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I'll post the first section and then continue the story at my journal. Mostly because I know how sometimes the forums get crowded with a story. Fell free to comment in either place. I love feedback.

New Responsibilities

"No, no, no," the tutor said with imminent patience. "The portfolios of honorable Cerid Clan encompass wisdom and knowledge. Blodyn oversees agriculture and nature."

"Right, sorry," Orbsen said, ducking his head to hide a smile. The young prince just wasn't doing very well with the rote memorization that the topic required. So far the only noble houses he'd been able to keep track of were Meilir and Berkana – who were his immediate and extended family. "And Kenaz is... um," he twirled his pen between two fingers. "Kenaz oversees... Their portfolios encompass... light?"

"Yes, your highness, very well done," the older deiva enthused. Today was the first sunny day in weeks and Prince Orbsen, heir to the throne, wanted to go outside and forgo the lessons his father insisted were necessary for when the time came for his succession to the throne. Orbsen sighed and stared out the window as the tutor began to drone on about the accomplishment and lineage of the Great House of Kenaz. There was a small mother bird on a branch just outside the window feeding her chicks. He found watching the bird flit back and forth between her nest and the ground below much more interesting than the lesson.

"Prince Orbsen," Helaku snapped. Pounding on the table he startled the younger deiva into knocking over his inkwell.

"Sorry!" Orbsen said. Standing up before the ink could drip off the table and onto his robes he called out, "George!" His attendant oni entered the room immediately and as Orbsen explained, "I upset the inkwell," he was already cleaning up the spill.

"Really, sir," the servant said briskly, "What did you say to it? It seems to have fallen over. Did it trip as it tried to run off to cry?"

The tutor scowled fiercely but his student chuckled in appreciation of the joke and said, "I knocked it over, George. I was woolgathering instead of paying attention to my lessons."

"Decorum, highness," Helaku reminded. One did not talk to the servants, unless it was to give orders, certainly not to joke around with them.

"Of course, Master Helaku," Orbsen said, rolling his eyes, but hiding the motion in a glance toward the window. "May I go outside and enjoy the fine day now, please? I swear to study the Great Houses after lunch," he said.

"Very well. We have to allow time for this... mess to be cleaned in any case."

"Thank you!" Orbsen chirped. Bounding out of the room, he called, "Thanks, George!"

Continued...

Nice, can I have a question about the names you used? I mean, it is just your imagination or they have a deeper sense? (I like them)

This is the next part of New Responsibilities:

Smiling, Orbsen made his way out to the relative freedom of the gardens. It always amused him to imagine how the fey from the neighboring realm of Donara would feel looking out at the gardens of Mag Mell. For, though the day was warm and sunny and the sky was a bright lilac color, the ever-present mist still shrouded the ground. It was a weather condition that was unique to Mag Mell and gave the region an ethereal look and feel. Orbsen walked along the carefully tended paths, leaning over occasionally to smell a flower. Finally he came to his favorite section of the garden and sighing, he sat on the edge of a tinkling fountain.

Smiling the young prince gazed up at the clouds slowly moving across the sky and imagined he could see dragons and great sailing vessels in them. Suddenly, a strange gloom overtook Orbsen. Frowning, he stood and glanced around the mist-shrouded garden. "Something's... wrong," he said.

His brows knitting with anxiety he began to make his way down the path. Occasionally he could hear the soft sounds of a woman crying brought to him on the wind. Tears springing to his own eyes, Orbsen sat on the grass. His father often scolded him for being overly sensitive, but he generally didn’t cry without good reason and the sudden tears confused him.

He could now hear the faint sound of raised voice coming from deeper in the garden and felt as though his heart was breaking. It was like someone was toying with his emotions and he felt himself grow angry, though he didn’t know who with. His shoulders tensed and the tears suddenly dried up. Orbsen’s teeth clenched together and he growled, “He just wanted me to lift my skirts for him!” Blinking in confusion, he murmured, “Skirts?”

A moment later he was so tense with emotions that he was shaking. He felt like screaming, or hitting someone. Suddenly, there was a sound of someone crashing through the bushes. He looked up to see a silvery haired woman running down an adjacent path. “Echo,” a man called, following her. “Echo, you’re not planning on telling Psyche, are you?”

“I might,” Orbsen called, with surprising venom. The man shot him a curious look but continued following Echo away down the path. Scowling, Orbsen realized that he knew everything that had passed between the two strangers, although he couldn’t fathom how.

Shaking his head slowly, Orbsen retreated back toward the palace. He was still shaking with pent up emotions when he reached the building and was much relieved when he spotted his attendant. "George!" he called, running over to the taller being's side.

"Prince Orbsen, what's wrong? Did something upset you?" the oni asked.

"There was... this couple in the garden," he explained. "He'd gotten her pregnant and he didn't even care. H-He just wanted... and she was so... hurt and angry and frightened and worried."

"And you..." George said, still not sure why Orbsen was so upset.

"I... I don't know. I started feeling... hurt and everything, too. I... didn’t even... How do I know what happened? George, what's wrong with me?" He bit his lip nervously, searching the oni's face.

"Sir, I... is it possible that you have empathy?" he asked. Orbsen gave him a confused look and he clarified, "Perhaps you were sensing their emotions, sir."

"I know what empathy is, George," he said. Truthfully, he’d thought the oni had been referring to the ability to put yourself in someone else shoes, metaphorically. He sighed and continued, "I should probably talk to my father, hmm?"

"Most likely, sir, yes," the oni said. "I believe he's preparing to meet with his advisory council. As his heir, it's your prerogative to attend," he reminded. Shrugging, he added, "They may be able to advise him, and you, in the handling of this as well."

"Help me change into something more princely?" he asked.

Soon he was standing in his father's council chambers, dressed in fine court robes and wearing a simple fillet across his brow. The last time he'd attended an advisory council meeting was just after the ceremony that had marked formal ascension as heir to the throne.

Scowling, Emperor Anu waved him over to the seat at his right. As Orbsen took the seat, his father said, "Why are you here, Junior?"

Blushing, Orbsen said, "I have a query to present to the council, Fa – Sire." The older deiva nodded and indicated to his councilors that the meeting should begin. Orbsen sat quietly and dutifully paid attention to the meeting, waiting for his turn to speak. Each of the lords had something to present to the council. Each man stood in place and spoke eloquently regarding taxes or tariffs, diplomacy or war. Finally each of them had said his piece and Lord Constable Aizen glanced across the table toward Orbsen, trying to get his attention. He finally caught Orbsen's eyes and hid a grin as his nephew sprang to his feet.

Blushing again, Orbsen said, "S-Sire, my Lords of the Council, I..." He paused and collected his thoughts for a moment. "An unusual... incident occurred this morning in the garden, which I felt it might be good to bring to your attention. I... was walking and felt... suddenly very upset. I don’t know how I knew it but...there was a couple in the garden... having a disagreement. I know that is none of my concern," he said quickly, as his father cleared his throat. "How-however, during their disagreement... it seemed I could... sense their emotions. Indeed, I seemed to... take them into myself and, though it seems impossible... I somehow know all the details of what transpired between them."

"Are you saying that you have discovered a gift of telepathic empathy in yourself, Highness?" Lord Chancellor Inari asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I-It would seem so, my lord," Orbsen said, looking down and fidgeting with the tassels on his belt. His father cleared his throat once more and Orbsen put his hands behind his back and raised his eyes.

"Obviously this is a gift that must be taught and brought under your control," Lord Aizen said, scowling in concern.

"It may also be of some use to us," Anu said, looking keenly at his son. "The council will recall that we have spoken regarding increased duties for our son and heir. Perhaps, if Lord Aizen would be willing to give aid and guidance, his highness might become the Chief of the Investigations Department and use this... gift to thwart those who would seek to harm the people of Mag Mell."

The members of the council were nodding in agreement and Orbsen had no other choice but to agree to the plan. "A-as you will, Sire," he said softly. "I'm honored a-and I thank you." He sat quickly, blinking rapidly in shock. He'd come seeking answers and direction and had been given charge of a department he had no idea how to lead. Suddenly, he realized that the councilors were rising as his father rose to leave. Shaking his head, Orbsen slowly got to his feet.

"He rather sprang that on you, didn't he, Orey?" Aizen said softly from near his elbow. The familiar nickname that was used only by family and old schoolmates reassured Orbsen that they weren't standing on formality any longer.

"I certainly didn't expect it," he admitted, continuing, "I don't know the first thing about investigations, Uncle, let alone leading them."

"That's where I come in, Nephew," came the reassuring reply. "I'm the Lord Constable, so we'll be working closely with each other. Essentially, you'll report to me; but once you've learned the ropes I won't monitor you as closely, alright?" Orbsen nodded in relief and fell into step with his mother's older brother. "Your father isn't too happy about you being empathic – he sees it as a... feminine gift – so he's not likely to allow you to have it trained too intensively. Probably just enough so you don't pick up on the emotions of everyone in the room."

Orbsen nodded again and murmured, "So, now I'm his Chief Investigator. Does this mean I have to go to all the council meetings now?"

"You are his heir, Orey," Aizen said, chuckling. "You should have been going right along."

"I hate meetings; they're worse than lessons," Orbsen complained. "I'll never have any free time again." Aizen shook his head and began laughing helplessly at that statement and Orbsen scowled and mumbled, "It's not funny." However, he soon smiled ruefully and dutifully followed his uncle to the office that had been set aside for the Head of Investigations.

Continued (follow the link in the first post)