Whitney Writes…

Ulfric rubbed his temples. “Tell me again, but slower. He did what?”

“You have to stop the merchant from leaving! He’s robbed the king blind!” Ralof proclaimed.

“I do not have to stop anyone, Ralof,” Ulfric said wearily, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Especially if the king’s been an idiot,” he grumbled under his breath. “Explain to it to me again,” he repeated.

“The king was swindled out of all the money!” Ralof shouted. “That should warrant some sort of reaction from his top general!”

“It would,” Ulfric conceded, “if I did not have other reports saying he knowingly and willingly spent that money on a frivolous, worthless, hoax of an item.”

“Who would say such a thing?” Ralof demanded heatedly. “Who would dare speak of the king in such a manner? He was swindled! He didn’t know what he was purchasing, he didn’t know the price until it was too late!”

Ulfric shook his head. “That’s not how Murdan tells it.”

Ralof ground his teeth in fury. He knew he never should have trusted Rahim’s Khajiit widower as one of the regents and guardians of his son. There was something off about the man, and now he was making his move upon his son. Likely to put one of his own children upon the throne. They did have legitimate claims, after all……

“We have a problem here, Ralof,” Ulfric was saying, “don’t you see it? You’re either saying the king made a choice he knew would damage the palace and hurt those within, or he’s not of sound mind.” He leaned forward upon the oak table, the wood creaking under his weight as his eyes flickered in the candlelight. “We’re at an impasse, my friend. A fork in the road. Something has to be done about the king.”

Inktober 2024, Prompt #27: ROAD🧡🖤👻🎃