Excerpt: Sindar the Seer

So there you got me – half-mad, short and skinny and unable to wear an armour without getting itchy rashes all over. With dark hair and skin and eyes like any commoner. And I don’t think there’s anyone in this castle (including Grandmother) who couldn’t beat me in a fair fight. Officially, I command the royal guard, but that’s a laugh and everyone knows it. Officially I am the heir, and they have nobody else. But even so I wouldn’t bet my black hair I’ll have that throne. And a good thing too, if you ask me. People want a shiny hero for a king, an example, a leader of armies. Tall, wise and benevolent. So we better hope for some long-lost great-uncle to show up next winter equinox.

I won’t oppose them, if they finally find another to put in my place. In fact I’ll celebrate that day. I’ll take my favourite horse the next day and at long, long last leave this place. If only to go down to the village, talk to the baker’s daughter and buy a fresh roll from her. Then to sleep in the field and watch the stars and hear the rustle of trees and the murmuring of a brook. I have never heard those things – well, the rustle of leaves, the murmur of the well.
I’m in theory the third most powerful person in Nar, but I’m not allowed to leave my own house. This castle is where I stay, and that is not open for discussion. It is the safest place for me to be, and they won’t risk losing the heir. Even if that’s me.

So for more than 28 years I have lived here. I spent most of my time in my own room, or in the library, reading or writing letters. I try to stay out of whatever petty intrigue the others are busying themselves with. I play chess with Grandmother or Otho or Boaz. Sometimes I play dice for money with Grandmother (I obviously can’t play anyone else for money), and that’s a lot of fun. Now and then, when I can be bothered, I exercise with the guards. And on rare occasions we get a visitor and I entertain (or irritate?) them with my presence. Twice a year I inspect the royal guard. At summer equinox we have the grand meeting of nobles (as many as bother to show up) and during winter equinox we always hire a cook and a storyteller.

And one day my father will fall in a ravine or get shot by robbers or he’ll just die of old age, and they’ll have to put a crown on my head.