Phoenix

Chapter 6

   After these words eyes of everyone widened. They could just stare at prince or each other (maybe except assassins that had hard relationship with any kind of emotions). At last one of oldest mages shouted so he could be heard in all room.

   -That's ridiculous!

   Of course none of knights could ignore these words and few even louder phrases followed this.

   -Your majesty these staff waving cowards will never do anything!

   -Sit in your ivory towers!

   -With our noble wise men getting fatter and fatter with every year!

   Mages let out few gasps (mostly witches) and glared at knights with even bigger hate than always. Prince just sat there on his throne watching this scene, it letting out a sigh from time to time.

    -They will got stuck in nearest tavern!

   -One spell takes ages to them!

   -Just let them hear about nearest dragon they will kill themselves in matter of seconds!

   Then everyone started to scream so loud that nothing could be really heard. That is biggest power of these two kinds of people- insult each other in any place or situation. But nothing could last forever and when some time passed (and insulting phrases were repeated in few different versions) everyone started to calm down. And for third time in this unusual evening they stared to stare at heir to throne of kingdom. Paul looked at them as if trying to understands will they continue. When it was finally sure that now everyone wait for him to speak he stood up and glanced around.

   -I really appreciate your great mastery in poetic works but I hope that you will agree with me, we should continue now.

   No one was in real mood for jokes or any kinds of facetiae. They all just glared at wall behind and at one or other  side of prince. Nobody would dare to show any kind of disrespect to son of king. That is one of fastest ways to loose head.

   Prince looked around with almost childish mischief. Only youngest, oldest or most powerful can have this expression. Those who feel life the most but are too naive, smart or well protected to be afraid from result of their jobs.

   -I decided to do it very easy. At first... Are there any volunteers?

   Nobody made even a smallest sound only one old man at end of room coughed. Dozens of eyes looked at him for a moment, they were full with hope, fear or simple quandary. Now they all, greatest people in all lands around, were just bunch of nervous men and women that were afraid for their lives or comfortable homes and studies.

   -No one? How sad...

   Of course there wasn't any sadness in voice of throne prince. Or sarcasm. Or amusement. He just said well known fact in well known manner. Suddenly for everyone he clapped his hands.

   -Everything is very easy! One of you haves cross drawn on back of seat. I want everyone one that now is in this room to stand up and look at it.

   When everyone finally stood up and slowly leaned in to give look to backs of their chairs. Those who sat aroumd marked chair were very fast. Unlucky man was pushed into middle of room in matter of seconds. Someone let out sigh of relief. All others simply stared at him.

   Some where still in state of shock. How could someone, even prince himself, think of something as foolish as that! Giving fate of kingdom to simple fortune!

   Man that now stood in space free from chairs wasn't young. Something in his pose, eyes and face spoke of many years lived in these lands. But he couldn't be called old, power still streamed from him.

   He looked very odd. At first that was because of his snowy white hair (of course few alchemists have this hair color or even no hair). It fell on his shoulders and clear white clothing. His eyes were in very light tone maybe pale blue, maybe light gray. And second weird thing about him was rapier on his side. If he would come from paladins or any other kind of warriors that use these kinds of weapons nothing would be wrong. But sign on his chest spoke clearly. This was cleric.

   Teaching of clerics was one of needed kinds of science and magic, but mages and scientists both refused to take them under their name. So they stayed simply clerics, without real place in big parts of society and power. They had two special things. White clothing or very light tones of gray and red (red symbolized life and clothes of clerics were often in blood so it was simply useful). And they almost never had weapons or even staffs as mostly all mages, only exception was knifes and needles needed for healing.

   Prince Paul observed man for few minutes while room was filled with whispers. Everyone had only one thing in their mind, sending cleric to serious quest was equal to showing white flag. Almost literally. At last prince spoke.

   -What is your name, clerical?

   He used old word for describing his profession that had only stayed in use for aristocrats. Though sometimes they tried to shorten it too. It was just some kind of strange shortening time in all kingdoms and places.

   White haired cleric looked at his prince with slight shade of annoyance in his eyes. But when he answered his voice sounded completely calm. Maybe even too calm.

   -Kamillo, my lord.

   -Very well Kamillo. I hope you understand what rare and special chance you have. And how important it is for honor of all your profession. Get ready, you will leave Mellisort next morning.