Kit smiles. The story is exciting, though not quite in the same way a big battle scene would be. Suspenseful, she thought the word was. But in any case, it's her turn again and after a moment's thought, she picks up the story again.
"Lionell smiled slightly at his brother, grateful for his support. The crowd seemed to have taken the words to heart as well, their previously agitated state settling into one of acceptance, though they still murmured uneasily among themselves.
It was almost a surprise when King Claudius spoke again, cutting through the tension in the air. 'Lionell isn't king yet, Tigon,' the King reminded him. 'And hopefully he will not need to be for some years yet.'
'However,' the King said, stepping forward and resting a hand heavily on Lionell's shoulder, the Prince obeying the unspoken command to look at his father, 'I hope this convinces you to take your responsibilities as prince more seriously.' He gazed pointedly at Lionell until his son nodded his agreement.
He returned the nod, then looked up to address the crowd. 'You may all return to your business,' he said. 'You've all seen what there is to see here today.' Though it was phrased as a suggestion, the tone clearly made it an order. Even those who may have wished to stay, to ask more questions, reluctantly began to shuffle off, returning to their interrupted tasks.
He turned back to his sons and the Seer. He, like Lionell, had determined that the details of the vision were best discussed behind closed doors. 'Join me in the Council Chamber,' he said to them. 'If the situation is to be as dire as Lionell predicted, we must discuss it further without so many curious ears around. You will join us as well, old man. I'm uncertain how you planned all this, but it appears we may require your presence for the time being.'
'As Your Majesty wishes,' the Seer replied, bowing respectfully. The King turned and headed back inside without another word, the Seer and the two Princes hanging back for a moment before following.
'I don't understand,' Lionell said to the Seer as they walked. 'Did you know all along that I'd be able to use the Sword?'
'Did I know?', the Seer repeated. 'No. Though I had a strong feeling that you could. Though the Sword's power allows us to See some things, the future is rarely set in stone, and Seeing something that specific is rare. The truth, however, is that it could have been either of you.'
'Then why me?', Lionell asked. 'If it could have worked for either of us, why did it work for me and not Tigon? It's no secret that everyone thinks he'd be the better King, even Father. Even I think so, most of the time.' Tigon said nothing, but listened closely. He was wondering the exact same thing.
'The Sword is not called the Sword of Truth simply because it allows us to See beyond the visible world,' the Seer replied. 'It will not respond to anyone who deals regularly in deception. Even self-deception.'
'In what way am I deceiving myself?', Tigon asked, becoming a bit angry now. 'Stop speaking in riddles. I didn't seek out your help just so that I could embarrass myself in front of Father and half the palace staff.' Lionell glanced at his brother in surprise at the revelation that Tigon had sought out the Seer's help, but Tigon was too focused on the Seer to notice.
The Seer, however, remained calm. 'Prince Tigon,' he said, 'you are brave, strong, stubborn, and determined. But tell me... why are you all these things? Why do you strive to follow in your father's path?'
Tigon thought a moment. Clearly the question was some sort of test, but what was the proper answer? A truthful one, he finally decided. The Seer would likely know in an instant if he was lying in any case. 'Because,' he said, 'he's taught me everything that a King should be, and he is a strong and well respected ruler because of it. Even if the throne can never be mine, I believe it is a worthy example to follow.'
The Seer nodded. 'And therein lies the problem,' he said. 'The Truth does not change, no matter what one thinks is should be. And thus the Sword will not obey one who is more concerned with who they should be than who they are. Before you know anything else, you must know yourself.'
The Seer gestured to Lionell. 'Your brother knows the truth of his own heart, and lives it, even when it runs counter to what everyone else thinks he 'should' do. That is why the Sword chose him. Because that is precisely the kind of King that will be needed when the Sword's vision comes to pass.'
Tigon frowned. 'I'm not certain I understand,' he said.
'You will,' the Seer assured him. 'In good time.'
'Did you foresee that as well?', he asked, but received no reply. They had arrived at the Council Chamber where the King was waiting for them, and their private conversation had to be paused for the moment. There were broader matters to discuss."
Kit paused there, nodding to Diarmuid to pick up the story again, hoping her explanation as to why one brother and not the other could See made sense, and waiting to see what Diarmuid came up with next.
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"Lionell smiled slightly at his brother, grateful for his support. The crowd seemed to have taken the words to heart as well, their previously agitated state settling into one of acceptance, though they still murmured uneasily among themselves.
It was almost a surprise when King Claudius spoke again, cutting through the tension in the air. 'Lionell isn't king yet, Tigon,' the King reminded him. 'And hopefully he will not need to be for some years yet.'
'However,' the King said, stepping forward and resting a hand heavily on Lionell's shoulder, the Prince obeying the unspoken command to look at his father, 'I hope this convinces you to take your responsibilities as prince more seriously.' He gazed pointedly at Lionell until his son nodded his agreement.
He returned the nod, then looked up to address the crowd. 'You may all return to your business,' he said. 'You've all seen what there is to see here today.' Though it was phrased as a suggestion, the tone clearly made it an order. Even those who may have wished to stay, to ask more questions, reluctantly began to shuffle off, returning to their interrupted tasks.
He turned back to his sons and the Seer. He, like Lionell, had determined that the details of the vision were best discussed behind closed doors. 'Join me in the Council Chamber,' he said to them. 'If the situation is to be as dire as Lionell predicted, we must discuss it further without so many curious ears around. You will join us as well, old man. I'm uncertain how you planned all this, but it appears we may require your presence for the time being.'
'As Your Majesty wishes,' the Seer replied, bowing respectfully. The King turned and headed back inside without another word, the Seer and the two Princes hanging back for a moment before following.
'I don't understand,' Lionell said to the Seer as they walked. 'Did you know all along that I'd be able to use the Sword?'
'Did I know?', the Seer repeated. 'No. Though I had a strong feeling that you could. Though the Sword's power allows us to See some things, the future is rarely set in stone, and Seeing something that specific is rare. The truth, however, is that it could have been either of you.'
'Then why me?', Lionell asked. 'If it could have worked for either of us, why did it work for me and not Tigon? It's no secret that everyone thinks he'd be the better King, even Father. Even I think so, most of the time.' Tigon said nothing, but listened closely. He was wondering the exact same thing.
'The Sword is not called the Sword of Truth simply because it allows us to See beyond the visible world,' the Seer replied. 'It will not respond to anyone who deals regularly in deception. Even self-deception.'
'In what way am I deceiving myself?', Tigon asked, becoming a bit angry now. 'Stop speaking in riddles. I didn't seek out your help just so that I could embarrass myself in front of Father and half the palace staff.' Lionell glanced at his brother in surprise at the revelation that Tigon had sought out the Seer's help, but Tigon was too focused on the Seer to notice.
The Seer, however, remained calm. 'Prince Tigon,' he said, 'you are brave, strong, stubborn, and determined. But tell me... why are you all these things? Why do you strive to follow in your father's path?'
Tigon thought a moment. Clearly the question was some sort of test, but what was the proper answer? A truthful one, he finally decided. The Seer would likely know in an instant if he was lying in any case. 'Because,' he said, 'he's taught me everything that a King should be, and he is a strong and well respected ruler because of it. Even if the throne can never be mine, I believe it is a worthy example to follow.'
The Seer nodded. 'And therein lies the problem,' he said. 'The Truth does not change, no matter what one thinks is should be. And thus the Sword will not obey one who is more concerned with who they should be than who they are. Before you know anything else, you must know yourself.'
The Seer gestured to Lionell. 'Your brother knows the truth of his own heart, and lives it, even when it runs counter to what everyone else thinks he 'should' do. That is why the Sword chose him. Because that is precisely the kind of King that will be needed when the Sword's vision comes to pass.'
Tigon frowned. 'I'm not certain I understand,' he said.
'You will,' the Seer assured him. 'In good time.'
'Did you foresee that as well?', he asked, but received no reply. They had arrived at the Council Chamber where the King was waiting for them, and their private conversation had to be paused for the moment. There were broader matters to discuss."
Kit paused there, nodding to Diarmuid to pick up the story again, hoping her explanation as to why one brother and not the other could See made sense, and waiting to see what Diarmuid came up with next.