomfortable questions he did not have answers to would result.

Very persistent! Very commendable! Possibly suicidal!

Very persistent! Very commendable! Possibly suicidal!

It seemed terribly inconvenient that the brain’s reaction to being placed in mortal jeopardy was to become much stupider.

It seemed terribly inconvenient that the brain’s reaction to being placed in mortal jeopardy was to become much stupider.

He could feel the shadowy architecture in his mind, as if he’d stepped into a darkened cathedral with only a single candle for light. The soaring buttresses were more felt than seen. They were still there, just waiting for enough light to be revealed.

did he have enemies? Surely most Dark Wizards must have enemies.

Great Teirthrax, he must do this all the time, if he kept an entire jar of replacement eyebrows.

He wondered how much denial his past self had been in.

He had goblins. He had, most likely, just been talking to a goblin. He had a princess. He had no idea why he had a princess.

What would he do with that much money? Some more practical clothes and a castle with a lot more natural light, perhaps? What was his past self planning to do with it? More ugly furniture, probably.

He could have kissed the goblin, but he forced himself not to react.

How did he possibly keep the castle running if he kept executing the staff?

If he was going to fail at “ominous,” though, it might have been nice to at least achieve “picturesque.” Maybe he could terrorize them into a beautification project.

Thoughts for later. When he was wearing clothes.

“What do you want?” “Right at this moment? Not to eat dinner with Siraco.”

trying to figure out how to hide his missing memories from someone who apparently scared him all the way through the amnesia.

The wave came out much better this time. He had practiced.

Not that he knew how one chewed in a suave manner, and he rather suspected his face had taken on some odd contortions as a result.

Of the two of them, he felt pretty sure she was the more dangerous.

He wondered if maybe there was a treatise on hostage-taking somewhere in that pile of a study.

Or write a devastating manifesto that will convince the goblins to revolt.”

“It’s hard to hire good help.” “When you keep setting them on fire?” “Perhaps I should reconsider some of my employment policies,” he admitted.

Gav nearly leapt a foot in the air.