excuse me, I need to prepare for King Augustus’ and my departure.” With that, the Queen ascended the steps and disappeared into the castle.
A grunt and contented sigh drew Cole’s attention to the old man unloading the carriage. He had apparently removed the last item and climbed down. His duties fulfilled, he leaned against the coach and wiped sweat from his brow with a grimy handkerchief. The movement was awkward and caught Cole’s attention. Another look told him the man’s arm was mechanical. His ruminations of gifts for Samantha were abandoned in lieu of further investigation of the man’s arm.
“Hello. I’m Cole.” He said jovially, hoping to put the man at ease while talking to a noble. The man stood up with a grunt and offered his real hand in return to Cole’s gesture.
“Cole nothin’, yer the prince, and I’ll call ya as I’m suposed.” Shocked and pleased at the elder’s forwardness Cole slapped him on the back and laughed.
“You are most correct. But please, let’s dispense with the formalities. If you must, call me Prince Cole. What shall I call you?”
“Anything ya want, but most call me Zeb.”
“Well Zeb, I must confess that I have a terrible curious streak, and I couldn’t help but notice your arm. I don’t wish to offend you, but I really would like to get a closer look.”
“No offense takin’. Have a gander.”
Zeb held his arm out unabashedly for Cole’s inspection. It was astounding. The most intricate piece of tinkering he had ever seen and on a servant nonetheless. By the oxidation Cole could tell the mech was almost a decade old. The more he studied the thing the more questions he had.
“Can you make a fist Zeb?” he asked in his most scientific voice. Obediently, the mechanical arm pumped and whirred. The metal fingers ratcheted into a human like fist and then relaxed.
“Truly miraculous.” Cole tore his eyes away from the arm to look at Zeb, contemplating how to ask his first question without offending the man.
“Zeb. Is this the standard in artificial limbs in Perspicia?”
“No sir. This here’s special. Don’t think you’ll find one like it anywheres else. Maybe never.”
“I’ve seen incredible mech from your country, but I don’t think I’ve seen anything so technologically advanced. Tell me Zeb, how did you become the recipient of such a fine piece?”
“Jasper o’ course.” Zeb said, pride evident in his eyes. Cole struggled to place the name. It sounded familiar, but Zeb spoke the name as if he were a king of renown. Thankfully, the man continued. “Was somthin’ he was tinkerin’ with. He needed a lab rat without a arm, and just so happen’ I lost one.” Zeb guffawed at his presumed joke. Cole laughed awkwardly out of respect.
“Jasper went missin’ rite after. Won’t find another like it, an ain’t givin’ this one up fer what they call re-placemets.” Zeb made the hand fist a couple of times to prove its superiority. “and I don’t care what nobody says. Jasper wouldn’t just up an leave. Someone must’ve taken him.” The look on Zeb’s face dared Cole to disagree.
“I believe you, my friend.” Cole said with a squeeze of the older man’s shoulder. Zeb suddenly shifted his weight uncomfortably and cleared his throat. He took off his dusty bowler hat and circled it between his hands.
“Everything okay, Zeb?” Cole asked, eliminating any concern from his voice that he felt at the man’s sudden change in demeanor.
“Well…” Zeb started, then swallowed hard. His eyes darted up to the castle steps and then into the driver’s seat of the carriage. “I think horse.”
“You think horse?” Cole repeated, even more confused.
“For a present, for Miss Sam…er. I mean Lady Samantha.” Zeb laughed nervously and turned back to the carriage.
“Wait.” Zeb pivoted back to Cole, the man’s anxiety showing in every wrinkle and crease on his face. Why would this man be so frightened of him? “You think I
A grunt and contented sigh drew Cole’s attention to the old man unloading the carriage. He had apparently removed the last item and climbed down. His duties fulfilled, he leaned against the coach and wiped sweat from his brow with a grimy handkerchief. The movement was awkward and caught Cole’s attention. Another look told him the man’s arm was mechanical. His ruminations of gifts for Samantha were abandoned in lieu of further investigation of the man’s arm.
“Hello. I’m Cole.” He said jovially, hoping to put the man at ease while talking to a noble. The man stood up with a grunt and offered his real hand in return to Cole’s gesture.
“Cole nothin’, yer the prince, and I’ll call ya as I’m suposed.” Shocked and pleased at the elder’s forwardness Cole slapped him on the back and laughed.
“You are most correct. But please, let’s dispense with the formalities. If you must, call me Prince Cole. What shall I call you?”
“Anything ya want, but most call me Zeb.”
“Well Zeb, I must confess that I have a terrible curious streak, and I couldn’t help but notice your arm. I don’t wish to offend you, but I really would like to get a closer look.”
“No offense takin’. Have a gander.”
Zeb held his arm out unabashedly for Cole’s inspection. It was astounding. The most intricate piece of tinkering he had ever seen and on a servant nonetheless. By the oxidation Cole could tell the mech was almost a decade old. The more he studied the thing the more questions he had.
“Can you make a fist Zeb?” he asked in his most scientific voice. Obediently, the mechanical arm pumped and whirred. The metal fingers ratcheted into a human like fist and then relaxed.
“Truly miraculous.” Cole tore his eyes away from the arm to look at Zeb, contemplating how to ask his first question without offending the man.
“Zeb. Is this the standard in artificial limbs in Perspicia?”
“No sir. This here’s special. Don’t think you’ll find one like it anywheres else. Maybe never.”
“I’ve seen incredible mech from your country, but I don’t think I’ve seen anything so technologically advanced. Tell me Zeb, how did you become the recipient of such a fine piece?”
“Jasper o’ course.” Zeb said, pride evident in his eyes. Cole struggled to place the name. It sounded familiar, but Zeb spoke the name as if he were a king of renown. Thankfully, the man continued. “Was somthin’ he was tinkerin’ with. He needed a lab rat without a arm, and just so happen’ I lost one.” Zeb guffawed at his presumed joke. Cole laughed awkwardly out of respect.
“Jasper went missin’ rite after. Won’t find another like it, an ain’t givin’ this one up fer what they call re-placemets.” Zeb made the hand fist a couple of times to prove its superiority. “and I don’t care what nobody says. Jasper wouldn’t just up an leave. Someone must’ve taken him.” The look on Zeb’s face dared Cole to disagree.
“I believe you, my friend.” Cole said with a squeeze of the older man’s shoulder. Zeb suddenly shifted his weight uncomfortably and cleared his throat. He took off his dusty bowler hat and circled it between his hands.
“Everything okay, Zeb?” Cole asked, eliminating any concern from his voice that he felt at the man’s sudden change in demeanor.
“Well…” Zeb started, then swallowed hard. His eyes darted up to the castle steps and then into the driver’s seat of the carriage. “I think horse.”
“You think horse?” Cole repeated, even more confused.
“For a present, for Miss Sam…er. I mean Lady Samantha.” Zeb laughed nervously and turned back to the carriage.
“Wait.” Zeb pivoted back to Cole, the man’s anxiety showing in every wrinkle and crease on his face. Why would this man be so frightened of him? “You think I
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