I was picked out of line to service the king. Apparently I was the only one within the group who had the proper education to handle the court.
No, not exactly my choice, but it sure does seem that way for the other boys as I look behind to see that all of them are glaring at me. I am the lucky one. That's what they're all thinking.
I just wish I was home. Even Father in his worst days is better than this punishment.
I know it's my fault, he always said that I was too stupid. This is what I deserve for being stupid, I guess. I wonder if I could have pretended. Father wouldn't have hated me if I pretended to like all the things that he liked.
I'm being escorted by a man with a navy coat that bunches up until his corner neck with buttons.
The chariot, with those golden side adornments, pauses right in front of us. When I go to touch the handle to open the servant, by my side hisses at me. I flinch away, realizing I might have done something.
He slaps me right across the face, "slave boys don't touch what doesn't belong to them."
My hand sank, realizing that I'm no longer of noble birth. I don't get to touch pretty things anymore.
I dropped my head in deference. He opened it to reveal a man with gray hair with a silver crown on top of his head, the king.
I bowed in defiance. I could see from the corner of my eye the side of the king's mouth corking up. He did the motioning so I could rise. "Your majesty, it is an honor."
I asked the little bit of demand in his tone, "What is your name, boy?"
My mouth opened to say my full name, but then I remembered that I don't own a last name now. My father disowned me, so I do not have a last name anymore. I glop down, "Taj, Tajiri. Your majesty."
His smile was predatory not a friendly one I wanted to stagger back but I stayed still "I bought you to entertain my court."
Something about the statement was all-consuming. Of something that I did not know that I was still holding on to, and as fast as it kindled down, it wasted away as soon as he continued. "You will be bound by the laws of my country, not yours. And should I see fit, your life is mine to cast away. I will not tolerate ill-fitted behavior of mongrels. Should you act like one, you will be whipped.
You will have only one job, and one job only. And that will be to entertain us."
There was no question, but I still nodded. still not looking him in the eye, but I could feel his smile
His hand possessively touched my shoulder, moving it towards the side of the carriage, and I finally had a full view of his eyes.
Cold steel, and I nearly shivered from its grip on my soul. I felt uneasy under such scrutiny as that. I looked away, seeing the carriage move towards the upper mountain when I finally had a full view of the palace.
I knew Malp was a wealthy country, but I did not know that the palace was this grand.
I expected the king to guide me into the servants' quarters or some sort of work stage, but he took me into a hill protruding a smaller building. Compared to the monstrous size of the palace it looks like a mansion.
I followed him three steps behind, but I couldn't help but let my eyes drink in the site. I always liked puzzles, but this structure fumbled me. Clearly the chalk was a mountain, but the stairs were man-made. The stone columns supporting the building were supporting an entire garden on top of it, with waterfalls falling from different directions, never falling into my path but making a small wall of water between me and the slope.
We were surrounded by wildlife. The plants were carefully cut into the perfect shape, never overflowing to block someone's path. It was as if the mansion and nature decided to be one.
A grapevine was acting as a door, the king brushed away the leaves to look into the room. Apparently it had what he was looking for because he entered in. I did not want to follow unless he told me to since it is not proper, but he seemed more preoccupied with whatever it was in the garden.
Under a small palm tree, a young girl sat with a book in her hand, completely drawn in with whatever was in it. She looked about my age.
"Hello there."