Earth Kingdom
It was another five years before Thomas and Melissa sent Seth away for studying.
The day in spring was warm when the young 10yr old arrived at the gates to the palace on Earth. It's white pillars reached toward the sun with a glitter and a shine. Seth was perceptive in noticing the lack of noise when the gates swung open to present the gleam of gold inlaid to the palace walls. A reflecting pool shimmered and the smell of flowers was fresh in the warm air.
Seth stepped out of his carriage and shielded his eyes from the sunlight as it poured across the stone walkway. He wished his mother hadn't dressed him in his long pants and a jacket that morning. He pulled at the collar of his shirt and felt the light draft of air seep onto his chest.
"Young prince Seth?" Said a man as Seth approached the palace doors.
"Yes, sir," Seth called out and grabbed his bag from a carriage. The man hurried over and snatched the bag away from Seth.
"You should be wise in letting the servants do their job, young prince."
Seth nodded and followed the man into the palace.
"Are you to be my servant?" Seth called out as the man hurried down the long corridor.
"Heavens, no! I am just a simple porter. I'll show you to your room and your servant will be there shortly to draw you a bath. From there you will go and meet with the royal family. They have been anticipation your arrival for some time now." The man set down Seth's bag in front of two massive doors and swung them open with a grunt. "This is your room. Please make yourself at home." He set Seth's bag in the room and left quickly, shutting the doors behind him.
Seth scanned his surroundings. The room wasn't anything like he had had back home. Back home he was pampered and spoiled.
Back home, his bed was inlaid with delicate artwork and sculpting. Strewn across the ceiling was fine imported silk that lightly draped around his bed. A tiger rug was set on his floor just in front of his white brick fireplace. The windows were facing the port and he enjoyed listening to the ships set off to their destinations. Often times, when there was a breeze, the sea smells would drift into his room and set his mind racing with dreams of sailing to adventures.
In this palace, however, his room was poorly lit and faced away from the rising sun. There was no port to be seen, only the front gates of the palace and an apple orchard. The fireplace looked well used, with ashes brushed back onto the logs, and the bricks torched. The ceiling was stone as well as the floor but there was no silk or tiger rug. A soft, black carpet that stretched just under the bed and across to meet the steps of the fireplace was present. The bed was wooden and placed over the mattress was a fine red spread.
Seth shrugged at the room and sat down on the bed, awaiting the arrival of his servant. It was only moments before their came a knock on his door, and in walked a boy. He looked about the same age as Seth, dressed as a pauper and holding a pitcher of hot water.
"Hello," The boy said with a bow, being careful not to spill the water," my name is Neil. I'm here to draw your bath and thereafter bring you to meet the royal family." He said this all with a wide grin.
"So I've been told. Are you my servant?" Seth said very bluntly. The boy was taken aback.
"Yes," He said slowly. Seth nodded in approval and followed the boy down to the bathing chamber.
After Seth had bathed in rosemary water and put on a fresh outfit, Neil brought him into the throne room to meet with the royal family.
Seth stood composed and well collected in front of King Titan and Queen Tara. They were well dressed as royalty should be and at their feet was their son, Darien.
Seth kept his eyes locked with those of the King as he searched Seth for his weaknesses.
"Can you read and write?" Titan asked Seth.
"Yes, sir. I was taught by my father.
Titan rubbed his dark brown beard and nodded. His gray eyes looked clear and sharp.
"You will be tutored with my son by the head scholar, Demetrius." His voice was intimidating and echoed off the stone walls. Seth felt goosebumps run up and down his spine. The humid air left sweat dripping down his chest and his mouth was wet and sticky.
"Yes, sir," He said, and took a bow. Titan waved his hand toward the door and Seth quickly took his leave.
It was another five years before Thomas and Melissa sent Seth away for studying.
The day in spring was warm when the young 10yr old arrived at the gates to the palace on Earth. It's white pillars reached toward the sun with a glitter and a shine. Seth was perceptive in noticing the lack of noise when the gates swung open to present the gleam of gold inlaid to the palace walls. A reflecting pool shimmered and the smell of flowers was fresh in the warm air.
Seth stepped out of his carriage and shielded his eyes from the sunlight as it poured across the stone walkway. He wished his mother hadn't dressed him in his long pants and a jacket that morning. He pulled at the collar of his shirt and felt the light draft of air seep onto his chest.
"Young prince Seth?" Said a man as Seth approached the palace doors.
"Yes, sir," Seth called out and grabbed his bag from a carriage. The man hurried over and snatched the bag away from Seth.
"You should be wise in letting the servants do their job, young prince."
Seth nodded and followed the man into the palace.
"Are you to be my servant?" Seth called out as the man hurried down the long corridor.
"Heavens, no! I am just a simple porter. I'll show you to your room and your servant will be there shortly to draw you a bath. From there you will go and meet with the royal family. They have been anticipation your arrival for some time now." The man set down Seth's bag in front of two massive doors and swung them open with a grunt. "This is your room. Please make yourself at home." He set Seth's bag in the room and left quickly, shutting the doors behind him.
Seth scanned his surroundings. The room wasn't anything like he had had back home. Back home he was pampered and spoiled.
Back home, his bed was inlaid with delicate artwork and sculpting. Strewn across the ceiling was fine imported silk that lightly draped around his bed. A tiger rug was set on his floor just in front of his white brick fireplace. The windows were facing the port and he enjoyed listening to the ships set off to their destinations. Often times, when there was a breeze, the sea smells would drift into his room and set his mind racing with dreams of sailing to adventures.
In this palace, however, his room was poorly lit and faced away from the rising sun. There was no port to be seen, only the front gates of the palace and an apple orchard. The fireplace looked well used, with ashes brushed back onto the logs, and the bricks torched. The ceiling was stone as well as the floor but there was no silk or tiger rug. A soft, black carpet that stretched just under the bed and across to meet the steps of the fireplace was present. The bed was wooden and placed over the mattress was a fine red spread.
Seth shrugged at the room and sat down on the bed, awaiting the arrival of his servant. It was only moments before their came a knock on his door, and in walked a boy. He looked about the same age as Seth, dressed as a pauper and holding a pitcher of hot water.
"Hello," The boy said with a bow, being careful not to spill the water," my name is Neil. I'm here to draw your bath and thereafter bring you to meet the royal family." He said this all with a wide grin.
"So I've been told. Are you my servant?" Seth said very bluntly. The boy was taken aback.
"Yes," He said slowly. Seth nodded in approval and followed the boy down to the bathing chamber.
After Seth had bathed in rosemary water and put on a fresh outfit, Neil brought him into the throne room to meet with the royal family.
Seth stood composed and well collected in front of King Titan and Queen Tara. They were well dressed as royalty should be and at their feet was their son, Darien.
Seth kept his eyes locked with those of the King as he searched Seth for his weaknesses.
"Can you read and write?" Titan asked Seth.
"Yes, sir. I was taught by my father.
Titan rubbed his dark brown beard and nodded. His gray eyes looked clear and sharp.
"You will be tutored with my son by the head scholar, Demetrius." His voice was intimidating and echoed off the stone walls. Seth felt goosebumps run up and down his spine. The humid air left sweat dripping down his chest and his mouth was wet and sticky.
"Yes, sir," He said, and took a bow. Titan waved his hand toward the door and Seth quickly took his leave.