Aresan Clan pt 63

Anders’ three official philosophers of state, Apamix, Taney and Sidd arrived at the Private House soon afterwards. They all wore the black velvet robes and purple hexagonal caps with gold tassels that identified them as learned doctors of philosophy. They were like three figures from the same mold with only slight variation, each with white wisps of hair sticking out from beneath their caps and identical trim grey beards. The three only really varied in girth and height, with Apamix being the tallest, Taney the fattest and Sidd the in between.

“We have come to collect our subject,” Apamey said to Anders’ servant Eldeba.

“The so-called ‘Prodigal Prodigy,’ as he’s known,” Taney continued.

“Or, Samuel, as he’s more properly addressed,” Sidd added.

Eldeba, who was dressed formally, bowed stiffly and showed them to the room where Samuel was eating. The child was inexpertly stuffing the food into his mouth with his hands and chewing away loudly at it with large, smacking bites. He seemed to take glee in the simple act of eating by himself and relished the delicious meal. After he was finished Eldeba wiped off the child’s hands and put the hood back on his head, and then led him from the room by his hand.

“How old is this boy?” Apamix asked as they walked, directing his question at Eldeba.

“Six or seven years of age, I would estimate,” Taney replied instead.

“I’d estimate some five or six years, based on his height and cranial size,” Sidd added.

“That’s probably about right,” Eldeba said, “But we don’t know. They never found his mother. Tragic thing, isn’t it?”

“Yes, especially when we consider the outcomes that result when a child is deprived of a proper mother,” Apamix commented.

“Undoubtedly,” Taney added, “Perhaps that may account for his expressive aphasia.”

“A plausible theory,” Sidd concurred, “Parents are essential for language acquisition, and, without such linguistic models, he may have been permanently deprived of speech.”

All three philosophers nodded their heads in agreement at the conclusion of these words.

They led the boy, with Eldeba’s assistance, to their school, the Monaster Scribnal House, a school of advanced education founded by the Scribes of the Monaster clan over a century ago. The grounds of the school directly abutted the grounds of the Premier’s Private House, such that the walk was short.

They led the boy into the doors of the white-stone building through the halls of their august institution to a lab where they’d already set up for their experiments. The windowless room they entered was filled with all types of curious apparatuses and substances contained in many earthenware jars and bowls and small sacks strewn throughout many rooms. The room was bordered with four cold grey walls, and, though carpets that hung upon the walls and were spread across the floor softened these walls, the room was cold and had a cavernous reverberation when anyone spoke.

The philosophers sat the boy down in a chair in one end of the room and began with some direct observation, measuring his proportions, examining his skin, checking his tongue, his nails, even seeking samples of his excrement. All the while, Samuel remained calm, the black hood covering his face.

After completing these tasks, the philosophers took notes on their wax tablets and discussed the significance of the observations. Eldeba let the child stroll around the room during this break. Samuel couldn’t see a thing through the hood, but this didn’t prevent him from moving around the room with careless abandon, his hands outstretched to search out walls before he hit them, running around as if he really didn’t care if he ran into anything. The philosophers dodged out of the way, so he didn’t run into their legs, and all the while he snaked around the room in circles, bumping his arms and elbows occasionally against the walls, but continuing undeterred nonetheless.

After this respite, the philosophers took a hold of Samuel’s small hands and led him back to his chair. The next phase of their investigations would be to see the effects that the child’s eyes had on human subjects.

“I’ve long wished for an opportunity to study a Sable first-hand,” Apamix admitted to his two colleagues, “To see the true extent of their powers.”

“They are a natural manifestation of the divinity’s power on earth, gentleman,” Taney added, “Today’s investigations will provide evidence for it, I am sure.”

“I myself have long been skeptical of their existence,” Sidd admitted, “I always assumed they were pure myth. I am still not convinced this boy is truly one of them.”

Eldeba stood behind Samuel in his chair, when the three philosophers called in their first test subject, Imann, and asked him to sit in a chair facing the still hooded Samuel.

<-- Go to Part 62         Go to Part 64 -->

You can see what's been written so far collected here.

Anders’ three official philosophers of state, Apamix, Taney and Sidd arrived at the Private House soon afterwards. They all wore the black velvet robes and purple hexagonal caps with gold tassels that identified them as learned doctors of philosophy. They were like three figures from the same mold with only slight variation, each with white wisps of hair sticking out from beneath their caps and identical trim grey beards. The three only really varied in girth and height, with Apamix being the tallest, Taney the fattest and Sidd the in between.

“We have come to collect our subject,” Apamey said to Anders’ servant Eldeba.

“The so-called ‘Prodigal Prodigy,’ as he’s known,” Taney continued.

“Or, Samuel, as he’s more properly addressed,” Sidd added.

Eldeba, who was dressed formally, bowed stiffly and showed them to the room where Samuel was eating. The child was inexpertly stuffing the food into his mouth with his hands and chewing away loudly at it with large, smacking bites. He seemed to take glee in the simple act of eating by himself and relished the delicious meal. After he was finished Eldeba wiped off the child’s hands and put the hood back on his head, and then led him from the room by his hand.

“How old is this boy?” Apamix asked as they walked, directing his question at Eldeba.

“Six or seven years of age, I would estimate,” Taney replied instead.

“I’d estimate some five or six years, based on his height and cranial size,” Sidd added.

“That’s probably about right,” Eldeba said, “But we don’t know. They never found his mother. Tragic thing, isn’t it?”

“Yes, especially when we consider the outcomes that result when a child is deprived of a proper mother,” Apamix commented.

“Undoubtedly,” Taney added, “Perhaps that may account for his expressive aphasia.”

“A plausible theory,” Sidd concurred, “Parents are essential for language acquisition, and, without such linguistic models, he may have been permanently deprived of speech.”

All three philosophers nodded their heads in agreement at the conclusion of these words.

They led the boy, with Eldeba’s assistance, to their school, the Monaster Scribnal House, a school of advanced education founded by the Scribes of the Monaster clan over a century ago. The grounds of the school directly abutted the grounds of the Premier’s Private House, such that the walk was short.

They led the boy into the doors of the white-stone building through the halls of their august institution to a lab where they’d already set up for their experiments. The windowless room they entered was filled with all types of curious apparatuses and substances contained in many earthenware jars and bowls and small sacks strewn throughout many rooms. The room was bordered with four cold grey walls, and, though carpets that hung upon the walls and were spread across the floor softened these walls, the room was cold and had a cavernous reverberation when anyone spoke.

The philosophers sat the boy down in a chair in one end of the room and began with some direct observation, measuring his proportions, examining his skin, checking his tongue, his nails, even seeking samples of his excrement. All the while, Samuel remained calm, the black hood covering his face.

After completing these tasks, the philosophers took notes on their wax tablets and discussed the significance of the observations. Eldeba let the child stroll around the room during this break. Samuel couldn’t see a thing through the hood, but this didn’t prevent him from moving around the room with careless abandon, his hands outstretched to search out walls before he hit them, running around as if he really didn’t care if he ran into anything. The philosophers dodged out of the way, so he didn’t run into their legs, and all the while he snaked around the room in circles, bumping his arms and elbows occasionally against the walls, but continuing undeterred nonetheless.

After this respite, the philosophers took a hold of Samuel’s small hands and led him back to his chair. The next phase of their investigations would be to see the effects that the child’s eyes had on human subjects.

“I’ve long wished for an opportunity to study a Sable first-hand,” Apamix admitted to his two colleagues, “To see the true extent of their powers.”

“They are a natural manifestation of the divinity’s power on earth, gentleman,” Taney added, “Today’s investigations will provide evidence for it, I am sure.”

“I myself have long been skeptical of their existence,” Sidd admitted, “I always assumed they were pure myth. I am still not convinced this boy is truly one of them.”

Eldeba stood behind Samuel in his chair, when the three philosophers called in their first test subject, Imann, and asked him to sit in a chair facing the still hooded Samuel.

<-- Go to Part 62         Go to Part 64 -->

You can see what's been written so far collected here.

Aresan Clan pt 63