The Orphan Boy

Prologue

The King reigned in his horse, stopping in front of the orphanage. His guards stopped behind him. The King dismounted and stepped toward the orphanage. He had come a long ways from the capital but the child that he need was here, it would be worth it. The workers of the orphanage were all down on their knees in front of him.

"Rise." He commanded but not ungently. All of them got to their feet but respectfully had their gaze trained at the ground. He took another step forward. "Who is in charge of this orphanage?" He asked. A grey haired lady stepped forward. "Bring out the children and line them up, I am looking for one in particular."

"As you wish, m'lord." She said humbly and turned and motioned for the others to follow her inside the building.

"Your Grace." A man's voice said next him. He turned to see that one of his advisers and dearest friends had spoken. "Your Grace are you sure about this? This is an important matter. You are choosing you heir. Why come to an orphanage to find a boy that will eventually sit on the throne?"

Since he had never married and had no heir of his own he had carefully considered all the children of the kingdom and chosen one to be his heir. That child was at this orphanage.

"Such little faith in your king. Have I ever been wrong before?"

"No Your Grace, but I worry."

"Don't worry, it can only ever lead to bad things." The King clapped his friend on the back and turned back toward the front of the orphanage. Children filed out the front door, many of them looked him straight in the face unlike their adult guardians. They weren't afraid, that made him smile. Once they had all lined up in front of him he slowly walked by them, considering each one.

A girl with red hair and a splash of freckles across her nose. A boy, red hair and blue eyes that held the hand of the girl, they were siblings. A boy with straw colored hair that could be no older than four. A girl with dark skin and black curly hair that had her thumb in her mouth. None were the ones he was looking for.

"Are there no others?" The King asked. The mistress stepped forward again to speak.

"There is only one other, he is only a few months old. We did not think that he would be the one you were looking for."

"Bring him out." The King instructed. A woman, fairly young, hurried inside to retrieve the child. A moment later she came out holding a child rapped in blankets. The woman brought the boy over to the King.

 This is the one. The king thought.

"Come." He said motioning to his friend. "This is the one. Tell no one else and do not tell him until he can understand. When you tell him make sure that you give him my letter. Retrieve him from this orphanage when he is twelve years old to go and live with the ???."

"Yes, Your Grace. You will be leaving then."

"Yes, but we will meet sooner than you might expect."