Chapter 17 - Yelling And Cursing

"I don't see why you need me, I'm sure that you could handle this on your own." Professor Kal said, grumbling out loud with his arms across his chest.

He and Dean Petticoat were riding in a luxurious carriage, bounding uninhibited down the main street of the capital. Their destination was the marvelous castle that occupied the center of the city. The castle boasted meticulously carved stone walls thirty feet high, battlements were placed on the walls to facilitate archers. Currently, the drawbridge was down that spanned the wide moat that surrounded the castle.

Once past the imposing walls, you would enter a large courtyard. An army of gardeners were employed in order to keep all the hedges trimmed and the flowers deweeded. There were even large bushes trimmed in the shape of animals, such as majestic unicorns or mighty dragons. Overlooking the beautiful gardens was the main keep of the castle. This would be where the Royal Court would meet and any negotiations with foreign countries would take place.

Behind the Keep, although not as big, was the Royal Palace. This is where the King and Queen's personal quarters were, along with their children. This was naturally the most heavily guarded building in the entire castle, and also Professor Kal's current destination.

"I'd rather not take the chance. I'm certain that you have the skills needed to save the First Prince." Dean Petticoat said, ignoring Professor Kal's grumblings.

"And what makes you think that? I could be a one trick pony for all you know." Kal said, spreading his hands out wide.

"If that's the case, then we're both dead." The Dean said, his face and tone both extremely serious.

Professor Kal just shrugged his shoulders, not bothered by the Dean's words one bit. He didn't know much about the King, but doubted that he would behead the ones trying to help his son. Although, he had heard of that sort of thing happening before, back before he went underground. It wouldn't matter anyway, if the King wants to play tyrant, he'd be more than happy to play along.

Dean Petticoat didn't know what to make of Kal's unbothered attitude, he just shook his head and looked out the window. Knights lined the street, pushing the commoners clear of the road, allowing the carriage to move at top speed. They were nearly to the castle, maybe only five more minutes of travel would be required. According to the steward, the prince should arrive no later than three hours from now. They would use this extra time to get prepared for his treatment.

Horses panted and strained as they pulled the heavy carriage over the drawbridge and through the courtyard. The carriage driver pulled hard on the reins, urging the horses to stop. With squealing brakes, the carriage pulled up to the Royal Palace, knights waiting in their full armor. One of the knights came and opened the carriage door, allowing Professor Kal and Dean Petticoat to exit.

"Please, follow me." A pretty maid said, bowing low to the two mages.

She escorted them to a large bedroom on the ground floor of the palace. Inside were already several maids rushing back and forth, preparing clean linens and anything else that might be required. The court mage was also waiting in the room, his long, blue robe was studded with gems that were twinkling in the sunlight coming through the open windows. He was an older man, around the same age as Professor Auveco, with grey hair and wrinkles lining his face. The only difference was that he seemed much better health wise, he was moving around just as fast as the young maids, keeping track of everything that entered the room.

Not wasting time with pleasantries, Kal marched up to the Court Mage and started to interrogate him. "Tell me everything that you know about the First Princes' condition."

The Court Mage looked Kal up and down, not appreciating the way this young man addressed him. He looked over at Dean Petticoat, noticing his slight nod towards him. He trusted the Dean of the Academy, so he decided to humor the young man on his behalf.

"All we know is that his Majesty, the First Prince, was away on a diplomatic mission to our neighboring country of Morgania. He'd been there for well over a month with no issues, until two weeks ago when he came down with a debilitating illness. It started with fatigue and stomach pains, slowly building in severity until he couldn't stand. The Court Mages of Morgania treated him the best they could, under supervision of course, but were unable to help him in any meaningful way. That was when it was decided to rush the Prince back home to receive emergency treatment."

Professor Kal nodded his head, rubbing his chin between his thumb and forefinger. "I'll need a list of everything he has been treated for. I'll also need a few magic gems for better lighting, it's much too dark in here."

"We'll have to wait until the Prince arrives for the list of treatments applied, but the other request is easy enough." The Court Mage said, ordering a nearby maid to run off and gather the gems.

"One more thing before you go." Professor Kal said to the maid, stopping her from leaving.

"Some tobacco as well, it's very important."

"What's that for?" The Dean asked, not thinking of anything that tobacco could be used for.

"Me, I'm all out."

…..

Time slowly went by, Professor Kal was sitting on the windowsill, smoking away at his skeletal pipe. The crossbreeze carrying away the smoke, keeping it out of the room. Reginald Barclay, the Court Mage, didn't seem to like Professor Kalcifer. After he had requested some tobacco from the maid, Reginald went on a small rant, saying to 'take this matter more seriously' and 'how could you think of smoking at a time like this'.

Of course, Kal completely ignored the ranting Court Mage, opting to critique the decorations of the room. There was a large king size bed sitting in the middle of the room, a canopy draped thin, transparent curtains over it, keeping any mosquitoes at bay. A fireplace was installed in the wall, large enough to be able to roast a whole pig with room to spare. Oil on canvas paintings hung on the stone walls, some of different landscapes, some of the current King and Queen. There were also small tables and chairs set up, and a private bathroom behind a closed door in the corner.

Dean Petticoat and Court Mage Reginald were having a very heated conversation sitting at one of the small tables. They were trying to figure out what illness could possibly be afflicting the Prince, hoping that by the time he arrived, they could have a good idea on how to treat them. Professor Kal didn't take part in it because he thought it was pointless, and he told both of them that much as well. This added to the many reasons Reginald had to not like Professor Kal, he even began to question the Dean as to why he had brought him along.

When he told his friend about how Professor Kal was the one to make the Elemental Potion, Court Mage Reginald's eyes went wide slightly, and stopped pressing the issue. Mage Kalcifer may be an incorrigible person, but he had to admire the knowledge and skill it took to be able to come up with such a potion. He decided to give him the benefit of the doubt, hoping that his friend, the Dean, wasn't wrong to bring him.

"They're here." Professor Kal said with an uncaring tone, blowing a smoke ring out of the window.

His words were a preamble to a flurry of movement from everyone present. Maids rushed around, heating up water, bringing blocks of ice up from the cellar. The Dean and Court Mage rushed out of the room, heading to the receiving area. Professor Kal wondered if he should go as well, but decided to finish his pipe. They would come to him anyway, so what would be the point.

Shouts could be heard, growing louder and fast approaching. Kal put away his pipe and stood off to the side, waiting for the show to begin. A knight opened the bedroom door, holding it open as a stretcher was brought in, carrying the First Prince. Following closely behind were the two mages, both talking rapidly, debating with each other.

The First Prince was transferred to the bed, his body was limp and his skin was a sickly green. He was dressed in light clothing, it was loose and thin, trying to keep his skin from chaffing. Kalcifer could see that he was barely breathing, short, shallow breaths. His skin was clammy, his fingernails were purple and his lips were blue.

"He looks awful." Professor Kal said flatly.

"We can see that!" Court Mage Reginald said, shouting.

"If you have nothing constructive to add, then just keep quiet!"

The Dean must have agreed with what the Court Mage had said, not saying anything, only nodding his head. An awkward silence fell over the room, Kalcifer held his hands up, displaying surrender. Reginald shook his head, then turned his attention back to his patient, only to be interrupted once again.

"Where is he? Where is my son?" An elegant, older woman, maybe in her fifties, burst into the room.

She was wearing a long, blue dress, fitted with white lace and embroidery that would make the best seamstresses blush. A gem encrusted tiara adorned her braided, blonde hair. She lifted the hems of her dress as she floated across the thick carpet of the bedroom. Stopping at the bed, instantly grabbing ahold of her son, inspecting every inch of him.

"My son, my beautiful baby boy. What happened to you? Regi, you must save him, please save Alex!" The Queen said, tears already falling from her eyes.

Queen Elizabeth Jorni Amine, was the First Prince's mother. She was fifty-five this year and had three children, Alexander Amine, the First Prince, Susan Amine, the First Princess, and Sierra Amine, the second Princess. She was short, only standing five and a half feet tall. But as soon as she entered the room, she became the tallest, as everyone bowed low to the ground, everyone but Professor Kal.

She ignored the man dressed in a black robe, only having eyes for her dying son. Fixing his long blonde hair, brushing it behind his ear.

"Your majesty, we're doing everything we can. We have just started our examination, we expect results shortly." Reginald said, still bowing low.

He really didn't know if they would find anything or not, it was too early to say, but he had to tell the Queen something. With luck, maybe they would really be able to find the source of the illness, saving the Prince's life. He didn't want to think of the alternative. If the prince were to die, all three of them would be held accountable. The King was known for the deep love he held for his family, so it was hard to tell how he would react, Mage Reginald didn't wish to find out.

"Good, I'll stay her…." The Queen started to say, but was cut off by the man in the black robe.

"I can tell you right now what's wrong with him." Professor Kal quipped from over by the window.

Court Mage Reginald had enough of Professor Kal at this point, he stood up tall and walked over to the presumptuous man.

"Have you no decency? Have you no shame? You say to know what ales him, yet you stand some ten feet away! You didn't even show Her Majesty the respect she is due! How dare you! How dare yo…."

"SILENCE!" The Queen yelled out, causing Reginald to snap his mouth shut.

"You say you know what's wrong with him? Please, please save him!" She lowered her voice, grasping at anything she could, like a drowning man adrift at sea.

Professor Kal glared at Mage Reginald, frowning as he walked by him. Walking up to the Queen, he switched his frown for a smile.

"Your Majesty, it's very clear to me what illness he has." He paused for dramatic affect, achieving great results.

"For it is not an illness at all, no, it is in fact much, much worse.. Someone really wishes your son to die, they've placed a very powerful curse on him, one that will surely kill him."