My Multicolored Cloak

The Court Jester

Dimentio endured a three-day voyage on a spacious vessel. Nastasia had failed to disclose the length of the journey, so he had not anticipated traveling across the sea. The turbulent waves made him seasick and left him feeling sore all over. Every time he tried to sleep, the creaking of the wooden boards and the sound of the waves crashing against the ship's hull kept him awake. At the beginning of the journey, he was feeling nervous about arriving at his new home, but as the days passed, he began to dread the thought of being on the boat any longer. He spent most of his time in his cabin, trying to keep his stomach from revolting. As he lay in his bunk, feeling miserable and alone, he thought about what he had left behind. His old life, his family, his home. Everything he had known was gone now, replaced by an uncertain future.

Although, when that uncertain future finally came, the nerves came flooding back with a vengeance. 

Dimentio gazed out at the darkened kingdom, shrouded in an eerie silence. The buildings loomed over him like ominous sentinels, their darkened windows reflecting the orange glow of the rivers below. The water's color reminded him of Seymour's hair, but there was nothing playful or amusing about it. It was an unsettling sight, and he could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. He tried to shake off the feelings of terror, but the tension in the air was palpable. Nastasia, who usually maintained a calm demeanor, was growing increasingly uneasy as well, which didn't help his current state. Dimentio could see the worry etched into her face. It was as if they were walking into a trap, and they both knew it. 

As they got off the ship and walked through the darkened streets, Dimentio couldn't help but feel like they were being watched. He could hear whispers in the darkness, the sound of footsteps echoing through the empty streets.

The palace loomed before them, an imposing structure of blackened stone that seemed to stretch up toward the sky. As they walked through the massive doors, Dimentio couldn't help but feel a sense of terror and discomfort. Nastasia led him down a labyrinth of twisting hallways, their footsteps echoing through the empty corridors. Finally, they arrived at the throne room, a cavernous space filled with portraits of the king that loomed over them, each one depicting the king in a different pose. He was a short, plump man with ghost-white hair, his deep purple eyes staring out from the canvas like something out of a horror movie. The crown atop his head seemed much too small for his massive head, and it glinted in the flickering light of the torches that lined the walls.

Dimentio shuddered as he looked at the portraits, feeling as if the eyes of the king were following him around the room. He couldn't help but wonder what sort of man would commission such a collection of images, and what sort of kingdom he ruled over.  

Then, they approached the King himself, sitting on his large throne.

"Bow," Nastasia hissed as she got down to her knees. Dimentio stilled for a second, allowing her request to process. He had never bowed to anyone before but now was not the time for him to argue. He did as he said and mimicked her actions. 

The king nodded down at him, then stepped off his throne and walked closer to Dimentio, which made the new jester's heartrate start to accelerate in fear. As the king drew closer, Dimentio could see his features more clearly. He appeared human. Thirty, maybe forty years old.

"This one seems decent enough," the king said, suddenly turning away. "Take him to his new room and have him fitted for his new clothes.

Nastasia nodded, then quickly turned and took Dimentio away before he could say anything else. Once they were long gone, Dimentio started flooding her with questions.

"Did I do okay? What's his name? Did I make a good impression, or is he upset with me? Will he behead me or something if I do anything wrong?"

"Yes, King Boo, yes, no, and maybe," Nastasia coldly answered before shoving him into what looked less like a room and more like a prison cell. Dimentio didn't even have time to laugh about the slightly silly name. Who names their child Boo?