The Seven Souls

Chapter 14 (Bruce)

"What do you mean, he doesn't want to be cured?" Gabe asked. "I mean, the answer to all our problems is right in front of us. You're not going to take it?"

Why was he saying this? Didn't he know that speaking out against the king is illegal?

"You don't think I know what I want?" King Fabricio stood up. "Not only are you a commoner, you're just a teenager. You have no idea what the origin of that spell is."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Gabe said in a bored tone. "Made by Prince Lucien. Really bad guy. Tried to take the throne. I've heard it a hundred times before. He saved Kospolgina with this spell. What's the problem with using it again?"

"I really wouldn't say that if I were you," I tried to tell him.

"Oh, so it's illegal to speak truth to power?" Gabe asked.

"As a matter of fact, yes, it is," I answered.

The king turned back towards me. "I didn't say you could speak."

I took a step back. Did he just shut me up? I mean, he's the king, and he can do whatever he wants, but it still felt like a punch to the chest.

He continued to speak to Gabe. "But I know why he created the spell, and I can't have it used on me knowing his motivations. I had the spells cast on me to prevent the black tar from killing me or spreading because if I used a spell used by a usurper, I would forever be condemned as a traitor to Kospolgina."

"So...what do you want us to do?" Gabe asked.

The king sighed. "I've already had one person try to kill me, and now I've had another try to cure me with an illicit spell. I just want to be left alone. I am fine, and this hysteria caused by my son needs to stop."

"Your son knows what he saw," Gabe told him. "We've told him about the spells, and he thinks they're wearing off. If you really want to be fine, maybe talk with that same magician who cast those spells on you seven years ago, and see if he can get them renewed or something."

The king bent down and sneered at Gabe. "Fine. I'll follow your suggestion, but make no mistake, he'll find nothing wrong with these spells." He turned and began walking back to his throne.

"You got it, big guy," Gabe said.

The king glared at him. "Talk to me like that again, and I'll have you thrown out."

Gabe shrugged. "Hey, at least you're not doing worse." He turned and walked out the door.

Jeanelle and I followed him. Now that we were through the doors, I could finally talk. "What was that all about?! That is no way to talk to a king!"

Gabe shrugged. "This is just how Gabe talks. Can't you just deal with that?"

"This isn't about me dealing with that. It's about him dealing with that! You're lucky he only threatened to throw you out. In ancient times, you would have been executed."

"Yeah, and it isn't ancient times anymore. Now, we have decent kings who only throw people out. The ones who executed people and attempted to usurp thrones are long dead."

"Don't you dare make this about Prince Lucien."

"Oh, I think I will. You were all for this spell until the king told you not to use it, you sellout."

I scoffed. "Sellout?! Am I a sellout for being a good citizen to Kospolgina?"

"Bruce is right," Jeanelle interjected. "The king told us to leave him alone, but what if we came up with a solution that didn't involve him like, say, inoculating the people of Kospolgina?"