The Invisible King
Kuno listens to an old dwarf's tale before the throne of King Goldemar, king of the dwarfs. Artist not named, 1877
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Along the Ruhr River, A righteous steed was spurred. Where few such creatures wander, A noble old kobold, Brought riches to squalor, After a mockery he endured.
A king he claimed to be, A princess as his wife, Though she loomed above him, While he tuned his harp, And sharpened his knife.
He came to the castle, In a time of great ruin. For he loved the mortals, And would share their undoing.
He pled with King Neveling, Who offered a dwelling, Upon his own royal bed, Although he also was wed.
His name the kobold kept hid, And so too his face, Free to wander the castle, and put the clergy in their place.
Humbly, he demanded, But a seat with the king, And as much wine and mead, As he liked to drink, Between hands of fate, The kobold so loved keeping.
Fortune favored the house, The River Ruhr flowed with gold. King Neveling blessed his guest, The charmed and charming kobold.
But alas the house divided, And so the minds of men, Came together and decided, To glimpse the master’s friend.
Cold and slimy fingers they felt, And wondered who might he be, This blessed guest, Who vaguely crept, around during their sleep.
A foolish soul burned short and bright, Scattered ashes aimless, To see a print of the sprite, Who shared the master’s chambers.
The gracious kobold, Whose story is told, Had been so very ruffled, That he cut the unwise person up, and stewed him with some truffles.
Then in the night, Like a bird in fright, The kobold took his leave. Upon his door, A note that bore, A message so to grieve.
'This kingdom’s fate will be reversed, Far past its dreadful birth,' And so the cheeky kobold signed, 'King Goldemar,' with mirth.










