Crowns, Cards, and Chimes

They say people born differently are closer to the Divine than ordinary men. In the mediaeval kingdom of Southern Vale, it is believed that individuals who were born with some kind of deformity or dysfunctionality were touched by God—blessed to speak outspoken truths and provide atypical and candid insights in a humorous way, and to foresee the hidden realities of the world. Showing kindness and giving charity to them means possessing benevolent virtues and a sense of moral and social responsibility, compelling the nobles and the privileged to shelter them and provide sanctuary. As the years went by, they gradually became a source of entertainment for the upper echelons of society. They became known as the fools—entertainers whose main purpose was to amuse the nobility.

Aubergine, a young lad of eight and ten years old, sat alone beneath the shade of an ancient oak tree in the heart of a vast, verdant field, sweetly humming a popular lullaby. He sought refuge there, shielding his pale skin from the blazing sun while relishing the cool breeze that brushed through his silver hair. As the chilly wind caressed his face, he closed his peculiar violet eyes, savouring the sensation even more.

He opened his mouth and began singing the lullaby he had been humming earlier, his sweet voice carrying across the field.

Lullay lullow, lullay lully,

Beway bewy, lullay lullow,

Lullay lully,

Baw me bairne, sleep softly now.

I saw a sweet and seemly sight,

A blissful burd, a blossom bright,

That morning made and mirth among.

Lullay lullow, lullay lully,

Beway bewy, lullay lullow,

Lullay lully,

Baw me bairne, sleep softly now.

When he finished singing, he opened his eyes and looked across the field. His purple eyes squinted when he saw children running toward his direction, laughing and teasing each other along the way. He immediately recognised them as Florian, Godwin, and Sabina. They love listening to his stories.

“What are you doing here, children?” Aubergine asked, watching them gasp for air after their long run.

Once they’d caught their breath, Florian, a red-headed boy, answered, “We want to hear the tale of the two kingdoms again, Aubey. Will you tell us?”

“Aye,” Aubergine replied with a smile. “Sit, children.”

The three children instantly settled down to listen to his storytelling. They looked at him with excitement, waiting for him to speak.

“Long ago, a wise king reigned over the humble kingdom of Thaloria,” he began, embellishing his words with exaggerated gestures and expressive movements. “His name was King Kaldran. He was kind and deeply devout to God, fearing Him in all things. His piety deeply pleased the Almighty so greatly that He guided them unto a hallowed land—a fertile land filled with diverse kinds of herbs and sacred animals. And God declared, ‘Behold, the Land of Love; a place with no strife or discord.’”

“In this blessed land, they dwelt in joy and tranquillity. And the king was graced with two children. The elder was Prince Jarek, a lad with keen intelligence but marred with arrogance, whose heart was drawn to power and riches. In contrast, his younger brother, Prince Kaidar, was known for his kindness, generosity, and humility.”

“When God rested the king, the realm needed a new ruler. And both of the princes believed that they were the rightful sovereign to sit on the throne and rule the kingdom, which began to tear the kingdom apart. Both of them departed from the Holy Land, accompanied by their loyal followers. Prince Kaidar journeyed southward, while Prince Jarek moved to the north. The land ruled by Prince Jarek was known as the Northern Isle, while the kingdom ruled by Prince Kaidar was called Southern Vale.”

“Our land!” Sabina, a thin, slender girl, exclaimed after hearing the name Southern Vale.

Aubergine chuckled, delighted by Sabina’s sudden outburst. “Yes, Sabi. Our land. We live in Southern Vale.”

“What happens next, Aubey?” asked Godwin, a chubby boy with a missing tooth in front.

“The Holy War began,” Aubergine said solemnly. “Whoever emerged victorious from this battle would once more reign over the entire kingdom and return to dwell in the Holy Land. That’s how the war between the Northern Isle and Southern Vale commenced. And to this day, the conflict rages on, with no end in sight. The end.”

The children clapped and cheered at his storytelling upon hearing that the story had ended—the same story they had heard hundreds of times from him. Yet, they still listened happily. That’s how much they loved his storytelling.

“The sun has already begun to withdraw, children,” said Aubergine, glancing at the blue sky fading gently into shades of orange. “We must go back.”

“That’s strange,” Godwin remarked. “The sun was still up in the sky not too long ago.”

“Time flies when one finds joy,” replied Aubergine. “That may be the reason.”

As they strode back to town, Aubergine held Sabina’s hand while the boys raced each other. Once they reached the village, the children bid farewell to Aubergine as they walked down different paths.

“Aubey!” called a brunette in a dairymaid outfit as she dashed toward him. It was Aubergine’s sister, Annaliese. “Where have you been? I was looking for you! Did you stay in the field again?”

“Yes, I was with the children,” Aubergine responded. “Why? Why are you looking for me? Did something happen?”

“Come,” Annaliese said, entwining her arms around Aubergine’s. “We must make haste. A messenger from Duke Constantine’s court has arrived. He’s looking for you.”

Hearing the duke’s name, Aubergine’s heart began to race. He had only seen the handsome Duke of Evercrest once in his life—last year during the town festival. He would never forget that face. With features resembling those of a Greek god, the duke had curly black hair, a pair of ocean blue eyes, and a finely pointed nose.

“I heard that the main singer of the duke’s company contracted the flu,” Annaliese whispered, quickening her pace with each step. “They heard about your performance during Sabina’s sister’s wedding, so the messenger came to recruit you. Right now, he’s talking to Father, negotiating your possible income if you join.”

“Father wants me to join?” he asked, taken aback. “I thought he hated the notion of my being a fool.”

“I don’t know. You should talk to him,” Annaliese replied, a hint of annoyance in her voice. She hated how their father never supported their dreams. The only child he seemed to care about was their brother, Anastacio, who, like their father, was a carpenter.

When they arrived home, Aubergine’s attention was immediately drawn to a small man with a moustache, dressed in a fine robe.

“That’s the messenger,” Annaliese whispered before slipping out, leaving Aubergine alone with the man and their father.

“You’re Aubergine, I presume,” the man enunciated, his gaze scrutinising him from head to toe. “You’re… a man?”

Aubergine tried his best to maintain a neutral expression. It was not the first time someone had doubted his sex. He had a slender figure, a small stature, and delicate features that resembled a woman’s. He was so beautiful that people often forgot he was a man. Even the nickname they gave him, Aubey, sounded feminine.

“Yes, sir,” Aubergine nodded. “I am.”

The man cleared his throat before handing Aubergine an envelope. “This is a summons to the duke’s court. The company needs a singer, and we’ve heard of your talents. If you’re willing to join, you should come to the duke’s castle tomorrow. Tell the guards you’re the fool Vivano is expecting. For your information, I am Vivano.”

“Thank you, sir,” Aubergine replied, pocketing the envelope.

Vivano placed his big, exaggerated hat on his head before stepping out of Aubergine’s home. The moment Vivano left, Aubergine’s gaze shifted to his father, who was sitting silently at the dining table.

“Father,” he called, “is it all right for me to go?”

His father, Mauricio, stood up, grabbing a bottle of beer from the cupboard. He chugged it before answering, “What other choice do you have, child?”

“Then I’ll go tomorrow. I’ll tell Mother once she’s home from selling cheese.”

“You can’t be a carpenter like me,” Mauricio uttered abruptly. “Annaliese can’t either, because she’s a woman. And you can’t, because the fair skin that God gave you is too weak and thin to withstand the sun.”

Aubergine sighed, his frustration at his father’s sudden tirade evident. “Where are you trying to go with this, Father?”

“That’s the reason why I treated both of you unfairly—only caring for Anastacio,” his father confessed. “That was a mistake—my mistake. I only realised that now that you’re leaving for the duke’s court tomorrow. Forgive me.”

“You don’t have to apologise—”

“I do, son. I need to,” Mauricio interjected. “If you’re the son of a carpenter, it’s expected that you would be a carpenter as well. You can’t do that because, as I said, your skin wouldn’t be able to bear the sun. Honestly, when I first saw you after you were born, I was afraid and anxious. It was my first time seeing a white child with purple eyes—and it was my son. I feared what you would become. Thank God that an abbot took pity on you and taught you how to read and write, play musical instruments, and sing. Maybe it’s truly your fate to be an entertainer—a fool. And I shouldn’t have despaired over what you are.”

Aubergine snatched the bottle of beer from his father’s hand and put it back in the cupboard. “I accept your apology. However, you must say the same to Annaliese. She is much more intelligent than Anastacio, and unlike me, she would be able to stay with you. You shouldn’t underestimate her just because she’s a woman. You should treat her well.”

Mauricio nodded thoughtfully. “I’ll do that, I promise. You have my word.”

“Thank you, Father, for everything.”

“Aren’t you going to question what your income is going to be, son?” asked Mauricio.

Mauricio’s question piqued Aubergine’s curiosity. “What is it? How much will I earn?”

“They’ll give you a shilling, and we’ll also receive a shilling, for a total of two shillings per day.”

“Per day?” Aubergine repeated, his voice filled with shock. “I’ll receive that much?”

“Yes,” his father nodded. “You’ll also receive free food and accommodation while you serve in the duke’s court.”

“That’s wonderful…” Aubergine uttered under his breath, nearly speechless at the good news. He never thought his talents would be recognised by the duke or any other members of the nobility.

“You should prepare now, Aubey,” Mauricio reminded him. “You still have a long journey to make tomorrow.”

Aubergine gave a determined nod, his heart beating like a war drum. He was ready to show the duke’s court what he was capable of.