The Kingdom of Harker (Hrt)

[Peeker]

Prince Jacob Harker, age six, was bored.

The young prince's tutors didn't know what to do anymore - they'd assigned him extra reading, extra practices, given him twice the homework they'd expect any child of his age to do - and the boy was done in no time, every assignment correct, t crossed and i dotted, wandering around the courtyard, looking to get into the library to find something else to read, or hunting for someone to play with, or to read him a story, or something.

So the tutors generally tried to avoid the insatiable child, leaving him to his sister's love and care.

Jacob moodily pushed the book away from him, where it slid until it bumped into the rest of the pile of books that lay on the far side of the desk. They were all kiddy books, dumbed-down versions of things he knew so well he could recite them.

They kept telling him the real stories were bloody, and would give him nightmares, and that they weren't in a language he could read, and so many other dumb, grown-up excuses.

Little Jake wiggled out of his chair, and tromped out of the study room. His long hair fluttered behind him like a banner, while the prince determined he'd try (for the 100th time) to get into the library if it killed him.

...he swore, they put the doorknob that high up on the door just so he couldn't get to it.

[Hrtofdrkns]

Queen Lena, Jacobs 19-year-old sister, was listening to yet another report from her brother's tutors.

"I see. Perhaps he is ready for the truth."

She then looked over at one exasperated old man. "And I am very sorry, I don't know where he heard those words. But I'll see to it this is the last time he says them."

[Peeker]

Meanwhile, Jacob was busy with the large problem of Regan, one of the castle's porters.

"I'm sorry, Master Prince, but our Highness, your Royal Sister is having a meeting with some of your Royal Tutors right now. The library is off-limits to everyone - not just you."

"...oh." Jacob looked up at the man - he sort of liked Regan, who was pretty nice for a grown-up. "...do you think they'll be long?"

"I doubt it, young master."

"...but you still won't let me in then, will you?"

"No, young master."

Jacob sighed. "Oh... ...thank you, Regan. Tell me next time you aren't guarding the library doors, will you?"

"Certainly, young master."

Jacob shuffled off towards his study room again. Perhaps he'd see if he could read ahead in one of his lessons, so he could see the look on his tutor's face when he could recite the lesson before it could be taught to him. That had been fun last week.

[Hrtofdrkns]

Lena walked out of her chambers. "Regan, have you seen my brother lately?"

[Peeker]

Regan bowed formally. "Yes, m'lady. He just left the library doors - I believe he was heading back to his quarters."

[Hrtofdrkns]

"Thank you." She said before heading for her brother's room. "Oh yes, before I forget," Lena added. "Make sure a pillow is on his chair at dinner, as he will be having some trouble sitting."

[Peeker]

Regan bowed again, quite aware of what was to come for the precocious little prince. "Yes, m'lady."

Jacob, meanwhile, had just opened up to what he guessed would be tommorrow's history lesson, scanning it for names he could ask his tutor about some ten years further than he'd be learning.

[Hrtofdrkns]

"There you are." The queen said as she walked in. "What is this I hear about you using naughty words at your teachers?"

[Peeker]

"Hi, Lena!" Jacob said, brightly. "Did you know that-" The boy's face crunched a little. "Naughty words? When?"

He talked to so many tutors, after all! It was hard to guess which one of them thought which something-he'd-said was 'naughty'.

[Hrtofdrkns]

"This morning. I know you know what they were, and I am certainly not goping to repeat them." Lena said, standing over the young prince. "I think you know what is going to happen now."