Rat returned some time later, and Tarreint felt the large leather-bound volume being pushed into his hands.
"Shall I leave you now, my lord?"
Tarreint stared sightlessly at the boy, then he laughed. "Yes, certainly and bring me a candle, while you're at it."
Rat stood dumbstruck. "IIm sorry, my lordI didn't think"
"I can tell that you didn't think. I hope youll start doing that soon, though. Sit here."
Rat complied.
"Open the book, Tarreint instructed him. "What does the first page say?"
Pages rustled, and Rat cleared his throat nervously. "A Treatise of the Different Kinds "
"I knew that much. Under the title."
"There there are many different kinds of p-powers most arcane that that occur in this world, and the g-greatest comes from the Gods."
"Ah," Tarreint said. "I remember. Skip that paragraph. What does the next say?"
Rat hesitated.
"The next paragraph starts where the next colourful picture is," Tarreint said with a sigh.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tarreint, until very recently, has been one of the most powerful men in the country, as the would-be king's highest advisor and a "wizard" of considerable power. Now, fallen from grace with his lord and blinded by a magical mishap, he has to count himself lucky that his newly assigned manservant, although scared stiff of him and slightly slow in the uptake, is at least able to read.
Pencil, Photoshop.
Find out more about "The Rhyddion Chronicles" here! [link]
Ah yes, I suppose I might regret it if I don't mention this: No slash involved...
Anyhow, I saw Rat and I was reminded of that boy. The same slightly sad expression too!