King Karl looked the tall architect squarely in the knees, exasperated. “Bob, what the fuck?”

Bob’s knees squirmed awkwardly under the King’s well-practiced scrutiny. It had been a long time since one of his castles had collapsed after one shot. The justifications never went well.

“Well, sire… now let me explain.” The King slapped him. Hard. Bob’s cheek turned bright pink, then bloomed to pure red. Bob took a moment to groan, then attempted to continue.

“Well, sire… now” Bob’s arms flailed, trying to catch hold of something as his legs were suddenly swept out from under him. His jaw crashed down hard on the cobbled stone of the ruined castle’s courtyard. Bob scrambled to his knees, then clutched his jaw as if trying to contain the waves of nauseating pain that were radiating out from his shattered teeth. “As I was beginning to explain…”

“Explain? Do please explain, Bob. Explain exactly why your castle, which explodes when a brick is shot, was composed entirely of a single, huge, brick.”