He smiled benignly down at me, where I sat on the floor, at his feet. "Of course I feel like I'm prying, Esmeralda. But it's what I am, what I do. There really isn't much more I can say to that. Besides, in people dreams, I see their fears, their hopes, their wishes... Their desires. And then I can give them what they want, and in return I will get what I want."
"But, Sir... I still don't understand why you do it..." I played with the edge of my blue dress, tugging at the lace, just so I wouldn't have to look up at him. I knew what his face would look like, though. Smiling benignly, his dark eyes placid and unreadable behind his spectacles.
"Yes, I suppose you wouldn't. For my whole life, I have been able to see into people dreams while they sleep."
"That's kind of scary..."
"I suppose it is. But I'm used to it by now, Princess."
"I guess you would be..."
He laughed at me. "Are you implying that I'm old?"
"Um... Maybe?"
Before he could say anything more, my tutor knocked on the library door. "Esmeralda, it's time for your lessons. And the queen would like to speak with you, Mr. Jakobs."
"Of course." He stood, and so did I. "Good-bye, Princess." He bowed to me.
I curtsied back. "Sir."
Liar. That's what he was. A con. He couldn't see people's dreams, he could read people. That's all. Liar. My mother made him leave the kingdom, banned him for her rein. And she didn't see any reason to ban him for longer. She was younger than him, and she expected to be living for a long, long time. But she didn't. I was the queen before my 16th year.
What do you think? This may or may not turn out to be an entirly unrelated prelude to Lee Harken. Esmeralda would be her great-grandma, or great-great-grandma.
And Halloween is next weekend!! Yay!
I'm having a Halloween sleepover with Infublo, Fay, Manya, and Samara. Sorry if you've never heard of them.
Cheerio, peeps!
