Sigilian 5

Robert stood on his balcony. It had been almost a month since he had started his new schedule.

He had sat on the throne three times, and dealt with many issues of the people. He had been calm, collected, ruthless when he needed to be, and above all fair. He had dealt justice and benevolence with equal consideration, although not equal regrets.

He now knew how to administer to small problems, while learning to deal with big ones in his statecraft lessons.

With Master Turendel he had mastered the Basic version of the Sigil of Air, allowing him to enact it without Sketching, he had it so perfectly memorized.

His time in the library had been well spent, and he had learned much about the past of the land and had seen many mistakes to not repeat. He had also learned many ways of ruling that he wished to emulate, and much of his success with the people was due to his knowledge of the past.

Unfortunately nothing in his Sketching lessons, history books, or statecraft tutoring had taught him how to deal with duchesses and ladies.

And today he was meeting three of them.

His parents had decided that instead of bringing them to meet him one by one they would throw a small party at first, with the first few to arrive. He had agreed to a week off his lessons so that he could entertain them in the afternoon and evening if he was allowed to spend all morning in the library, but he was beginning to regret his decision.

He had not even met them yet and his mouth was dry and his hands were beginning to shake. He would take a drink to fortify himself, but he was worried that if he had one he would not be able to stop drinking. And if he didn’t stop then he would get drunk, and if he got drunk then he would make a fool of himself.

As much as he was worried about this, scared, he did not want to fail at it. He wanted to make a good first impression, entertain the ladies throughout the week and then send them away at the end so that be could be free to return to his lessons for another while.

That would save him.

He just had to last that long.

“Sire? It is time to get dressed. They will be expecting you soon”

“Of course Steven”

Robert turned from the balcony and walked over to his butler. He was wearing his undershirt and a pair of nondescript leggings. He would be keeping them on beneath the ridiculous outfit his parents had picked out for him.

“This…this is not anything like my army uniforms”

“No sire”

“Steven, how many times do I have to say to call me Roberts? Although, it makes you uncomfortable, so forget about it. Not important”

“Thank you sire. Now, you really should get dressed”

The pants went on first. Slightly frilly at the waist they were nevertheless the most conservative of the three pieces that were laid out. They were also a deep ultramarine, which he approved of.

Pulling them on he poked at the tunic. It was a royal purple with a high stiff collar and tight belt to match. There were slashes down the front on either side of the buttons that let that green cloth underneath peek through.

And the shoulder cape to match in that same shade of green.

He was going to look ridiculous, but his parents had insisted.

“Yes, alright, help me into them then”

Straightening the clothes as best he could he marched for the doors.

“Steven, my parents never told me where I was to find the ladies. Do you know?”

“Yes sire. They should be in the Dining Hall”

“The private one?”

Nobody was ever allowed in the private dining hall.

“No sire. The Grand Dining Hall”

“The Grand Hall? But there will only be six of us, or maybe not even that many! Why in the world would they put us in the largest room to eat when there were so few of us? I suppose I’ll find out soon enough. Steven, would you mind tidying things up here and laying out one of my usual outfits? I’ll want to change as soon as I can”

“Of course sire. And they are in the Grand Hall because-”

“I’ll see for myself soon enough Steven. Don’t worry about me”

He closed the door behind him and started down the hallway.

He was about halfway to the Hall when he heard the faint sounds of music.

“They couldn’t have hired musicians for so few, could they?”

Increasingly nervous Robert pulled open the doors to the room’s second floor balcony and stepped out.

The Grand Hall was full.

Every chair had someone in it, and the stage was covered in musicians. The tables were just beginning to be laden down with food as the cooks and waiters served the guests.

Evidently he was late, but late to what?

“His Royal Majesty, the Crown Prince of Destria, Robert Marlan Destral”

As the steward announced him the crowd turned as one to look at him. He could see more than a few women with open looks of ambition or lust on their faces. And then the wave of thunderous applause hit him.

He almost wilted before it, almost turned and fled back to his room tearing off the ridiculous outfit as he went.

Almost.

Instead he forced himself to smile through the confusion and terror and step forwards to the railing. He raised his hand and waved, looking around trying to guess how many people there might be.

The Hall was full, so close to a hundred and fifty maybe? Maybe more?

Making a decision he motioned for quiet. As everyone hurried to obey the sudden silence left the room echoing.

“Welcome everyone. I must say, I’m surprised to see you all”

Polite laughter greeted what they thought was a jest.

“I am overjoyed that so many of you could make it tonight for this wonderful event. I would just like to say that it is with great pleasure that I welcome you to Castle Destria, and that I hope you all enjoy this splendid meal prepared by our cooks!”

As the crowd began to applaud again he descended the curving staircase, looking to make sure that his parents were already seated at their table.

They were, but his usual seat was filled.

Looking around he noticed that most of the seats were filled. However, there was one seat open at each table. Each of those seats had a waiter standing behind it, carefully not watching him but keeping their eyes on him.

He knew what was expected of him and refused to be coerced.

“Mother. Father. This dinner is an unexpected surprise”

“Ah then dear, you will just love the ball that is to follow”

His Mother turned in her seat to send him a warning glare. There were after all other people nearby. Well, damn etiquette and protocol. He had lived so free from their machinations the past month, he had nearly been independent. He would not lose that now. If they wanted to play dirty like this then he had no reason to follow their rules either.

“Mother, you seem to misunderstand. I said it was a surprise, not that it was one I enjoyed”

His Father turned as well.

“Son. It would do to talk quietly now so as not to disturb the other diners. I suppose you wish an explanation?”

“What I wish is that the dinner guests leave immediately leaving behind the three ladies you said I was to entertain this week.

“However, that would be rude to send them out now, so I will settle for an explanation”

“Dear Robert. Did we ever say that you would only be meeting three women tonight?”

“You said I would spend the week entertaining three women Mother. Three, not thirty three”

“Oh no, there are not that many women here tonight who are interested in you. But we did not lie. You will only entertain three women this week, and you will meet them all tonight. It just so happens that you will also meet many other women this night who you will entertain in the future. In this way we have not lied, we just did not tell you the whole truth. I am sure that you appreciate the difference. If we had told you that we were hosting a dinner and ball you would have refused”

“And so you lied and tricked me, breaking the spirit if not the word of our agreement”

“Son. It is what we do as your parents. It is our right. Now, your Mother and I have explained ourselves and tire of this argument. You will now go to the first seat of the evening. Each of the tables where you have a seat have three different ladies you will meet at.

“When one course finishes your waiter will instruct you which table you are to move to next. You will only visit a few tables tonight, the ones with the women who you are to meet. You will decide which three you want to entertain this week. Next week we shall host another dinner and you shall decide again which three you wish to entertain throughout the week. There may be new women, and there will also be women from tonight. We will continue like this for a month, and then we shall return to a month of your studies. If you wish you may resume your studies in the mornings, for as much time as you wish”

“That was not our agreement!”

“We have altered the deal. Now, take your seat son”

Unable to argue any more Robert turned and walked to the table they had indicated, trying to keep a pleasant expression on his face.

They were forcing him into this, which they would regret, but he would do his best to be pleasant and choose the three ladies he liked the best to entertain.

“Prince Robert!”

He turned and saw a young woman, perhaps no more than thirteen, hurrying towards him.

“Prince Robert, I cannot believe that it is you! You are so much more handsome than the stories say!”

She bobbed a quick curtsy and smiled up at him. There was nothing shy about her at all. Her blonde hair was braided down her back and she had sea-green eyes.

“Thank you” Reflexes kicked in overruling his surprise at being flattered by the teenager “And since I have not yet had the pleasure of hearing your name let it suffice to say that your beauty far outshines the sunrise or a flower opening of a spring morning”

“Lady Marie Angel. Of House Angel”

House Angel. They were known for being on the far side of Destria right by the sea but still in the mountains. Their territory produced the best wines and fruits as they had lush valleys that had room for both housing and farming. They had taken their name from the Angelbirds that were only found in their domain, the beautiful white birds that always flew with the dawn, sometimes appearing to bring the dawn with them.

“Well Lady Marie, it is a pleasure to meet you. I do not mean to be rude, but I was just on my way to a table to start eating…”

“Oh, thats fine, you can come eat with us then! There is a free chair at our table that I think they were saving for you anyways”

He could mess up his parents order and follow Marie or he could be less annoying to the servants and follow the plan which might embarrass or insult Marie. Neither option was particularly enjoyable.

Robert didn’t want to make more work for the servants, but did not want to insult Marie. He had to make a decision, and quickly, before she noticed his delay.

And then his chance to make a decision was forever denied as someone tapped him on the shoulder.

Turning he almost smacked into a curtsying woman.

“My Liege. My name is Natasi Inari. I am from the mainland, and the equivalent of one of your duchesses. Would you care to eat with me now and perhaps again with me later?”

She had long dark hair and the dark olive skin of those on the most western provinces. Her eyes were beautiful and enchanting brown orbs.

And she was being very improper if he understood her correctly.

Feeling his face redden he did not have a chance to get out a reply before every woman in the room who hoped to attract his attention swarmed him.

He finally made it to Marie’s table for the dessert course. He had met so many women with so many names that he was having trouble keeping track of who was who and what they all looked like.

He was not looking forwards to meeting new people, and so was pleasantly surprised to find that he already knew several of the people at the table.

“Hello Prince. I see you’ve met my cousin!”

Andrew Angel, a Sigiled Knight-in-training, sat beside Marie. He had spent some time in the Castle’s garrison learning bladework from the soldiers and Sketching from Master Turendel.

“I have indeed Andrew! Hello again Marie, how has dinner been? I’m sorry that I haven’t had a chance to get here before now”

“Do not apologize Prince. It was not my place to request that you sit with us since that would disrupt the schedule”

“Yes, but did you know that there was a schedule or what it was? I didn’t even know what it was, so there is no need to feel guilty”

She immediately perked up thanked him as he turned to the other guests.

“Knight Williams. It is a pleasure to see you again. What brings you so far from the Fortress’ garrison?”

Williams was a soldier in the garrison of the Great War Fortress, the single greatest military asset of all time. He was sitting next to a woman Robert’s own age who looked down at her food, cascades of brown hair concealing her face for the moment.

The Great War Fortress was a massive flying structure much like Castle Destria. Kept aloft by Permanancied Sigils of Air it served as the last line of defense and first line of attack for the kingdom.

Being able to have a mobile fortress had won them many wars, as the soldiers could remain safe and rain arrows and rocks down on opposing armies without fear of retribution. It was currently inactive atop a nearby mountain since there was not a war on. It was manned by a garrison of soldiers ready to defend the mighty Fortress from any attempts to steal it, not that those would be likely. The mountain was inaccessible from land, and so the soldiers could only be resupplied through Castle Destria or one of the floating Border Towers which rarely strayed this far in.

Robert had met Williams when he snuck over to explore. Williams had been the one who had finally found the mischievous boy and his newfound friend.

“Business and pleasure Prince. The Captain needed missives delivered, and he also needed me to protect something very important on the way here. I was told that I should stay for the dinner and return when events permitted”

“Well, thats lucky for you. But, I apologize. Where are my manners? I have not yet asked the names of those I don’t know” He addressed the woman next to Williams “Fair lady, what is your name?”

“If you’ll pardon my rudeness my lord, you already know my name, although it seems you may forget it”

Marie and the other woman gasped at the rude words, but Robert was too busy trying to remember the voice.

“My lady, I seem to remember your voice, but I cannot place it. Perhaps if I saw your face I would be able to match a name to it?”

Williams quickly hid a smirk behind his hand, but Robert noticed.

“What is it Williams?

“Prince. The lady you are talking to is who I had to protect on the way here”

It took a moment for Williams’ words to register, and then comprehension dawned on Robert’s face to be quickly chased by surprise.

Turning he stared at the widely grinning woman who had finally raised her face.

“Madison! What are you doing here?”

Madison Amery was the daughter of Tyler Amery, the Lord-Knight Captain in charge of the Great War Fortresses’ garrison. Robert had first met Madison when he was a child and had snuck into the Fortress to explore. It had not been long before he had found the only other child aboard. Together they had struck up a friendship and explored the Fortress together until guards found the missing Prince and dragged him back to the Castle.

His parents had realized then that a friend may be good for him and that the Fortress was no place for a young woman to be raised. Tyler had agreed that Madison would be fostered in Castle Destria for a time so that both she and Robert could have a friend.

While they had been close friends for several years Robert’s parents eventually decided that he should also make male friends and arranged to have him fostered with the Royal Family of Dunesain on the mainland.

When it had been Matios’ turn to live in Castle Destria Robert had been excited to introduce his two best friends to each other. However, upon their return Madison was nowhere to be found, and his parents would only say that she ‘had had to go away’.

He had not seen her since that day, but had never forgotten his first friend.

She looked much different now. Her long brown hair was no longer tangled and shone in the candlelight. Her button nose now matched a well shaped face that held kind and joy filled eyes.

“Prince Robert. How long has it been?”

“Years. Ten? No, its been eleven now hasn’t it?”

“Yes. Too long. My father decided that this would be as good a time as any for us to see each other again. We would have an excuse to meet, and so nobody would think to spread rumours. Even then he did not want to let me come, until I told him that this was my birthday request”

“Madison…when was your birthday?”

“Tomorrow my lord”

“Madison! You should have used a birthday request just to come and see me! You could have written a letter or something, I’d have come and visited you! You’re my oldest friend! Anyways, you’ll have to stay now. I can’t let you travel on your birthday! That would make me a poor friend indeed”

“Well, be that as it may, you’re being a poor host right now. Prince”

Her smirk clued him in and he turned as red as when Natasi had spoken to him.

“Ah, I’m so sorry. Is everyone waiting for me to start eating?”

“And also to resume their conversations” Andrew gestured around at the silent Hall “They’ve been watching us the entire time”

“Oh”

Robert did not need to turn to know that his parents were glaring at him again.

“Umm, yes. Right”

Hoping that people would attribute the red in his cheeks to any wine he may have had and knowing they would not he raised his glass.

“Let the dessert be served”

As waiters wheeled out the food on trays Robert turned to the last woman at the table.

“Prince. My name is Delilah Ronove. My family is a small one from the interior. We’re the stewards of a large part of the Royal Families’ holdings, and so own no lands ourselves. I’ll let you talk to your friend. I am also not interested in marriage, as I plan to become a Sigiled Knight and they are not allowed marriage. However, my parents insisted that I at last meet with you in hopes that you can change my mind”

Robert took a moment to think about all the women that he had met so far that evening.

The three at this table seemed the least competitive, the least annoying, and the most refreshing.

He was not romantically interested in any of them, but that was fine. He would enjoy catching up with Madison, would be able to talk about Sketching with Delilah, and found Marie too happy and friendly to ignore.

And, spending the first week entertaining women who he had no romantic inclinations towards would be a wonderful revenge on his parents.

He had made his decision; now he just had to last through the rest of the dinner.

Sigilian 4

Tomas climbed up onto the main deck. The voyage was almost over. Soon they would land on Destria and he would have to make his own way from there.

Once he got to the town of Hamelford his betrothed’s family would have a carriage waiting for him, but until then he would be on his own.

He was beginning to appreciate how useful Dania’s gift would be. Right now it was safely bellowdecks away from the spray, but once he disembarked it would be by his side always.

Pulling up his hood against the wind and water he walked to the prow. Below the boat crashed through the waves as the crew tried to outrace the storm that was following them.

One thing or another, this whole voyage. First they had been delayed leaving the harbour, then there had been a small storm that forced them to lower the sails and ride it out, and now this one that they had to go even further off course to avoid.

Why was it that whenever someone went on a sea voyage they were delayed? Was it really so difficult to go from one port to another without mishap?

Frustrated at the delay and frustrated at being unable to do anything Tomas began to Sketch. He didn’t really care what it was he was doing, didn’t even notice until he suddenly felt the surging energy of having Completed.

“Ah. That was not intentional”

They quickly left the Sigilian far behind as the boat banked and raced, but distance did not affect the strength of the Sketch.

He may as well use it now that he had Sketched it.

Spinning on his heel he leapt the distance to the nearest crewman.

“Is there anything I can do to help? At the moment I’ve the strength of ten men, and can react faster than any normal person!”

The crewman stared for a moment then muttered something about ‘damned Sketchers’.

“Yah! Go talk to the first mate, he’ll give you a line to hold or something! Or who knows, maybe you’ll even get to crank the wheel!”

“Of course!”

Tomas waited until the ship was fairly level before leaping again, bouncing from his position near the bow to the bottom of the stairs, and then up to next to the mate.

“Sir, a crewman told me to talk to you if I wanted to help! I’ve got the strength of ten men and speed to match for as long a time. What do you need to me do?”

The first mate just nodded and pointed at two crewmen struggling with a line.

“Go help those two! That’ll free one up to do something else, and the other will be able to call out to you what to do. Listen to him, ok? And if you lose your concentration and that rope goes flying we’re going to be in a very bad position, so don’t! I’m assuming that in offering you trust that you’ll be able to stay in the State even if the storm catches us?”

“I am not sure about if the storm catches us, but until then I’ll help as much as I can! Thank you sir!”

This time Tomas ran along the increasingly slick decks. He didn’t want to end up skidding into something at the end of a jump, but using the rail as a guideline while running removed that risk.

This time, he would be helpful. He would get there in time, and he would do what was needed. He wouldn’t be useless anymore!

Throwing his carryall over his shoulder Tomas hurried down the gangplank. His trunk and other bag were already on the dockside waiting.

“Thank you Tomas. During the storm you were a lifesaver”

“It’s my pleasure Captain. I’m just glad we managed to make up lost time afterwards”

“As am I. Good luck on your trip. We’ll watch your luggage here until you can find yourself a carriage”

“Thank you”

He walked the length of the dock and paused to look at the city.

Belnar had been built on the beach, which was by its nature flat. However, according to his sister’s book, the Duke had wanted to be able to look down on the citizens. So he had commissioned a massive tower to be added to his home, taller even than the lighthouse.

Not to be outdone the merchants, lesser lords, and wealthy landowners had all commissioned towers for their own homes.

Unfortunately everyone had wanted to have the tallest tower resulting in a constant competition of construction.

To support the taller towers there needed to be many supports. The best way to make supports was to build buttresses from the nearby towers.

However, nobody would help someone build their own tower taller, and so a new plan had been devised. The wealthy would spread out as much as possible so as to have a large distance between them and the next tall tower. On each neighbouring house a tower would be built to support their own tower.

However, as the main towers got taller the support towers needed to grow taller, and so needed their own support towers.

The result was a ridiculous network of teetering spires ringed by staircases or ladders, connected together by a webbing of scaffolding and beams. Workers leapt from one to the next forever shoring up one thing or another to stop collapses while the people below looked up every third step, afraid of debris falling on their heads.

Tomas spotted a sign post with listings of caravans and carriages. Perfect.

He took his first few steps towards and breathed in deeply, missing the smell of the town of Berna. He instantly regretted it.

“If this is what all of Destria smells like, I’m going to need a pair of noseplugs”

“What was that foreigner? You from Lomwar here to look down on us?”

Tomas knew he should walk on and ignore the taunt but instead turned.

“Sorry, are you talking to me?”

Three roofworkers on their break got up from where they were seated on a barrel and sauntered over.

“Yah, lordling, we were. You think just because you’re better than us you can condescend? Just because you’re from Lomwar or some other stupid place you can talk about our city like its not worth a thing? You’ve got another thing coming buddy”

Tomas sized them up. They were ambling closer, taking their time. If he could put some distance between them then he could Sketch and solve everything, but otherwise he would be out of luck.

“Ah, gentlemen, I don’t want a fight. Really, I don’t. And I didn’t mean any offense to your city. I’ve lived in the country most of my life, my family are farmers, and I’m here in Destria to pursue a career as a scribe, and I’d never been in a port before, I rowed out to the boat as it passed by. My family saved up to buy some stylish clothes so that I would fit in, but I think we may have gotten the wrong kind…”

He trailed off as he saw that the lie was failing to placate the brutes.

“I uhh I think perhaps we can solve this in a more friendly way maybe? I could buy you all a drink?”

“Or outlander we could rough you up and buy ourselves drinks with your coin. Whaddya you boys think?”

With a chorus of ‘yah’s the other two drew short clubs from inside their jackets and stepped forwards, trying to box Tomas in.

“Ah, well, I think that, as fun as this is, I had better be going now and let me just umm, yes, really, no the clubs aren’t necessary, I don’t want to be hurt!”

Genuinely terrified Tomas turned and darted around a startled man, between two workers, and leaped over a cart. Terror forcing his mind into the State out of habit he left after images of the Basic behind him every step of the way.

Behind he heard shouting first in anger and frustration and then in fear, but he didn’t turn to look. There were a few crashes, and thunderous bang, but he didn’t stop, just ran, ran, terrified of being hurt, terrified that they would beat him within an inch of his life and leave him bleeding out and then he would not only be too badly hurt to do anything and maybe die but then he’d also fail his family and never see them again, and he had to move now.

Tearing around a corner he skidded to a stop in front of several guards.

“Why are you running?”

“A group of thugs threatened to rob me, so I tried to outrun them”

“Did you provoke them?”

“Not at all, I merely said that the city looked interesting and they took that as an excuse, realising I was a foreigner”

Never settle for a lie when a half truth will do. And then follow up with a distraction…

“Do you by any chance know where I could hire a coach, or find a wagon train going to” he pulled a scrap of paper from his pocket and pretended to check it “Hamelford?”

The guards looked at each other and shook their heads.

“Look stranger. You’re probably lying about something here. Likely you insulted the men, or the city in some way. We don’t care, just don’t start trouble. And since you’ll be wanting to avoid the signpost back the way you came you’ll have to go ahead. I think the best place to go is Darben’s. He’s a merchant who has trade interests up that way. His warehouse and shop are up the street on the left. Hard to miss. Now stay out of trouble”

They moved aside to let him by and Tomas could feel their eyes on him for the rest of the block as he made his way to the warehouse.

He hadn’t been able to tell if they were lying or steering him wrong, and he hadn’t sensed any ill will or malice, so he could probably trust their directions.

Stopping across from it he surveyed the building.

Big, blocky with a smaller block in front it had a huge spire on top of it. That spire was the local focus of the spiderweb above him. The front store was a smaller block sticking out of the larger one. Its roof was a base for ladders and scaffolding going up, and also served as a convenient holder for the slightly lopsided sign that proclaimed the building as “Darben’s Deals”.

He pushed through traffic and stepped inside.

A large man stood behind the counter at the far end of the room. Spotting Tomas he waved.

“Hello there! Are you here to buy, or here to hire a carriage?”

“The carriage, or, if its an option I’d like to sign on with a caravan heading to Hamelford, if there is one that will get there in ten days. I have some more luggage, a sea trunk and bag, but I can fight well enough and can also pay if need be”

The man looked at Tomas’ skinny frame and complete lack of muscles.

“You can fight well? What, if you stab someone in the back? No offense intended sir”

“None taken. I am a Sketcher, and use my Sigil to fight. I hope you don’t have any issues with that?”

“Issues? With having a Sketcher guard my caravan? None at all! You’re hired. I’ll want to see some proof that you’re actually able to do what you say, but if so you’ll have free passage and a place for your luggage. You don’t have one of those useless Sigils do you? I know a man who can make cloth move. Imagine how useless that is for guarding a caravan?”

“Very?”

“Thats right. I’m Darben by the way. Nice to meet you…?”

“Tomas Bern”

“Master Bern, it is my pleasure to meet you! I look forwards to a long and hopefully prosperous partnership, or if you don’t have any need to travel with my caravans again, at least a safe and quick trip!”

“I can agree to that”

The two shook hands before Tomas left with a few porters. He led them back down to the docks, careful to check for the roofworkers before rounding the corner.

As they shouldered his luggage and he thanked the boat captain one last time he never noticed the cloaked figure with the red scarf watching him from the scaffolding above.

Sigilian 3

Robert’s days had become a steady progression of the same thing.

But that was not a bad thing. Each morning we would wake up early and begin his lessons. Once his parents awoke he would eat breakfast with them and then continue his lessons until mid afternoon. He would then stop and read in the library until dinner with his parents, and then read until his time was up.

Then he would go to sleep and repeat his actions the next day.

While it was tedious it also had a nice rhythm to it. Each day he knew exactly how he would spend his time, or at least, the kinds of things he would spend it doing.

And his lessons were actually turning out to be rewarding. Learning statecraft reassured him that he would not fail, practicing riding in the valleys below helped him gain confidence in his own skills, practising his swordwork reminded him of the duties of others that were more dangerous than his own.

But by far the best lessons were about Sketching. Sketching and Sigils. He would walk into the dusty loft and sit waiting for William Turendel, his teacher, to arrive.

While waiting he would look at the Sigils marked on the walls in gold paint and practice entering the State.

Then Master Turendel would enter and begin to run him through his paces, trying to distract him, make him fail the state, attempting to interrupt him while he was Sketching, having him Sketch increasingly difficult patterns.

And the entire time he would discuss the theory, or the history of Sigils.

“Young master, you may think you have mastered this Sigil, but what if you are in a duel and then man in front of you attempts to Complete his Sigilian, draw out each and every Sigil in order to gain all their powers and more. Do you try and Complete your own Sigilian, do you try and Finish the Sigil you are working on, or do you continue to Sketch what you were originally going to?”

“I would not Complete because my Sigilian will be larger than his and I am not a fast Sketcher. Depending on if I knew how big his Sigilian was or not I would, if I had time, Finish the Sigil for Air and use it to knock him off his feet and disrupt his Sketching”

“Which would cause him to feel the feedback and, since he was trying to Complete that feedback would likely force him out of the State”

“Yes. If I didn’t know how much time I had I would Sketch a simpler Sigil, perhaps Fire or Duplication and attempt to use whatever powers I could Sketch in time to disrupt his own Sketching”

Master Turendel would nod and lunge to knock Robert’s hands wide to ruin his Sketching.

“Correct. If an opponent is attempting to Complete or Finish and you do not have time to do the same you should always attempt to ruin his Sketching. It is the safest approach, and while it is frowned on in some circles where they believe that a duel of Sketchers should set the strength of ones Sigils against the strength of the others, it is still an accepted move. Now then, I want you to Sketch the Sigil for air with your left hand while you copy this down with your right”

And he would turn and begin to scrawl notes on his chalkboard while Robert struggled to follow his instructions. And while the lessons were sometimes frustrating and always difficult he was really enjoying them.

And he was going to get to sit on his own throne.

Robert finished his exercises and looked out the window.

Today was the day. He was going to be excused from his regular lessons and sit on the throne, pass judgement on the issues of the citizens of Destria who had come to him for help.

He was, as always when thinking of having real power, equal parts ecstatic and terrified.

What if he failed? What if he said the wrong things? What if they came to him for advice and he could not help them?

But at the same time, he would have so much power! All the power that he could ever want or need. He would be able to do whatever he liked, which also scared him.

If he could do anything, what would stop him from doing the wrong thing?

Of course, his parents were still King and Queen, still in charge of Destria. He would not be able to ruin the realm completely, and if he did make mistakes they would fix them while he learned from them.

But what if his words ruined the life of a citizen? What if a farmer had a land dispute that he ruled incorrectly on, and so the man’s family starved?

What then?

Or was he overthinking this?

It was almost too much, but he forced himself away from the window and into his chambers to get ready for breakfast. He needed to be ready when the petitioners arrived.

Robert stepped into the throne room.

A third throne sat there now, a few steps down from his parents, but still a throne.

It was simpler, as he had requested, and with no gilding, carved lion’s heads, nothing like that. The only concession to ostentation was the house Sigilian carved into the back behind his head. When he sat down it would radiate outwards, which would look gaudy and serve to remind people the level of difference between them, something he didn’t want, but his parents had demanded that there be something to remind the citizens who he was.

Half turning he looked at the rest of the room.

The balconies ringing the room, the walkways crossing overhead, the guards stationed there for his safety, halberds or crossbows at the ready.

It was almost too much. He could not see how a petitioner could come in without feeling nervous.

“Sire? There is a big group today”

“Bigger than normal Rens?”

The guard seemed a bit surprised that Robert had remembered his name, but recovered quickly.

“A bit sire. They seem to want to see if you pass judgement differently from the King and Queen. But they also want to see you sire. While all of us see you daily you make even fewer public appearances than your Royal Mother and Father”

“So they are only here to see how I measure up to my parents?”

“Not at all sire. They also have legitimate issues that they wish to bring before you”

“Well, lets not keep them waiting then”

Robert turned and took the stairs slowly.

This was it, the moment he had been waiting for almost his entire life. To sit down on the throne…on his own throne.

The wood was warm and smooth beneath his hands as he grasped the armrests. He looked down on the entire room from here. It seemed that he would even be looking down on the guards on the balconies above him once he sat down.

He had to sit. He could not keep the petitioners waiting any longer.

But his knees refused to bend, refused to let him sink down.

“Rens, send them in. I’ll sit down once they’re inside”

“Sire?”

“Just do it Rens. I’ll greet them standing, show them that much respect at least”

And while it would show them respect it would also give him another moment or two in which to steal himself.

As the doors began to swing open he composed himself and released the arm rests. It would not do to look nervous in front of the citizens.

The first few were hesitant, coming in slowly as guards filed along the front of the steps to block him from them.

The crowd almost stopped filing in when they saw Robert standing. Evidently they had not expected something like this.

“Come in ladies and gentlemen. I am sure that there are a lot of you and that you all have pressing business. The sooner we start, the sooner you can have your answers”

That seemed to break the spell and the room filled up quickly. There were people from all walks of life here, merchants, farmers, soldiers. Robert could identify some by their clothes or appearance but others were a mystery to him.

He even saw some of the dark skinned people from the mainland. Either they had been visiting the island and come to him for a ruling or to see him, or they had made a long journey indeed.

Once everyone had filed in and stopped moving Robert spoke.

“If any of you are here to observe to meet me and not to have an issue resolved I ask that you make your way to the back or edges of the room. If you have a question you wish to ask me, or a dispute to be ruled on, make your way away from the edges and back, but don’t push. I’ll get to everyone today, or if I can’t then I am sure we can find a place for you to stay for the night and I can assist you tomorrow”

There were audible gasps at that. The crown prince had invited them to stay the night should they have need of it! By the time they told their children and grandchildren this story it would be a personal request to them and them alone.

Or perhaps not. Robert really didn’t know how these people thought.

“Once you have moved to the correct area we may begin. Captain Rens, have the guards select people and escort them past the line. I’ll talk to them face to face, not try to make them out in a crowd”

He couldn’t delay any longer. As Rens organised the guards and pulled two men from the crowd he grasped the armrests again and sat down.

The throne was an uncomfortable wooden chair, flat and hard. He would not be able to get comfortable on it, which he knew was intentional; rulers should never grow too comfortable in their power.

But otherwise it felt like a normal chair. It felt no different, he felt no different.

He had not expected that, but it was how it was.

The first two men were dressed as a farmer and a merchant. Both seemed nervous, but the merchant also had an air of confidence about him.

“These two have an argument about trading. They feel that you will be able to settle it for them”

“I shall try my best. Go ahead. I’ll listen to both sides of the story before making my decision”

The merchant stepped forwards and bowed low.

“My liege. I must say that I am incredibly thankful for the honour that you have done us by standing to greet us and by offering us to stay here. It is indeed an honour to know that you care for our problems and disputes.

“Now, as to our dispute. This man has accused me of stealing from him. He found an item on his property, a fragment of pottery worked with silver and gold and a scene painted on it. He wished to sell it to me, but once I offered him a fair price for it he decided that he wanted more for it and changed his mind. I offered more, as much as I could pay him and still make a profit, and he asked for yet more, claiming that I would simply sell it to a collector and more than make back what I had paid. He told me that unless I was willing to pay the higher amount he would never sell it to me and would find someone who appreciated its worth.

“I gave up on trying to obtain it and left. The next day he returned to my shop and accused me of following him home and stealing it in the night. He claimed that his house had been broken into while he slept and that that was the only thing stolen. He reasons that I knew about it and must have wanted it badly enough to commit a crime. He brought it to the mayor, who decided that I was innocent. He continued to complain and rant so I suggested that we come to you so that you could settle the manner once and for all”

He stepped back and Robert looked to the farmer.

“Is all of this true?”

“More or less sir. I found the pottery and brought it to town wrapped in a cloth, so nobody would have been able to see it but him and the appraiser. When I unwrapped it in his shop we were the only-”

“Sorry, a moment. You took it to an appraiser?”

“Yes. Thats how I knew that he was not offering me a fair deal”

“Could the appraiser have stolen it?”

“No, he left town that afternoon”

“He was a traveling merchant?”

“Yes. He said that I was the last one he could see before he packed up”

“And since he was passing through he would give you a fairer more honest estimation?”

“Yes sir”

“I hate to say it, but I think that you may have fallen into a classic trap. He gave you a price which nobody would be willing to pay. He overvalued it greatly so that you would not be able to get rid of it.

“When he ‘left town’ he either sent someone after you or doubled back himself to follow you home. He would have been the one who stole your find, knowing that you would blame it on the merchant you went to see that day. I think that that is the only possible situation unfortunately. I don’t think we’ll be able to get the pottery back for you.

“However, that does not mean that we cannot do anything” Robert turned to the merchant “How much was the item worth by your appraisal? I would like a completely honest appraisal now, no need to bargain or try to conceal the truth. If you would prefer you may tell the captain here”

“Not at all sir. I offered him 20 crowns, which I feel is a fair price. I have no idea how long it would have sat on my shelf before a collector came by. And unless they knew what it was the most I could sell it for would be 30 crowns. If they knew what it was or when it dated to I hoped to get closer to 40 crowns. I’m just disappointed that I lost out on a chance to make a profit from this man’s greed”

“Stop. There is no need to insult your fellows. He was the one who lost more than you in this situation.

“However, you did both lose out. I am willing to write you both promissory notes for half of what you would have made, so 10 crowns and 5 crowns respectively. You can take them to the treasury later and have that amount paid out to you. My only condition is that you both warn others of this kind of scheme and help them to learn from your loss. Does that sound fair?”

The two looked at each other and then nodded almost in unison.

“It does sir. Thank you so much sir”

Robert waved for some paper and a pen and quickly wrote off two notes to the treasurer. The two would be paid, but he was not quite done yet.

As the two left the room he called over another guard. Speaking quietly he gave his orders.

“Follow the two. Make sure that they don’t fight. Then call the merchant aside and ask him if he would be able to get his hands on the piece, as I am interested in purchasing it. Make sure that you state that I’m not accusing him but that if on the off chance my guess was wrong and he had taken it I would be interested in buying. Tell him that I’m a student of history and that I find such things fascinating.

“If he says that he can get his hands on it let the farmer know that I wish to speak with him. Set him up rooms in the servants quarters and I’ll talk to him later. Let the merchant go because he will return with the mask in order to be payed. Don’t follow him. We’ll deal with him when he returns. Go, catch them up”

As the guard ran off Robert turned back to the rest of the crowd.

There were still quite a few petitioners, and there was only so much time in the day.

“Who is next?”