~ CASIMIR ~
"You ready, Casimir?"
My father stood in the doorway of my chamber in simple leathers, his hair tied back, and a smile on his face. He winked when I looked at him.
I nodded and smiled as I scrambled to my feet, thanking God that he hadn't arrived ten minutes earlier when I'd been making a model. He could probably smell the glue, but I'd just tell him I had fixed… something.
I was twelve, and beginning to grow. He kept telling me to leave puppyhood behind me. And I was eager to do it.
But I liked making things.
I had decided that when I was King, I was going to make a decree that games and creative things- not just prophecies and books, but fun stuff like building and art and dance- wouldn't be deemed childish. That anyone would be allowed to do them.
Because then I could too.
