Blessing of Seasons

He sat in the office and waited. Jordan had gone to fetch Webber from the meeting of the board of Kingsmen leaders down the hall, and he thought it best that he should wait. He wanted to keep the knowledge of his involvement limited and quiet.

There was nothing to say he should not have involvement, but there were those, especially in Sa'ar, who were sure to say otherwise, and he would like to avoid a perceived scandal.

Jordan walked the man in and shut the door behind him, assuring their privacy.

'The man is young,' he told his King, as if he hadn't known.

'He is my ambassador,' the voice of the King replied in silence. 'Do not trouble yourself for ought but his heart, for it is good, and his prayers rise up before me in the night seasons.'

"Very well," he sighed.

The two men watched him in silence.

'It would seem the man is nervous. Howbeit, this is the man, and I will not disregard the word which the King has spoken or the direction he has given me.'

"Mr. Webber," he said, breaking the voiceless tension, "thank you for coming to join us."

"It... was nothing," the young man said, lightly shaking.

"I think you should have become acquainted with Mr. Carder," he said, shifting his gaze towards Jordan. "He is your representative on the Council, and I," he said, looking on Webber with intense interest, "am Seer Trimble."

"Yes, sir," Webber said humbly. "I surmised, but... I'm afraid, I don't know what it is you could possibly want with me."

Jordan grinned. "I like him."

"Do you?" Sebastian chuckled.

"Yes," Jordan agreed. "I'll be happy to give him the best recommendation I can."

"What?" The man spun around to Jordan with his eyes wild and full of wonder.

Sebastian smiled. 'Yes, he'll do well.'

"Mr. Webber," Carder addressed, "there has been a recent vacancy which needs filled, and we had hoped that you might oblige us."

The boy exhaled in astonishment, and made a noise as if he had the will to speak, though no more than breath came. He turned his eyes to the ground and looked away. His face wore a distinct look of alarm and disbelief. He brought his hand up to his face and covered his nose.

"Sirs, you can't mean that," he said at last, shaking his head as if to dismiss the matter, and he looked to Sebastian with pleading eyes. "I am not a great man, sirs." His eyes wandered rapidly between the two of them. "Please, I-I am an orphan! I have no parents. I have no kin. I am not rich. I have no inheritance. I have no land but a small cabin east of town."

"Then you understand," Sebastian said, speaking to him slowly, "that with Benzulum's passing, there is a need to fill the ambassador's position?"

The boy swallowed nervously, his eyes frantic. "Sirs, please," he appealed to them earnestly, "I am not a great man. Surely, you could find a man better to be your representative. I am a simple man from a border town, an armorial, lightly esteemed. Would you send me to represent you before the King and his Court?"

"You are the man whom the King has chosen," Sebastian said, opposing him certainly. "Perhaps, you are not esteemed of men, but you are esteemed of God and perfect for the season."

Jordan had remained silent with his contemplative eyes staring down past the floorboards. He pressed his loosely curled fingers over his mouth as he thought, considering the boy's words. His eyes were fiery and determined. Suddenly, his eyes raised, and his knuckles tapped against his locked lips.

"I will give him the highest recommendation," he said, looking to Sebastian, his voice serious.

Webber looked at him, his mouth agape, and Jordan set his hand on the young man's narrow shoulder. He stared into his eyes and said again, "My very highest."

Webber blinked. His eyes watched Jordan intently before dropping, and he bowed himself. "As you wish," he softly acquiesced.

Sebastian smiled. "Good, then, ambassador."

Webber slowly lifted himself and turned to the Seer. "What shall I do?" he asked in a softness and humility.

"Wait for us," he said. "Tell no man of this, and wait for the invitation to come from the Council. When it does, you will go to Elkshire to appear before them. Have your bags packed and leave your house in the care of another. You may not return here for some time."

Webber nodded. "Yes, sir. I understand."

"Then, come," Sebastian said, rising from the chair and moving around the desk to the place where the young man stood. "I will tell you what things will come to you."

Webber nodded, and Sebastian laid his hands on the boy's shoulders. 'I understand you are a youth, but you have much favor with God.'

"Mr. Webber, you have a long road ahead of you. Your trials will be many, but your joy will be more; they will not overcome you. Your heart will be merry in the presence of your enemies, and in the midst of those who seek your life, you will be blessed. Through many perils you will go, and through all your soul will be saved alive out of trouble. You will speak to the king both strength and wisdom, and he will not hear you. Howbeit, a ruler will come with whom the Lord has given you all favor, and he will bless you and call you a father in the land. Your words will be given to power. The deaf will not hear you, but those who hear will receive gladly the fruit of your lips. So shall you be blessed in Altrüon, and so, also, shall your wife be blessed, because you are beloved of our King; he has heard your heart and shown you great favor in saying not you only, but, also, your wife shall be blessed."

When Sebastian was done, he removed his hands from Webber's shoulders and looked to Jordan. "Will you bless this man?"

The councilman smiled with a nod and put his hands on the shoulders of the young man. "Be faithful and prosper. Have great confidence in Himmel and our King, and never fail. Have victory over all of your enemies. Be blessed in life, and in death be not a stranger. May you escape from the perils of this world and overcome the darkness. May your name be great in Altrüon and known throughout the kingdom. May you prosper, and may you receive from the hand of our most gracious and benevolent King every good thing and every desire of your heart according to the blessing of seasons."