#freetoread

Prophets talked a lot. Most of it was pointless.  

However, any kingdom with an ounce of self-respect took good care of them. Usually, they lived in palaces or castles. Close to the court, the king or whatever form of government had to make decisions.  

In the case of Regnoma, the prophets lived at the highest level of one of the tallest towers. They had an entire floor to themselves, one they could fill with smoke and shining liquids as they practiced their poetry. Prophets loved poetry. It was a way to make their predictions sounds more meaningful.  

“I am but your sacrosanct servant,” one of the younger prophets whispered, her raven black hair fell over her face as she curtseyed as low as she could, holding the rims of her red dress.  

"Sacrosanct?” the king’s bodyguard, a large man with broad shoulders, short brown hair and small narrowed brown eyes asked the king.  

“Do not be concerned Leon,” the king, a tall skinny man in expensive robes that swayed as he walked and tired blue eyes reassured.  

“Today I foresee, if you dare to advance outwards after the sun hits it’s highest peak, you shall find yourself aqueous, vexatious and in need of assistance, trapped by your own silks.”  

The king nodded. He turned his head only slightly so he could see Leon’s concerned expression before gesturing for them to leave.  

It took a moment for both their eyes to adjust once the thick wooden door closed behind them. Standing on the stone spiral staircase with sunlight slipping in through a stone window, Leon looked nervous. “That did not sound good.”  

The king smiled, still looking exhausted. “All they said is that we can expect it to rain this afternoon and the water will make getting my robes of more complicated than usual.” He shook his head ever so slightly as they began to their way down the spiral staircase, “it would be wise of me to prohibit the presence of thesaurus’ around them.”  

“Oh,” Leon relaxed. “That is good news... I mean, I may have put clothes out yesterday to dry that have not yet come in but... better than what I was imagining.”  

“I know their speech is weird, but they can speak normally. It’s helpful to remember that the more complicated they speak, the less important the information they are giving you. If it’s urgent, they’ll make themselves understood. They seem to be under the impression that if they don’t seem important, they won’t be allowed to stay here,” he smiled. “It’s admittedly adorable.”  

“With all due respect Your Majesty, what you see as adorable to me is merely agitating.”  

“Well. Adorable or not. They are very important.”  

“I know that Your Majesty.”  

“They see the future.”  

“Or they are very good guessers. What was it they told you yesterday, that your letter would arrive?”  

“And it did.” The king chuckled as they reached the bottom of the staircase and began to make their way through the halls towards the court. “All you must do is visit them three times a day and inform me of anything important.”  

“It’s an honor Your Majesty.”  

“It is.” The king reminded. “You’re escalating in the ranks very quickly.”  

“Yes, the other knights are becoming jealous. Are you certain you wish to entrust me with this and not one of your older knights?”  

“I wouldn’t want to take up their busy schedule in which they gossip and bring each other down with such responsibilities.”  

Leon knew how the king felt for some of the knights. He couldn’t say he felt much different. “I’ll be sure to visit three times a day. Anything important will go straight to you.”  

The king nodded. “You remember the dragon attack from a couple of months ago?”  

Leon sighed. “How could I forget?”  

“It was horrendous. However, it could have been much worse.”  

“Had the prophets not foreseen it.” Leon nodded, “I know Your Majesty. I’m serious, it’s an honor.”  

“Sometimes you’re hard to read Leon.”  

“Well, you of all people should not struggle so much Your Majesty. I’ve only ever spoken the truth to you.”  

“That’s true... I still do not understand how a human can be as honest as you.”  

“It’s a gift and a curse.”  

The king chuckled once more. “The prophets protect the kingdom. In exchange, we protect them, from being abused, manipulated, we protect them from society and from discovering those new calendars that teach you a new word every day.”  

“Oh my...” Leon stopped in his tracks. “That would be a disaster.”  

They both laughed.  

“May I take a dictionary with me, Your Majesty?”  

“Take a linguist if you desire. Just bring the messages back fully translated, please.”  

***

The king’s court room was a weirdly quiet place. For full-court sessions were rare, mostly it was small meetings, it would be the king, one of his main advisors and then specialists.  

Perhaps it felt quieter than it was, for the room was extensive enough to hold the king, every advisor he had and a few more. It had uncomfortable wooden seats on every square meter of floor space. Over a hundred or so. All surrounding a large thick wooden table. It was pointless, for it was impossible for somebody to hear another person at the other end. Which led to either breaking protocol by shouting or playing a game of telephone with important information.  

At the very end of the table was the only comfortable looking chair, a throne made of wood and velvet cushions. On it sat the king.  

Today it was the king and a mere four others, sat around a thick wooden table talking about a stray cat problem in the poorer neighborhoods of the kingdom. It was hard for the king to imagine anything more boring.  

He wanted nothing more than to leave this meeting behind him.  

Perhaps he wanted it too much for the thick wooden doors suddenly opened. The guards standing by them on the inside pointed their weapons before recognizing the person who entered.  

More importantly, the king recognized and immediately stood.  

“The prophets, today there was important news, Your Majesty.” Leon looked distressed; the last two words sounded like an afterthought. Protocol was not on his mind; it was only the formality of court that got them out of him.  

The king nodded. “Continue trouble shooting without me,” he ordered his advisor. He walked away from the table, and out of the throne room for privacy. Well, relatively privacy, there were guards at every door and window, but they at least pretended to not hear anything.  

Leon took a couple of deep breaths, the king realized he must have come running straight from the prophet’s room, it was that time of day after all.  

“Tell me, Leon, what is wrong.”  

Leon took a deep breath, he stood tall, and he spoke.  

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I hope you enjoyed this. 

I’ll either keep uploading the next few chapters here, on my website or on wattpad. Feel free to tell me your preference as I haven’t decided yet. Whichever it is I’ll be sure to keep you updated!