Many Miles Away
an excerpt

Prologue:
September 5, 1965

I.
As the sun rose on the large, imposing palace, the vizier stared once more into his crystal ball. He'd been at it all night, certain he would see something but nothing had come to the front of the smoky red obscurities swirling in the ball. He blinked his eyes a few times to clear the sleep from them. It had been a very long night, and draining too. Still he was convinced that the crystal would speak to him. He muttered an incantation over the round ball and it radiated with a red glow. He narrowed his eyes, trying hard to clear the air of the red smoke so he could see a vision.

Finally it happened. The smoke parted to each side of the ball and the vizier caught his breath at what he saw. It was just as he had been told; something was to happen to the Prince. He must tell him at once. Wrapping himself in his bathrobe, he hastened from his quarters to see the Prince. He did not live inside the palace but rather in a small building adjacent to the palace so he had to cross the dew-covered lawn, spectacular gardens and magnificent fountains to finally reach the large, white doors of his majesty's palace. As he knocked the ornate knocker against the wood, he wondered whether he should have gotten dressed. At length a guard came to the door.

"Yes?" he asked, in a deep and booming voice.

"It is I, the royal vizier. I must speak with the Prince at once!"

"You cannot speak with him, he is still sleeping and does not wish to be disturbed."

The guard began to shut the door again but the vizier placed his foot between the door and the jamb. "Wait, please, it is a matter of great importance."

The guard considered him for a moment with unforgiving eyes. The vizier tried his best to look desperate; this wasn't hard while he was in his bathrobe and as yet unshaven.

"Well, it had better be if you're waking him up," said the guard finally and he opened the door all the way to allow the vizier inside.

"Thank you, thank you," muttered the vizier as he hurried inside and followed the guard's long strides up the grand staircase.

"The Prince will not be happy," said the guard.

"He will be happy when he realizes I have saved his life," replied the vizier with a grim look.

"Is it that serious?" inquired the guard, unable to contain his curiosity.

"Yes," responded the vizier simply.

The two servants to the prince walked the rest of the way in silence. The vizier rung his hands as he began to doubt his vision. What if it was not true and he was angering the Prince for naught? After what seemed like forever they reached the door of the Prince's quarters.

The guard looked at the vizier, sighed a sigh of exasperation and knocked twice on the chamber door.

"What?" came the cry from beyond the door, obviously angry.

"You highness, the royal vizier wishes to speak with you," said the guard.

"Is it another one of his ridiculous visions?" cried the Prince.

The vizier cringed and shrugged under the glare of the guard who called back, "He says it is of great importance to your life."

There could be heard a great princely sigh and then the words, "Send him in."

The guard pushed open the large, golden door and let the vizier enter the chamber of the Prince.

There was the Prince himself, sitting upright in his large canopy bed surrounded by splendid silk sheets and coverlets in a deep crimson. His Princely countenance was only exemplified by the royal color but despite his grand surroundings, he was scowling under a rumpled head of dark hair.

"All right, what is it?" he asked grumpily.

"You highness," said the vizier, prostrating himself at the Prince's bedside. "I have terrible news for you."

"Well let's hear it before it is time for breakfast," said the Prince.

The vizier had to try hard not to scowl. He remained patient as always, "You grace, I gazed into my crystal all night and into the early hours of the morning. I did so with the hopes that I would see something of importance to you. You see, I had a feeling of foreboding and feared you were in danger."

The Prince sighed and rolled his eyes but the vizier continued. "Finally, near the break of dawn this morning the smoke and confusion cleared to show me...danger. Your highness, I have foreseen that you will be taken from us in a most brutal fashion."

The Prince let out a trill of laughter. The vizier frowned, "I beg you, your highness, heed my warning and double your guard."

"Please, if I based all of my decisions on silly images someone pulled from a crystal ball then the country would be in worse shape than it is at the present time. Do not bother me any further with this vision of yours, vizier."

"But, but," the vizier stared incredulously at the disbelieving Prince. "You must take heed or you shall be murdered!"

The room went silent and the Prince actually paled. But he regained his composure quickly and sneered, "Perhaps you predict your own treason in the hopes of not being suspected later? What is this? How dare you talk of my murder?"

"You highness, I am merely watching out for your well-being!" protested the vizier.

"Enough!" cried the Prince and his word echoed around the large, hollow chamber. "I have heard enough, take him away."

"No! No! Please, listen to me! Heed my warning!" screamed the vizier as he was dragged roughly from the chamber by the large guard. The door slammed behind them and he could still hear the Prince's mocking, derisive laughter.