155. Shadow of the Past – Part 1

~ 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.

I scrambled out of my chair and ran after my dad, who’d turned on his heel and stalked down the hall, expecting me to keep pace, even though his legs were still inches longer than mine. But I didn’t min