X is for Xorn

The twenty-fourth of the stories from our adult coloring book, Dungeon Monsters & Tavern Tales: A Gamer’s A to Z Coloring Book with Short Stories. Each coloring page monster has a corresponding tale on the back. Find our coloring book here: https://urbanrealms.com/product-category/fantasy-art/

Eliza Farley swung into the saddle in the courtyard of the Lion’s Breath Tavern. Mounted guards waited to escort her to the castle.

The sun lay gentle on fields bursting with barley, hops, and potatoes. The crops and the land were flourishing, but each hut and homestead, each village she passed appeared just a little bit more rundown than last year.

It was to be expected. With the new Earl and his administration there were many costs to be covered. There were roads and aqueducts to repair, troops and personnel to pay. As one of the top tax collectors, Eliza knew money had to come from somewhere. Each year she worked a little harder to pry it from the hands of the people.

She had done her duty. So she was unsure why she was being called to the Earl’s presence. Was she in trouble for her sometimes extreme methods of applying pressure on those who didn’t wish to pay? Or was she to be rewarded for meeting her quota?

The little caravan wound its way through town to the castle gates. Eliza was escorted into the castle, up many flights of stairs, and into a dimly lit chamber.

Next to a bed the size of a small island stood the Earl. Eliza dropped to a knee. “Lord Alford.”

“Shhhhhh. Nap time,” said the Earl, finger to lips. He motioned Eliza to rise and pointed to the bed.

Among the covers and pillows lay a golden-haired child of about four — little Lady Leena. “She’s an angel, my Lord,” whispered Eliza.

“She’s more precious to me than all the gold and jewels in the land,” replied the Earl, ushering Eliza out of the room.

“How may I serve you, my Lord,” said Eliza once the door was shut.

“Walk with me,” said the Earl, leading her down columned halls and through bejeweled archways.

“It grieves me to tell you that our Treasurer is dead.”

“My condolences, my Lord,” she said, trying to hide her excitement. So it was a job interview.

“You come highly recommended as his replacement,” said the Earl.

They spent the next hour discussing her accomplishments, methods, and philosophies as tax collector as they wandered the castle. Finally the Earl stopped and turned to her. “Do you have children?”

“Yes, my Lord. A boy of eight.”

He nodded. “Good. Then you will understand. Our last Treasurer did not. For that he had to be… removed.”

Eliza stifled a gulp.

Little Lady Leena came skipping down the corridor and took her father’s hand.

“Done napping already?” said the Earl. “Then we shall show our new Treasurer the treasure room.” The girl squealed with delight. Eliza wished she could too. The child ran ahead of them down the hall. They followed.

“She is a very shy child,” said the Earl. “We’ve had trouble finding friends for her. Certainly, as a mother, you’d agree friends are very important for a girl her age.”

“Of course, my Lord.”

He pulled out a key and unlocked a heavy metal-clad door and swung it open. Inside, a few torches glittered off mounds of gold and silver coins and chests of jewels. Among the riches, xorn frolicked, stuffing their mouths with shining morsels. Eliza shouted, and turned toward the Earl, expecting him to call for help. His face remained unmoved. Lady Leena ran forward, giggling.

“Her friends,” said the Earl. “Your job is to keep them fed.”