"No joke, Father," said Kahl, a little too heartily for Sam's liking.
"But how?" Obar shook his head. "How dare you?"
"I'm merely exercising my duty to our subjects, Father. You've grown old. You're no longer capable of carrying out the duties of king."
"No." He refused to believe. "You ... you have no right. I am king! How can you.... How can you just walk in here and tell me that I'm not? What gives you this right?"
"The same source that made you king in the first place," said Kahl. "The Sun God."
"Nonsense! There is no Sun God!"
The High Priest gasped and covered his eyes. "Blasphemy!"
"Guards!" Obar pried himself up. "Guards! Arrest these maniacs!"
Feet clumped outside, then turned into the chamber. Sam relaxed, unaware that he had been holding his breath, knowing that his plans were going through after all. The men who came in were the same who had escorted them from the city, Kahl's own private guards.
The captain turned to Kahl and bowed low. "You called, Your Most Graciousness?"