WHY DOES Kieser want the photo back? How did he even know I had it? I was sitting at the little table, wondering why in the kingdom of Kemar Kieser wanted that picture back. It was just a picture! I questioned Kieser’s decisions just as much as I did my previous decisions. I was still perplexed that he even knew I had the photo! My thoughts went wild thinking of why Kieser could possibly want a dusty old picture. I memorized the picture and went to sleep. It had now been days since Kieser had sent me the note. When I got there, I stepped through the door, and to the photo book. It was in the same place I had left it, half open to a page solely of stone walls, and tapestries once hanging in the huge school. I heard a click, and the lights flashed on. I whipped around to find Kieser standing there, looking uncommonly regal in a deep purple suit with a fur cape draped around his shoulders. “Javernick,” I nodded in return, too stunned for words. “You’re here to return the photograph, aren’t you?” “Yes, High Master.” “Good, you’ve learned manners since I saw you last, Vigilius.” “What? I don’t know what you’re saying.” I said innocently. My face gave me away. “Yes you do.” I assumed my best serious face. “Kieser, I forbid you to speak of this to anyone.” “Anyone? Even, one who already knows?” he unlocked the door and flung it open. “Hello, Prince,” Peter said in the doorway. “So this is why you wanted to be friends,” I hissed. “You are nothing!” “Clever of me, eh?” “You jerk! You don’t deserve Hana at all!” “Do I? With this prize money, I’ll be rich.” I shouted angry insults at him, bitterly stomping out of the room. They couldn’t get me yet, they had to convince my father that they had found the real Vigilius. I suddenly had an idea. I rushed to find Braden to put this plan into action. I found him in the kitchen, scouring a pot that just wouldn’t cleanse. “Braden!” I hollered at him through his stubborn humming.
Read ^ first! -------------------------------------------------------------------- “Bert?” “I need your help!” “With what, lad?” I glanced at Fiona, standing straight through the doorway. “I can’t tell you here,” I whispered. “What are you young poppets doin’ in thar?” She called. My eyebrows furrowed. Will everyone stop calling me “poppet?” “All right, I’ll meet you in your room.” Braden whispered back, not bothering to answer Fiona. I nodded. “Do you even know where my room is?” “Once you’re up the stairs, go right doon the hallway and your room is the second-to-last door.” “How did you know that?” “Ach, just a lucky guess.” He winked at me. I gave him a serious look. “Fine, Zarola told me.” I rolled my eyes. “Ten minutes,” Braden nodded. Braden was late. A whole five minutes late. We could’ve been discussing my plans by now! “Come in,” I said when he knocked on the door. “What did yeh need to tell me, lad?” “I…” I couldn’t bring myself to do it! He would think me crazy, and never be my friend again. “Yeh can tell me, lad.” “I-” “Yoo are wearing pink pajamas and your name is Jonny McMoor?” “What?” “Just a nightmare I had,” “I still don’t understand.” “Ach, no matter. Continue.” “I am…” Stop stalling! “I am… uh… the prince.” Braden rolled his eyes. “Are yeh goin’ mad?” I shook my head, and took out of my pocket the ring. Braden’s eyes went wide. “My prince,” he said, bowing. “Yes, um… well, at ease.” I was fumbling for words. I didn’t know how to respond to a friend bowing to me. He straightened, keeping a grim face. “What do yeh want a lowly servant like me for, yehr highness?” I shuddered. “Don’t… call me that.” “What do I call yeh then?” “Louie. Plain old Louie. No need for formalities.” “Louie?” I nodded. “Nah, can’t do it.” “Can’t do what?” “Call yeh Louie,” “What will you call me then?” “Bert,” “Fine, but you have to learn to call me Louie some time or another.” Braden nodded. “What do yoo want me for?” “You look kind of like me, right?” “Sort of,” “Don’t lie. I’m your friend, not your ruler.” “No. Not at all.” I glanced at his red hair and green eyes. “Nope! We’ll just have to think of something else.” “‘Ey what do yeh mean?” “Peter knows who I am.” “You mean that twit who wants your Hana?” “Yes, but she’s… not mine.” “Of course she is! She loves yoo!” “No, no. She doesn’t.” “Ach, whatever yeh say.” The plan is to sneak up and rob Peter of ALL his prize money, then we split the sum and go to prison and set ALL the prisoners free. We’ll have a prison break! Then Hana will see how brave we were, but especially me, and then she’ll love me, then she’ll look at Peter who lost ALL his prize money and say, “Oh Peter! How could you lose one thousand Rona?! Even Loui-I mean Bert doesn’t lose that much money!” Then Happily Ever After! I thought. If only that plan would actually work. “Hm…” “Hm what?” “Get coals. Lots of them. I want to try something.” Braden nodded and ran out of the room to get coals from the fireplace down the hall. When he returned, his hands were black from soot, but they were full of coals. “Excellent,” I praised him. “Now to crush them up to make a sort of powder.” I reached for the coals but Braden pulled them back. “Royalty is royalty,” said he. “No matter if they are friends or not.” I shook my head. “Fine,” Braden nodded and grabbed a paperweight from the table and started pounding at the coals. Shortly, all that was left was dark chalky powder. “Put this in your hair,” I instructed, knowing that he would not allow me to do it. He padded the pile of powder with his fingertips and ran it through his hair. He did this several more times until it was entirely black. ----------------------------------------------------------------- At about 5.25 pages in length, this is by far the longest chapter, although *tsk* it only took me a few hours. Thank you Annelise for the part where he comes up with that funny-bunny plan that wouldn't actually ever work. >:) I DID USE IT. So, how'd you like this chapter? Are there any theories that I should be aware of? -OREO
