The Slanderer's Sword

Have you ever been in a conversation where someone starts tearing another person down, and you find yourself nodding along, maybe even adding a detail or two? It can feel strangely satisfying, like you're bonding or gaining insider status. But what’s really happening in those moments? After a rebel king rejects authority, he has to find a way to defend his illegitimate throne. And the weapon he almost always chooses is his tongue.