Eric and Jacob sprung from their beds, unable to remember the last time they had slept so well. They each took turns using the mirror as they scrubbed up using the flower-scented water supplied in the large wooden washbowl. They brushed their teeth with the salt and soda paste provided for them and began to get dressed. Jacob in particular had a real spring in his step this morning as he spoke of how many serving girls there must be roaming the halls. More importantly, how many were single and lonely, living a sheltered life in the palace.
Eric had no idea how his friend could fit the words “sheltered” and “palace” together in the same sentence. Sometimes it seemed like Jacob would see whatever he wanted to see, but that was what made him such a great complement to Eric: the way they kept each other grounded by having such different personalities. Jacob’s job seemed to be keeping Eric from taking things too seriously.
When a light knock came at the door, Jacob leaped up, hoping it was either one those lonely serving girls he had been talking about or someone bringing breakfast. Maybe both! As he threw open the door, he couldn’t hide the disappointment on his face as it seemed neither of his desires had come true. In the place of his temporary fantasy stood a short, bald man with a long, thin, gray beard. “Good morning, boys,” came a scratchy high-pitched voice. The two just leaned against either side of the doorway, giving slight hand gestures they hoped would pass as formal greetings, not knowing exactly what to make of this little fellow. “Now then, if you’re both ready, we have lots of work to do. If you boys would just follow me and—”
“Whoa, wait a minute, old man,” said Jacob as he turned away and strolled back into the room. “We have important business with Her Majesty this morning. We have no time for—”
“Apologies, sir. We’ll be ready in a minute,” said Eric as he tried to speak over Jacob quickly. “Please, have a seat while we finish up here.”
“That will be quite alright, Eric,” the man said, sure of which boy was which now. “I’ll wait in the hall for the both of you, but don’t dawdle, mind you. This is important.” The old man backed out of the doorway as Eric closed it behind him.
“What is wrong with you?” Eric spat out before Jacob could say a single word. “Do you really think the Queen is not aware of who that man is? She obviously sent him here to get us. Then you treat him as if he is here to clean the room! Why, oh why do you always speak before thinking?” Jacob was stunned by the onslaught and started to protest before getting cut off yet again. “Look,” Eric said with a touch more calm in his voice, “we are guests here, and we need to start acting like it. You need to put the old Jacob on hold for as long as we’re here. Use your eyes and ears first and your mouth second, OK?”
Jacob was more stunned than hurt. He saw the truth in what Eric was saying. His friend was right. Jacob needed to understand they weren’t in Bryer anymore. It was just that the old Eric wouldn’t have said anything; he would have kept it to himself. Jacob just shook his head in agreement as he began putting on his shoes. They finished dressing in silence before heading out into the hall.
They followed the old man down the hall, not exactly sure where he was taking them. They continued on, down a flight of stairs and into the cellar, down one more flight of stairs and into a brown room lit with oil lamps flickering away with their orange glow. When the three of them marched through the lone wooden door, there sat Jade with the Queen, sitting and talking like old friends. Both their faces tightened as the men entered, as if they had interrupted their private girl talk.
Berkeni turned to Eric with concern in his eyes. “I’m afraid there is something here you need to see,” he said in that high-pitched voice. “I know you have your doubts as to who you really are, doubts of your own destiny.” He placed a skinny hand on Eric’s broad shoulder. “Doubts are what make us human, my boy. Only the truly ignorant believe blindly without expressing some wariness.” His voice lowered and became hard and steady. “However, the truly ignorant don’t know the truth when it bites them in the face, either. Now, please have a seat. I warn you, all of you...this will not be easy to watch.”
The five of them sat around the plain wooden table with the white pearl at its center. Jacob looked around nervously as his eyes settled on glass jars containing little weird creatures submerged in a clear liquid. Eric, however, kept his eyes fixed on the white pearl. He didn’t look relaxed exactly, but seemed focused. Jade and the Queen both shared looks of concern as well. Berkeni rubbed his hands together in quick, rapid strokes, then turned them palms up as he began chanting. “Nopida... gorina... opritta... judicia.”