WHAT A COINCIDENCE

Albert is really Alberto Malich, the original founder of the Unseen University. Ironically he made his way to Deaths Domain in order to avoid dying, as time stands still there. Mort was a gangly youth with more elbows and knees than arms and legs; at least that is how he appeared. He also had no aptitude to follow in his fathers furrows as a farmer. So as a last resort he is taken to Sheepridge, what passes as a town in the farming area near the Octarine Grass Country, to be hired as an apprentice. There are no takers until, at the stroke of midnight, Death rides up on Binky and takes Mort on. He takes Mort for a curry and then back to Deaths Domain, where he meets Albert and Ysabell; it seems Death is also looking for husband for his adopted daughter. Morts first task is to muck out the stables, but is soon taken out to on a scything trip. Olerve the Bastard, King of Sto Lat, is to be assassinated by a hitman hired by the Duke of Sto Helit who would become second in line to the throne. Mort tries to intervene but is told by Death that THERE IS NO JUSTICE in this job.           The Two Pence stamp from the Octarine Grass Country

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The hill and city of Sto Lat as
featured on the 25p stamp issued
in the Year of the Pensive Hare

The Boar`s Head arms of Sto Helit
on the 1p stamp issued during the
Year of the Three Roses

Mort learns about the hourglasses that represent each and every life dribbling away and the books where everybodys life is written automatically, page by page; each tiny detail. Morts first solo trip involves Goodie Hamstring, a witch who helps his confidence, and a reincarnating abbot. The last one on the trip is 15 year old Princess Keli of Sto Lat. The evil Duke is wasting no time in ascending the throne. This time, without death to intervene, Mort not only prevents the murder of the princess, but rids the world of the evil Duke.

Keli, as Queen Kelirehanna
The Sto Lat Two Pence stamp

Meanwhile Death has taken the night off to go fly-fishing, dance the conga with Lord Rodley of Quirm, indulge in a spot of gambling in The Shades, and try each and every drink on sale at The Mended Drum. He hoped to understand human emotions

                                                       Lord Rodley, Duke of Quirm                           Gamblers Guild Six Pence

he Mended Drum from the Merchants Guild’s Places of Interest series

. Back at Deaths Domain the books are writing that the Death of Keli unified the states of Sto Helit and Sto Lat heralding a hundred year peace. But, there is a causality effect going on. Close to Sto Lat Keli is clearly alive, even though she has to hire wizard Cutwell as Royal Recogniser to advertise her existence. Further away though, the reality is that Keli was killed. Mort realises this when in a bar having a drink, the boundary between realities passes by and things change. Outside the bar he realises that Keli`s reality is shrinking as the universe is being restored to what should be
All this time Mort has been taking on Death`s persona bit by bit, while Death has become more human. Death has even taken a job as cook at Harga`s House of Ribs, providing the best cooked food served there ever.

Back at Death`s domain Mort and Ysabell confirm that Albert is in fact Albertus Malich, who founded the Unseen University, but 2,000 years previously had entered the Domain to escape death because all his enemies would be waiting for him in the underworld. Death has to be found in order for order to be restored, requiring Albert to step back into the real world to summon Death with him and 8 senior wizards chanting the Rite of AshkEnte. Ysabell and Mort rescue Keli and Cutwell at the moment of her coronation and just as her reality finally collapses. At Death`s Domain Mort and Death fight a duel because of his actions. Death wins but spares Mort so that he can marry Ysabell. Keli is restored as Queen of Sto Lat, and the newly-weds are created Duke and Duchess of Sto Helit.