A/N): By the Forgotten God, chapter 4 already? I seem to be cranking these things out faster the National Enquirer cranks out scandals. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own the characters I create, not the Overlord series.

Chapter XIV: Learning from the best

Gnarl and Assira had spent a restless night watching over Hanson as the Overlord slept like a log. Whatever hocus-pocus Gnarl did, it seemed to work, Assira thought as she watched the young Overlord breathe deeply. She sat on one of the couches, her legs tucked up against her chest. Assira stretched and yawned as sleep threatened to overwhelm her, but she fought it off, remembering the many nights she had spent out in the wilderness next to a fire, not daring to sleep lest the wild animals that were stalking her get their chance to attack.

Assira looked at Gnarl, lost in her own thoughts. The minion master was asleep, his floppy ears covering his eyes. He's kind of like a bunny, Assira thought. A demonic, evil-obsessed, probably immortal bunny with the combined intellect of several scholars in one mind.

As if he had heard her thoughts, Gnarl woke up, stretching his aged limbs and yawning so widely that Assira was afraid he was going to swallow the couch. "Is he still asleep?" he asked. "Yes," she answered, yawning in reply. "If my estimates are correct, he should awaken in a few hours," Gnarl said. "May I suggest that you get some sleep?"

Assira nodded and snuggled into the plushy couch, feeling sleep closing in on her. The last thing she remembered thinking was why she had spent so much energy helping the man who had made her clean his Throne Room.

Gnarl watched Assira carefully as she drifted off to sleep. He had lived long enough to be able to read people by facial expressions alone, and he saw Assira's confusion at her infatuation with Hanson. Smiling grimly, Gnarl reached hundreds of years back into his mind and saw the same confusion in almost every mistress any of the previous Overlords had ever chosen. There must be at least a little pure Evil in her, Gnarl thought. Gnarl reached under his cloak and pulled out a leather-bound tome and unlocked it with a small key that hung around his neck. "Here we are…" he muttered. The minion master leaned forward and read.

The first Overlord's mistress exhibited a strange duality: she was equally repulsed and attracted to the Overlord, but in the end her attraction won out because the Evil energy deep within her was activated by the Overlord's continued presence. Both the first Overlord and his mistress were killed when a band of heroes invaded their fortress, leaving no heirs.

Satisfied that the records were in his favor, Gnarl closed and stowed the book, making sure it was secured to his back. The minion master summoned a brown and ordered him to relay a message to the reds: the master would soon wake, and a proper meal was necessary. Gnarl then leaned back and continued to watch the steady rise and fall of his master's chest.

Hanson awoke to the smell of roasting bird. At first, he thought that he had dreamed of becoming Overlord, and that he still had a long way to go. Then, as he sat up and felt the wound in his arm, reality came flooding back. "It is good to see you awake sire," Gnarl said, appearing suddenly near Hanson's bedside. "Other parties are too tired to behold your magnificence's awakening." "Other parties?" Hanson asked, looking around. He spotted Assira out cold on a nearby couch, and strange feelings coursed through the young Overlord's heart. Hanson shook his head, dismissing his feelings as side effects of the poison that had nearly killed him.

"Master need food?" a red asked. Hanson stood up and stretched, noting that he was still wearing his greaves and boots. The Overlord threw a tunic on, got rid of the remains of armor and walked to the table that stood near the entrance to the private quarters. The reds, able to keep food hot just by being nearby, brought Hanson a plate on which lay a sizable chunk of the first bird unlucky enough to fly near the Tower. The Overlord dug in with relish, extremely hungry after his brush with death. As he ate, Gnarl wandered over, his clawed hands clasped in anticipation.

"Thanks to you sire, we have recovered the red minions and the Durium smelter. Now, Giblet can create stronger armor that will protect you from any unfortunate…mishaps," the old minion finished, his eyes on Hanson's left arm. The Overlord nodded his mouth full of meat. "May I suggest a different weapon this time sire?" Gnarl continued. "A sword provides better defensive capabilities and is faster. Also, I do seem to remember a design that weighted the top half blade, causing your already mighty swings to do more damage." Hanson considered and nodded. "Do it."

Assira awoke when a dreadful clanging reverberated through the private quarters. She looked up and noticed the Overlord, his armor removed, smashing two steel frying pans together. "What was that for?" she asked huffily. "I hardly slept last night, keeping watch over you." His expression softened slightly and he lowered the frying pans and walked over, as lithe as a panther. I don't believe we've met," he said finally, after looking her over. "My name is Hanson the Overlord" He held out his hand and she shook it, a pleasant tingle coursing through her veins. "Assira the thief," she said with a smile that threatened to outshine the sun.

Hanson caught himself staring, and said "Gnarl has convinced me that we no longer need you as a servant and that your talents would be of use to me. You will study under him and do everything he tells you. He has knows much, and learning from him for five years shaped me into the unstoppable force I am today." Assira nodded and asked "when do I start?"

As Hanson vanished into the forge room to create his Durium armor, Assira dressed in the clothes the minion had provided, a simple red dress, and went to the library a level below the Throne Room.

"These lessons will encompass a great many different topics, the information in which may save your life," Gnarl began, stroking his beard. "We will begin with the history of Good and Evil," he said, gesturing to the large pile of books lying on a rickety wooden table. Assira almost groaned, but restrained herself. Gnarl observed her carefully, and after a few seconds broke into an evil grin. "Good," he said. "You have passed the first test: you listen to your Overlord." Assira wanted to plant her foot in Gnarl's face, but once again, restrained herself. "In terms of history we will only cover the events that led up to the Old Overlord's confrontation with William the Paladin," Gnarl continued. "Most of what I will teach you will be magical in nature." Gnarl observed Assira carefully, noting the glimmer in her green eyes when he had mentioned magic.

She's perfect, he thought. Gnarl resisted the urge to cackle manically as he began to teach Assira about the nature of Evil energy.

(A/N): No witty comments this time. ;] Please review and provide constructive criticism where necessary.

~Russian Overlord~