Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #18 September 2015 | Page 44
“Your scepticism is well-justified, and I
would expect it in my Regent. Please get up Manfred.
Sit down both of you and take some tea, it’s really
rather good. You see, to me, it seems like I have only
been gone a few months. Only a score of years ago,
Manfred bounced me on his knee. You’ve hardly
changed a bit. It’s ten thousand, three hundred and
sixty nine years, to be exact.” Manfred and Gamyon
sat in comfortable armchairs, which matched the sofa.
King Ubadah served them tea. “Biscuits anyone?”
This is surreal, having tea with the King and the
Regent. You can bet that sparks will fly soon and they
won’t be from my staff.
Gamyon couldn’t hold back any longer. “If
you are who you say you are, where have you been?
Explain yourself!” Rather a curt way to behave with
one’s king. There will surely be sparks. I remember
when Ubadah was a boy, very cute but very moody if
he didn’t get his own way. Better try to smooth it out a
bit.
“My lord, please be so kind as to tell us what
you have been doing these last ten thousand years or
so. I know that I’ve been very busy. I wouldn’t know
where to start.” That should placate him. Manfred
managed to glare at Gamyon and get his attention. For
goodness sake, take it easy.
Ubadah sighed and then began his story.
“Everything seems like yesterday to me, because
it almost was. Let me start at the beginning. Help
yourselves to more tea and biscuits, because this may
take some time. Please don’t interrupt!” He looked
hard at Gamyon. Gamyon returned his gaze with
interest. Manfred smiled. “There’ll be time enough for
questions at the end.” Manfred sat back and listened to
Ubadah’s story, transfixed as a few more pieces of the
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