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’’Whats going on here?!’’ Finally the guards took notice of me as I hurried down the stairwell from the battlement. The disheveled young man between them tore free from their grips as the two guards straightened up, in what i'm sure they considered a smart salute, and spoke to me. ‘’Good sir! I come - Ow!’’ the guard captains large fist fell on him like a boulder. ‘’Quiet! Do not speak to unless spoken to, thief!’’ ‘’I’m no thief you misguided pharisee I simply - Ooof!’’ the youngster began to answer before the second guard punched him the guts. ‘’You shall address the Captain properly, thief!’’ ‘’QUIET!’’ The three men froze and as I descended the last steps of slippery stone. In the light of the torch the young man seemed to shrink away. He was in his early twenties, maybe a few years older, but it was hard to tell with all the grime and muck covering him. His clothes were [[mere]] rags hanging from a spindly frame and next to the well dressed guards he seemed almost impossibly small. I must admit I took a few moments more than was necessary to inspect the three men standing in the muddied street; I’ve always found that peasants are easier to deal with if you get them slightly unnerved. ‘’What did you call him?’’ Snapping his muddied boots together best he could the captain reaffirmed his grip of the beggars collar: ‘’He is a thief, my lord! He was-’’ ‘’I wasn’t asking you, captain.’’ With a triumphant smile, only slightly tainted by the recent gutpunching, the beggar leaned forward as far as the captain would allow. ‘’I called him a misguided pharisee, sir’’ ‘’And why did you do that?’’ ‘’Because this man is so stupid he wouldn't know the son of God even if He smacked him across the as- OW!’’ The red faced anger of the captain was completely understandable yet I stifled a laughter, this was the most entertaining thing to happen all summer. ‘’Tell me beggar: who begat Solomon?’’ ‘’Bah! David of course, sir’’ ‘’Well… then who was the son of Solomon? ‘’Roboam, sir’’ A learned beggar! This was truly something out of the ordinary. Sure I’ve seen my share of the less fortunates clever tricks and swindles but never had I met one like this. It is no lie to say that in my bored state of mind he entertained me even more than when that cart full of chickens had toppled over by the gate last week, sending guards and beggars chasing through the streets. ‘’So tell me, if you are no thief, then what are you?’’ ‘’I’m but a simple messenger, sir! ‘’ ‘’Ah, then who sent you?’’ ‘’The King!’’ ‘’I know of many kings and I dare say few of them would employ you.’’ At this the scarlet captain saw his chance to exact vengeance and answered quickly: ‘’Thats right you lout! Shall I remov - ‘’ ‘’The beggar king, my lord. He asks for your presence.’’ Raising my hand to signal the captain to release the beggar I draped my cape around me and stepped closer to him. ‘’Know that I only follow you due to your knowledge of scripture.’’ '''S'''ewels court was more… organized than I had expected. In the small stone room several bales of hay and salvaged cushions had been piled to give a misguided impression of comfort. The ‘’king’’ was not present when I was lead in and for a few moment i studied the rough crayon mural painted on the far side of the wall. It was perhaps not the most sophisticated work of art I have beheld but I doubt that any artist could have depicted [[Sewel]] standing astride a fallen stag with more vigor. The sound of trotting feet and shuffling boots ended my contemplation and a few moments later the young man returned trailed by the ancient Beggar King. It is hard to say if [[Sewel]] had aged at all since i last saw him, he seemed to me both ancient yet ageless. His scrawny body and great head of white hair gave him the appearance of some sort of mistreated or misshapen bird, yet his step was quick and his gaze clear. ‘’Here he is your majesty.’’ I bowed modestly as the king passed me and cursed that my courtesy brought my nose closer to him. Wheezing slightly [[Sewel]] fell into the multitude of pillows as if it was some sort of exotic sea and he an even more exotic gull. ‘’You have asked for my presence, your majesty.’’ Scuffling around in his manmade nest he seemed to pay no heed to me. Stepping forward and slightly raising my voice I tried once more. ‘’Perhaps you could tell me why?’’ Trying to catch the madman gaze wasn’t easy and after a few moments i straightened up and motioned towards the door. ‘’I don't have all night…’’ ‘’Three time will you be betrayed!’’ His voice was weak yet clear just like his eyes when I turned to face him. ‘’What?’’ ‘’Three times a friend shall betray you!’’ It wasn’t his voice… it was like something was speaking through him, trying to sound like him but not quite succeeding. ‘’Who?’’ the musty air felt so impotent, like it was becoming harder and harder to breath. ‘’The wheels of fortune keeps turning….’’ ‘’Tell me who [[Sewel]]!” Taking a step forward I reached for the retreating man only to feel the young beggars hand on my shoulder. ‘’He won’t say anything else… not when he gets like this.’’ ‘’Turning…. Turning…. Turning….’’ <comments />
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