FULL NOVELXO Chapter The King and the Page
Poor King Silverous Luster is being tortured just because he objected to having his people enslaved. The worst punishment so far, in his opinion, is that one of the squires shaved off all his beautiful silver fur. He now sits furless and cold in a dark dungeon cell, awaiting his next torture.
“Page, page,” Silverous calls quietly to a page left in charge of guarding him.
The page, like most of the other Snyvolonians, had brown hair. His eyes were a silvery blue, but it wasn’t very obvious in the darkness of the dungeon.
“What do you want?” the little boy asks, crossing his arms.
“Do you really approve of what your king is doing to me and my kind?” Silverous asks.
“I am loyal to my king. Whatever he says and does, I shall support,” the little boy says, turning to face the wolf king.
“You’re young...” Silverous comments.
“I’m nearly nine years old, I don’t consider that young,” the page says, rolling his eyes.
“Ah, so you are eight... Have you worked here nearly two years, then?” Silverous asks.
The king of wolves is using prior knowledge of how kingdoms usually work and assuming them on Snyvolon Kingdom. Just to be sure, he is questioning the page.
“Yes,” the page says simply.
“Do you mind telling me what they call you?” Silverous asks.
The page is a bit confused at first, but then he figures out what Silverous is asking.
“My name is Eugéne, sir,” the page says.
“Ah, Eugéne. That’s a pretty good name,” Silverous says.
“I suppose,” Eugéne says, scuffing his boots against the floor.
“What tasks are assigned to you normally?” Silverous asks.
“Mostly cleaning. I scrub the floors and bathrooms. I also have to entertain the king sometimes,” Eugéne says.
“How much is your pay? I’ve never dealt with currency before,” Silverous says.
“One gold coin,” Eugéne says, “I’m not sure how many bucks it is.”
“Bucks? Like the animals?” Silverous asks.
“No, the coins are called bucks,” Eugéne clarifies.
“Ah, I see,” Silverous says, nodding his head.
“I’m saving my bucks for something good,” Eugéne says.
“Ah, I see... Do you stay in the castle?” Silverous asks.
“Yes. My living quarters are in the page wing of the castle...” Eugéne says.
“Are there more of you?” Silverous says.
“Yeah, there are ten of us currently...” Eugéne says.
“And does that make it harder to prove your worth?” Silverous asks.
“Kind of... I have to compete with them. I want to be a squire when I’m old enough, but if I cannot prove I’m worthy of the position, well... I have to go back to being a commoner,” Eugéne says.
“If you were my page, I’d make sure you became a squire,” Silverous says.
“Thanks...” Eugéne says.
“You’d make a mighty fine warrior. Your loyalty and honesty is amazing,” Silverous says, standing up.
“No, I am not letting you out,” Eugéne says, crossing his arms tighter.
“Oh, but my compliments were sincere! Your kind are so strong and brave!” Silverous says, “Why would I want to bribe you?”
“I’m so sorry...” Eugéne apologizes.
“It’s alright... Really... My hair will grow back eventually...” Silverous says, “I’m just kind of cold...”
Eugéne sticks his hand through the bars to touch the hairless beast.
“The king is behind you...” Silverous whispers.
Eugéne pulls his hand out of the cell and turns around, his heart racing. The king stands there looking very angry. Eugéne gulps nervously, turning as pale as a ghost.
“Getting comfortable with the prisoner, are you?!” the king asks.
“I...I... No!” Eugéne says.
“Please, don’t harm him. He was just telling me about his loyalty you!” Silverous says.
“Hmmm... He better be!” the king says.
“Is that my fur?” Silverous asks.
The king is wearing a shawl made from long silver hair. The king smirks at Silverous and nods his head slowly. He runs a hand across the soft hairs.
“It makes for a good shawl!” the king says.
“To be honest, it looked better on me. It doesn’t pair well with your caramel colored hair...” Silverous says.
“Well... I LIKE IT!” the king yells.
Silverous just sits there and blinks. He is holding back on saying mean things.
“Have it your way. Have I ever told you about the legend with the Wolf Girl who comes to save her species?” Silverous asks.
“That’s a myth! Your kind is doomed!” the king says.
He takes Eugéne the page and leaves, laughing all the way.
“Well... Even if they don’t believe, I still believe... And if that fails, there is always Jesus...” Silverous says to himself.