Page 9 of Jon’s Desert Prince Dream

“I’m sure they do.” Hopefully I could supply answers they’d like to hear. Otherwise that’d be problematic very quickly.

The palace was very large—sprawling might be the better way to put it—with multiple courtyards and fountains. It felt cool and refreshing as we walked through them, and it wasn’t until we’d reached the very front of the building that I realized it wasn’t so much a place to live as it was to conduct business. Which made me wonder in turn where Prince Donovan’s house was, or did he live here? I saw the influence of both in his lines.

Perhaps he had a more permanent home and treated this more like a working apartment? Ah, yes, that made sense of the lines.

“Jon?”

I blinked up at him, a little startled. “I’m sorry, did I miss something?”

“We’re here,” he informed me, amused. But also a little worried; I could see flashes like a pulse. “Do you normally get distracted like that?”

“Er…I try not to?” It was an honest answer, at least.

Dismay swamped him for a moment. “That’s dangerous, though.”

“Trust me, I know. There’s a reason why my shins are covered in bruises. I walk into things a lot.”

He didn’t like that answer either, even though I was partially joking, and gave a heavy sigh. “Registration first, for sure.”

Well, he’d figure it out soon enough. The only real danger happened when I opened my mouth.

The registration office was indeed right there, and in fact seemed to be two buildings, both of them flanking the outside of the palace’s gates. I saw many people roaming around, either casually chatting, or clearly there on business. Most of them wore blue?

Holy shit, they were all psychics of some level or type.

Even as we breached the doorway, I frantically whispered to Donovan, “Is it standard for psychics to wear blue?”

“Of course,” he answered in a low tone, the arm around my waist guiding me towards the left. “For two reasons. One, you’re highly ranked, of course you can afford to wear blue. For another, wearing it gives other people a…how to put this…a trust? You must be highly ranked, you must have psychic ability or leadership, if you’re wearing blue. So if something happens in public and someone needs help, they know a person wearing blue is the right place to start.”

“Oh, so I’m like a first responder?”

“That’s not the wrong way to put it, as you are, although that’s not your main function.”

A woman of average height with soft blonde hair and pale skin approached me, all smiles. She seemed average enough except she was somehow energetically tied to the woman next to her, a brunette with similar—oh, they were sisters! The brunette had a sort of reading ability, although very different from mine, as she seemed to use tools to focus her craft?

The brunette came right up to me, staring at me with a sort of wonder. “My god, are you like this all the time?”

“Sorry.” I winced a little and gave a shrug. “I am.”

Prince Donovan stirred at my side. “What’s this?”

“His energy is insane.” The brunette answered without taking eyes off me. “It’s like he’s a raging bonfire walking around. You must be incredibly powerful. A Reader, am I right?”

I gave a hesitant nod. “Right. I can see you’re uncomfortable. Should I leave—”

She threw up a hand to stop me. “You’re a bit intense, but I can manage. You’re here to register, clearly, as Prince Donovan brought you. I’m Carol, this is my sister and anchor, Sharon.”

“Hello, I’m Jon.”

“Come, Jon, come sit at my desk.”

Her desk was quite nice, in fact, and mostly open. There was a map on it, then two trays that lined either side with a variety of gems, crystals, decks of cards, and other things I couldn’t readily discern at a glance.

Sharon had a very large and well-used book in hand, and she flipped to a new page as I watched, settling down at a flanking desk so she could write comfortably. Really, as large as the room was, it only had enough space for those two desks, chairs for visitors, and a sideboard that held plates of fruits and decanters of water and tea. Well, that and the shelving unit and dresser that took up the entire right wall. It was crammed to the gills too.

Prince Donovan took up a spot near the door, standing well out of the way, and simply watched as Carol did several readings on me. I could see her ability interact as she used it and almost tried to be helpful, but then realized I probably shouldn’t. I already made her energetically uncomfortable as it was.

After three readings, she sat back with a huff, little dots of sweat on her forehead. Then she lifted her head and spoke to Prince Donovan directly. “Descendant.”