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Lord Wadd 
by K.R. Morrison 

Lord Walter Wadd cut a dashing figure. He was the host of fabulous parties, generous and kind to those who worked his land, and was popular among the townsfolk. His hunting skills rivaled anyone’s in the land. Everywhere he went, men fought to be in his company. Women swooned in his presence, and even little children rushed out to offer him presents as he strode about town and country.

At least, this is what his ego told him.

And his ego was so big, it had to ride in a separate carriage.

The last time he decided to expand his mansion, no one objected at all as he mowed down a huge swathe of forest to make room for it. Even the woodcutters, who made their living off that land, had no complaint. Especially after a few of them were given some of his care for their protests.

Bits of them still hung from poles at the edge of the remaining forest. They had been unhappy, so sending them to eternity had been a mercy.

After that, no one complained. Apparently, everyone else was happier with those few gone.

If you asked anyone over whom he had any authority, they would tell you (in hushed tones, away from any listening ears) that Walter Wadd was a despot. His parties were peopled with lackeys who were paid generously to keep him company, and he took advantage of the peasants who labored to bring in a profitable yield (never enough, of course).

Townsfolk crossed to the opposite side of the street when they saw him coming, and the children’s “presents” were whatever they could find to throw at him.

And his hunting skills were not skills as such, for who could call a decimation of dozens of animals at a time a “skill?”

But that ego made sure he saw things through Wadd-colored glasses only.

One day, as he made his way to the remnants of the forest to take down another fifty or so creatures, he was accosted by a handful of little boys, who lobbed a number of rotten apples at him. He smiled, thanked them, and then shot one of them in the arm.

“Oops!” He laughed and went on, leaving the shocked boys to clean up their companion.

As he strode through the leafy glade, he chomped on one of the apples. A little mealy, but it still had its good bits. He would have to talk to those boys about apple quality when he got back.

It gradually dawned on him that there was a lack of sound. No birdsong, no rustle of leaves. He stopped and looked around, puzzled.

He looked back the way he had come and was startled to see that the path had disappeared. The only way to go was forward. This annoyed him, so he started in the opposite direction. His ego approved.

The forest, however, didn’t. A wall of briars rose up in front of him.

“Fine.” He started forward where the path still existed, and as he walked the path continued to disappear behind him.

He came out into a clearing. To his wonder, there in front of him were scores of woodland creatures.

“Well, that makes it easy.” He nocked an arrow and sighted toward a large deer.

That’s as far as he got. The animals rushed on him as one, and by the time they were finished he and his ego had been obliterated.

The forest opened up, the news was made known…

…and the peasants rejoiced.

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Fiction © Copyright K.R. Morrison
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com.

More from K.R. Morrison:

Enoch’s Return: Pride’s Downfall Book 4

All hell broke loose, as demon fought saint, and undead fought mortal. Fangs and swords, fire and light, mingled in a cacophony of noise that would have awakened the dead — if they hadn’t already been in the pitch of battle.

Toby was looking forward to celebrating his 21st birthday with family and friends. However, the day is shattered by the arrival of his sister, Erica, fresh out of the juvenile detention center, where she has lived in isolation most of her life. There is something very wrong with her still; witness her biting the ear of her taxi driver and licking the blood from her lips, and the way she antagonizes everyone around her. The other thing that is very off-putting about the day is a gift he receives – a musty tent and a few iron spikes that have been lying in the ground for years. Toby faints at the sight of the “treasure,” while Erica reacts violently and runs off to who-knows-where.
While he is unconscious, Toby learns who he truly is, and of his mission.

Available on Amazon!