Excerpt: Wizards of Dianthus: Overdue Fees

Mr. Limeburner nodded and pushed through into the cramped little room. It didn’t speak of being home to the most popular post in the Watchtower Watch. However, seeing the chair soon explained it. Not many other posts around Watchtower could boast a chair.

Mr. Limeburner settled himself into the chair. He adjusted his buttonless coat over a stained waistcoat and looked out the widescreen window onto the western plains.

“My goodness!” he jumped to his feet, knocking the prized chair to the ground.

The previous guard turned back up the two steps he’d put behind him.

“It’s a lumpos!”

“A mad lumpos!” suggested the first guard.

Mr. Limeburner grabbed for the telescope. He poked it out the window, scratching it on the stone. “A mad lumpos who has kidnapped two women.”

“Quick, I’ll notify Fractor.” The pudgy guard started for the stairs again.

“No, you call to raise the gate. I’ll notify Fractor.” Mr. Limeburner’s heavily polished boots started down the steps.

Pudgy looked annoyed but let the fitter guard go. He opened a wooden hatch in the wall to the left of the window.

“HEY-HO. GATES UP. DAMSELS IN DISTRESS COMING THROUGH.”