<div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="http://www.artscroll.ru/Images/2008/j/Jacek%20Yerka/000004.jpg">[ img ]</a></div><br/><br/>Voll jostled his way trough the gathered crowds. He was met with despising glances and whoops of merriment in equal measure. He was known in the city as a local rebel, a truthsayer and humour vigilante. Peers slapped his back and offered him swigs of ale, while some spat at his shoes cursing his presence. He had entertained and offended for so long now, that he may well have left the city divided. He was happy to be despised though, it meant his act was working. Both the praise and the mockery were evidence of his success. He found himself a table not too far from the stage's front, and sat himself down with some well wishers, who shoved some cheap wine his way for the occasion. He thanked them and tilted the cup to his lips. He looked about him, the people had come out in droves. And why not? It was after all a King's address. The square had been set up as one might expect, a stage, guards, stalls, jugglers, peddlers, singers and all manner of foodstuffs were carefully planted about the place. Almost half the city were here, the other half being those that had to work, and the town guard. Luckily enough, the weather had smiled down upon them that day with sunbeams and a clear blue sky. The cheery weather made for cheery moods, and looking about at the children playing could probably soften even the hardest of hearts. Voll smiled to himself, a rare thing to witness. He was in good spirits. He planned to heckle his brother. Being on the receiving end of a good heckle many a time, Voll felt very qualified to be the crowds chief heckler; and he didn't doubt that they would surely allow him this pleasure.<br/><br/>Voll supped at his wine for a time in silence before being unwillfully embroiled in his peers banter.<br/><br/>"Ey there Voll! Wharraya think this parades all about then eh?" Said one.<br/>"Aye, ain't you the baby brother? Spill the beans our kid!" said another.<br/>Voll turned with a playful look in his eye, "Despite my lineage, I have no beans to spill my dear fellows. I am just as curious as yourselves. And I daresay, despite me and the king being peas in a pod, it seems the beans we had went sour some time ago." The two men laughed aloud at this word play, and Voll's making light of what was otherwise a toxic relationship.<br/>"What happened there then lad? If you'll pardon my prying?" vied one of the men.<br/>Voll raised an eyebrow. It wasn't often someone inquired so deeply into his life, "Oh, you know," he began, flippantly, "the classic sibling sour grapes. He couldn't take it that I could thrash him at boxing." He began to jovially punch at the air in an overly animated pugilistic stance, a stupefied look coming over his face. The two men laughed again, knowing of Voll's inadequate fighting skills.<br/>"Not planning on giving us much are ye?" Said one.<br/>"Not a thing to you ruffians!" Voll replied in mock outrage, " why, what would the noble's think if they saw me cavorting with you two destitutes? The court would be in uproar!" The two men laughed again, knowing that if anyone was a beggar here, it was Voll. The conversation waned, and Voll returned to supping his wine and waiting patiently for his brother to finally show face.