Chapter 5When the door opened in the morning, it was the King on the other side. He said nothing, but his visage bore all the silenced words. His blue eyes went wide at the sight of his wealth, now doubled or even tripled with all that remained inside. Then the King’s skin became beet red as he regarded the nakedness of the boy before him.
“Your father is a liar,” the King repeated. A weary smile forged on his face. “But you, my dear, are magic. Welcome to the Kingdom.”
“I’d like to go home,” Gideon said feebly.
The King handed him a robe. He said nothing until Gideon slipped it around his shoulders. He rose on his shaky feet, just as the King dubbed him, “Mage. Royal Mage. You will stay here now.”
“But I—”
Gideon stopped speaking as a single drop of blood fell from his cut-up knuckle
