The Poison Prince

Chapter III

THE seer was always smuggled into the castle using servant staircases. Still, Julius always felt the sweat building on his brow as he looked out for guards or maids who might be coming their way. It was crucial that no one ever noticed the seer's presence at the castle when Prince Taiden summoned him; they had no way of explaining why the heir would want an all knowing monk in his chambers. Julius just knew he would be dismissed and then there was no knowing what the Prince might resort to in order to find the answers he sought. No one could see the blind monk being guided through the stone hallways, or up the winding staircases; there were already enough rumours circulating about the prince and by his hand there would not be any more.

"Come, hurry," Julius could feel his heart pounding beneath the armour emblazoned with the royal crest. It didn't matter how many times he did this, he always felt panicked.

The monk, his eyes white as the winters first snow fall, did not make any attempt to move quicker. A cracked smile pulled at his thin lips and he reached for the iron handrail as his foot tapped against the first of many steps. "Do not fret, Captain. We will not be seen."

"Your words may convince the Prince, but I have no faith in prophecies or magicks." Julius kept his voice low, ever feared of being overheard by some passing servant.

"That lack of belief could be your undoing."

Julius glared at the hunched shoulders of the old man. He would not be tricked by a blind man sentenced to the monastery for claiming to know things he should not. People still turned to him for selfish guidance though and he seemed happy enough to give them answers, be them what they wanted to hear or not. Apparently that was how he had lost his eyesight many years ago. A wealthy merchant had visited him to hear of his future, disliked the fortune he received and blinded the seer with a hot poker pulled from the fire. The merchant supposedly perished on his way back to one of the kingdoms overseas in a storm that destroyed his ship along with many others.

Taiden was already waiting at the door to his chambers for their arrival. Forever impatient, the prince did not do well when he was supposed to have been sitting still for lessons, or following instructions. Julius had once tried to help him by telling him that he would not last a day in the royal guard, but Taiden had scoffed, telling him he didn't intend to; he just intended to command it.

"Inside, quickly. Either the mice are wearing shoes, or my step-mother has more people coming by this way for reasons unknown." Taiden made sure to lock the door and remove the key once Julius and the seer were inside.

"She is probably waiting for someone to report back on that healer..." Julius mumbled, but Taiden either didn't hear him or simply chose to ignore the words of the Captain.

Instead, he gathered the seer into a warm hug, greeting him like one would an old friend. "It is good to see you again, seer."

"Likewise, your highness. Of course, I see you slightly differently." Gesturing to his damaged eyes, he smiled a bittersweet smile and then bowed slightly in respect.

"There is no need for the formalities," Taiden shook his head and flicked his wrist. He had already changed out of royal garments into a loose fitting shirt and grey trousers not usually fit for a prince, but Taiden had never really conformed to his position as heir to the throne of Lyris. "I owe you so much for being able to come this far in my work."

"And yet your Captain is still a non-believer." Julius frowned at being spoken about as though he wasn't in the room, standing to the immediate left of the chamber door in case anyone intruded upon this secret meeting.