Yesterday's News, vol. 23
23.
Across the Dream-Lands of Lower Suvvek, half-lidded crowds raised a somnolent cheer as, one-by-one, their villages and easily amused masses were visited by the horrific Dancing Hound. Each day, the troupe hit another village, and each night, they would be doused in coins…for each day, their dog raised itself up on its two feet, in a manner most unbecoming of a dog, and danced the waltz. But the Dream-Lands of Lower Suvvek are limited in scope, and have only so many villages. So two passes at each, the Dancing Hound’s keepers knew they could not milk their Hound forever. They were fortunate, for their canine had talents yet untapped. The Hound, it seems, had an ear for music, and could take requests from the crowd. The Hound could wear the clothes of a woman and parade herself. Some say the Hound could please a man behind the stage, should he offer good coin. But, in time, even this was not enough. In time, the Hound was feared and reviled, and the Son of Cain pointed to the hound and denounced her. Ever the showman, the Hound stood on two feet, and demanded an election to become Mayor, for this Hound had learnt the Riddle of Speech. At this, Sarbox the Destroyer stood by the edge of the stage. He wrapped his right arm around the shoulders of his sister, Anastasia de Sade. “But brother, this one is mine, for men lust after it, and I must bring it low.” Sarbox held out his left arm, and barred the way for Narthex the Obviator. “But Sarbox, clearly this creature is the devil itself, and that makes it mine.” “No, siblings,” said Sarbox, “This one plays The Game, now. That makes it Mine. When the time comes, I will lay it low before a million eyes. For now, it serves That Which Must Know No Name.”
Across the Dream-Lands of Lower Suvvek, half-lidded crowds raised a somnolent cheer as, one-by-one, their villages and easily amused masses were visited by the horrific Dancing Hound. Each day, the troupe hit another village, and each night, they would be doused in coins…for each day, their dog raised itself up on its two feet, in a manner most unbecoming of a dog, and danced the waltz. But the Dream-Lands of Lower Suvvek are limited in scope, and have only so many villages. So two passes at each, the Dancing Hound’s keepers knew they could not milk their Hound forever. They were fortunate, for their canine had talents yet untapped. The Hound, it seems, had an ear for music, and could take requests from the crowd. The Hound could wear the clothes of a woman and parade herself. Some say the Hound could please a man behind the stage, should he offer good coin. But, in time, even this was not enough. In time, the Hound was feared and reviled, and the Son of Cain pointed to the hound and denounced her. Ever the showman, the Hound stood on two feet, and demanded an election to become Mayor, for this Hound had learnt the Riddle of Speech. At this, Sarbox the Destroyer stood by the edge of the stage. He wrapped his right arm around the shoulders of his sister, Anastasia de Sade. “But brother, this one is mine, for men lust after it, and I must bring it low.” Sarbox held out his left arm, and barred the way for Narthex the Obviator. “But Sarbox, clearly this creature is the devil itself, and that makes it mine.” “No, siblings,” said Sarbox, “This one plays The Game, now. That makes it Mine. When the time comes, I will lay it low before a million eyes. For now, it serves That Which Must Know No Name.”