Prompt: Reluctant Mind Reader

Jarram sat cross-legged beside the throne, the queen’s hand resting on his fool’s cap. He never looked up at her or spoke. She felt the slightest nod of his head, up and down, or side to side. She never acknowledged his, his presence, his counsel. But he knew. He saw her decisions, choices, actions.

He’d been there so long, some might think he didn’t remember. Some might wonder why her fool was always present. He knew. He remembered.

“Jarram?” The beautiful woman on the throne leaned forward and motioned with her fingers. His grandmother pushed him toward the throne. He clutched her hand, but she tugged it away and touched his chin, encouraging him without words to be brave and strong.

He climbed up the steps and stood in front of the throne. The woman leaned down to look him in the eyes. “You have a special gift, don’t you, Jarram? I’d like you to share that gift with me.”

He frowned and started to turn back to his grandmother. Then he remembered what she had said about this woman, this queen, and he stood as tall he could, facing her. “Why?”

She laughed once and leaned back in the chair. “Because I asked you to. You never need another reason. But if you do, here is a very important one I want you to always remember.”

She leaned forward and gripped his shoulder, spinning him around. A soldier stepped behind his grandmother and thrust his short sword through her back, until the blade shone and glinted red in front of her. She kept her eyes on Jarram and made no sound as she fell. The soldier pulled out his blade and wiped it on her cloak before sheathing it and stepping away.

“If you need another reason, Jarram,” the queen said in his ear, “my soldiers can go back to your village and bring all of your family here.”

He shook his head side to side, hating her more than anything he could imagine. It kept the grief at bay.

Her hand on his shoulder turned him around. “Clever boy. Now, come and sit beside me. We have work to do.”

Jarram sat cross-legged on the stone floor beside her. He watched the people walking toward them. As they came closer, he dropped his head forward, listening to their thoughts. She rested her hand on his head…

Dogs in House	Brindle
Time writing	15 minutes
April word count	12,467