"I didn't think that I was king," Primus said tersely.
Septimus, had to choke down another wave of laughter. "No, of course you didn't."
"And I didn't kill the bishop," he grunted. As it was now down to the final two, both princes were taking no chances of letting a servant touch their possessions. Maybe I'll give a raise to palace servants. Primus thought to himself. Who knew they had to do this much lifting?
Septimus leaned against the banister and watched his older brother struggle to get a ridiculously large trunk up the stairs. He had no idea why he would need so much stuff when he was going on a journey, nor was he really interested. "You did take the wrong cup."
Primus slammed down the trunk. The younger prince's eyebrows shot up. His brother rarely got this anger – or at least hardly ever showed the emotion. "And a good thing too! Because you poisoned it!"
"Yes, and I'll have to be more careful next time. Do it myself. So that that way, I won't have to argue with who killed who again!" He got out his dagger and proceeded to wipe at it.
"You're a nuisance," Primus muttered. He picked up his trunk and started up the stairs again, but not before a booted foot stopped him.
"Then kill me," Septimus dared, staring down at his brother. "Kill me, brother. What? Too afraid?" He removed his foot and went down the stairs.
When he turned the corner, the older prince took the trunk up to his rooms. After a few minutes he said to no one in particular, "I'm not afraid. But I think you are… of something."
"Your highness," a servant materialized behind Primus.
Primus, sensing the worst, got his sword out. "Stay where you are," he warned.
An elderly man stopped with raised hands. When Primus realized who it was he put his weapon away.
"You're sure you want to do this?"
"Yes," was the gravelly reply.
"Even at the risk of your life?"
There was a slight pause, then the old man bowed deeply. "I would die a thousand deaths for you to become king, my prince."
Primus nodded. "Very well, Soothsayer. My brother will be leaving soon. I believe he is out in the stables. Good luck."
"And to you, Prince Primus." He bowed low again, and left.
The prince went over to the trunk. Inside were all the supplies he thought he'd need. Septimus may be right that traveling light is best in the case of moving quickly. But Primus wouldn't need to do any moving. After all, the fastest way to travel is by candlelight.
He dug in his pocket to retrieve it. Something as valuable as a Babylon candle could not be left unattended. It wasn't there. A slight sweat began to take form on his upper lip. He chuckled nervously to himself. It must be in the other pocket. Not there.
Soon he was down to his underclothes, searching his coat, pants, and shirt. Empty. Then he went about his room.
There was a knock at the door and someone came in.
"What do you want?" Primus nearly sobbed. He sounded like he was choking.
"Uh…" The soothsayer looked at his prince with much less respect than before. "Your highness, you're…?"
Primus cleared his throat and covered himself as best he could. "Yes, yes. What is it? I thought you were going with Septimus?"
The old man seemed much relieved to have something to talk about and take his eyes off of his undignified prince. "That's just it. He's gone. Couldn't find him. He wasn't in the stables.
The prince frowned. The sweat began to pour over his whole being. "Do have your Runes on you?" he asked in a quaking voice.
"Yes."
"May I?" the prince held out his hand and the soothsayer dropped four tiny pieces of what could be fairly called bones into it.
Primus cupped his hands whispered a question into them and dropped them on the floor, where they all landed face up.
"No!" he cried, falling to his knees and dropping his coverings in the process. "How could that be?"
"What? What's happened?" the older man asked.
The prince looked up at his servant and friend. His eyes, in shock like the rest of him, did not register that anyone was there though.
"What is it?" he asked again, coming to stand closer to his prince.
"He- he has the Babylon candle. Septimus. He took it. How the bloody hell did he get it?"