[ WP ] Your written orders are always carried out promptly by your soldiers . Unfortunately , your inability to place commas appropriately leads to the fall of your empire .

“ At the right time, change / switch the glasses. ” 
 
 I stop pacing and look to my secretary. “ You get that? ” 
 
 “ Yessir. I wrote it down just as you said it. ” 
 
 “ Good. Now send it to our insider in the castle. He will know what to do. All the pieces are in place. Our plan to take control of the empire is almost complete. Tomorrow, the Shavar dynasty is born. ” 
 
 …. 
 
 “ Welcome, General Shavar! I will say, I have been looking forward to meeting with you to discuss this rebellion I keep hearing whispers about. ” The emperor rises from his desk. 
 
 “ As have I. It is a most pertinent issue. ” I walk forward to the chair in front of the desk. 
 
 “ Take a seat, ” the emperor gregariously implores. I do, as does he. “ Now I am most interested in hearing your perspective on this little uprising, as it is rumored to be starting in your province. ” 
 
 “ Of course. But I will warn you, this may take a while. The politics of this particular dissention are quite complex. ” 
 
 “ Not a problem. ” 
 
 “ Do you mind if we get drinks? Refreshments would ease the strain on my throat. ” I lightly tap my Adam ’ s apple. 
 
 “ Certainly, ” the emperor replies. “ Wine! ” he calls to his right. 
 
 A side door opens and a figure in servant ’ s robes walks in, carrying a tray with two goblets on it. He offers one to each of the men in the room. 
 
 “ I hope this is the good wine, ” I jest. 
 
 “ It is. Here, drink as much as pleases you. ” 
 
 I raise an eyebrow. “ Is that wise, your majesty? ” 
 
 “ I enjoy drinking with those I can trust. Here, these past few days have been trying. I could use a break. ” 
 
 “ Well, let ’ s get this started then. ” Goblet raised, I begin chugging my wine. 
 
 “ Ha, yes, let ’ s! ” The emperor follows. 
 
 I finish first then slide a packet out of my pocket and discretely place it in my drink. The emperor lowers his drink. “ More! ” he commands. 
 
 The servant returns with his tray and retrieves our goblets. Before he goes behind the door to refill them, I give him a wink. The signal. 
 
 He returns and hands us our drinks. The emperor and I look at each other. Our eyes matching, he smiles and lifts his drink to his lips, as do I. The second round is gone as soon as the first. 
 
 I crack a smile. The plan is working. Any minute the emperor should be beginning to feel the effects of the poison seeping into his bloodstream. He joyously calls out, “ Another! ” 
 
 “ No, that ’ s enough, ” I reply. 
 
 “ No, I insist. I know you can hold down more! ” The servant returns and takes our cups away again. Meanwhile the clock on the emperor ’ s desk begins chiming. It is late – 2 AM. “ Ah, that ’ s it! ” 
 
 “ What is it? ” I reply. The servant returns with our drinks, and we continue drinking them. Inside, I ’ m wondering when the poison will kick in. Any time now, right? 
 
 “ The time change! Don ’ t you know about daylight savings time? I decided to implement it in our empire last year. It saves precious lantern fuel by making more effective use of the daylight hours. Been a God-send for our outer provinces where oil is more expensive. ” 
 
 “ Oh, that ’ s very interesting. I – “ My breath catches in my chest. I am having trouble breathing. “ What, why… ” I double over in my chair, the poison taking effect. I glare at the servant. “ DIDN ’ T YOU GET MY INSTRUCTIONS? DIDN ’ T YOU GET MY SIGNAL? ” 
 
 “ I did just as you asked! Just as it was written on the instructions: ‘ At the right time change / switch the glasses. ’ ” 
 
 The king suddenly gasps in shock, but it ’ s a winded gasp, and suddenly he falls to the ground, struggling to breathe as well. The servant looks at the king, then me, disturbed. “ I switched them after the time change, like you ordered, ” his says, his voice quivering. 
 
 I roll onto the ground. “ Curse the time change, curse the secretary, curse the comma. ” My vision fades to red, then black. In my mind, I have one last thought. 
 
 “ I hope my sister knows what to do with an empire. ” 

