My new obsession is PortMano, so i'm sorry to my SpaMano fans...

The Pirate's Oracle

Chapter One: The Kingdom's Treasure

It was long, long ago when the kingdom discovered their great gifts. A thousand or two years prior, all of the great kingdoms were at war for land. The weakest of the kingdoms was barely more than a peasant farm or two and a fort held together by god knows what. A young man and his wife prayed they not be destroyed and live in peace. Months later, the woman gave birth to twins. While they didn't look like much at birth, they were the answer to their prayers.

One child was completely normal. He was happy and ran around and played. The other was disabled. Born completely blind. Anyone else would have disposed of such a burden, but the man and wife loved both children and raised them well. It was when the blind child began having vivid dreams, they began seeing his disability for what it truly was: a gift.

These dreams were prophecies brought on by the decisions his father and twin and mother made.

Each one after the other proved to come true. Soon, this gift was used to win more and more land and bring peace to the warring kingdoms because with their oracle, there was no way they would lose.

From that point on, when the oracle died, his or her twin's bloodline would flourish and bring forth a new oracle and heir pair.

At the dawning of a new kingdoms, two boys were born. Feliciano and Lovino. As the years had passed, new traditions to make the visions stronger and more accurate were put into play. No longer could the oracle's mind be distracted with play and stories. Immediately upon weaning from the breast, the oracle was taken from their mother and raised as nothing less than a god.

Lovino was in such a position now, but to him, it was not a gift, but rather: A curse. He could not drink fermented drinks like beer or wine. He could not have meat, to taint his mind. He could not play, not be touched by anyone but his hand maids and personal guard, all carefully chosen. He could not love or dirty his body with intercourse or even self-pleasing.

He didn't grow up with his brother, nor did he ever see his mother or father. He sat upon his throne outside among the people as the celebrated his gift. Seer's Day was something that changed with each new oracle. Set on the day of their first vision, it was a mass festival to show love and gratefulness for all that Lovino had given them.

Antonio stood close to Lovino as the oracle stared blankly into the crowds. His hand maid held his cup of water beside him. While he appreciated the praise, he would much rather be in his room.

He knew his brother was beside him, also enjoying the festivities, but he couldn't muster anything to say to the other. This was one of the only times, outside their weekly meetings, that they spent any time together. Lovino did not know what to say. He was honestly frustrated and jealous. Feliciano was given the freedom to do whatever he pleased. He could sleep with the town, he could marry multiple women or men, he could wait until Lovino was dead to finally have children. The new king had anything he could wish for all because his duties lied with Lovino's visions.

A young woman approached with a basket filled with fresh, sweet berries. She knelt down and offered them, which they were taken by a hand maid.

"Thank you, your grace for all that you do for us. I can't imagine a life without the family and the things I have that you work so hard to protect for us…" she moved to leave, but Lovino stopped her.

"Wait… there's something I see… come closer, please…" he offered his hand and his guard let her through.

She trembled lightly as she wiped her hand off on her dress and put her hand in his. Never before had anyone in her family gotten this close to the oracle. She felt unworthy.

Lovino's eyes dulled even more than they already were and he smiled, "The child you bear in your womb will do wonderful things for the kingdom. You should be proud… You've made a wonderful life for them and for your family." He pulled away and leaned back.

She smiled, tears pricking her eyes, "Thank you, your grace.." she touched her stomach and went to find her husband.

It wasn't long after, he sighed, "Antonio, I wish to go back to my room. Elaine, go set up my bath." The maid nodded and ran off to set things up for him.

Antonio offered his arm for Lovino to take so he could lead him back to the palace.

Lovino walked in silence, staring into nothing as he clung to the guard's arm and walked. He could smell the crisp cleanliness of Antonio's uniform. He nuzzled his face against the man's sleeve. Antonio did his job, but he did so in a way that gave Lovino something to look forward to every night. A warm voice to joke around with him and laughter. Antonio treated him like more than an oracle. He let him know he was still human.

"We're almost to your room, my lord." The guard spoke softly, his voice sending warm fuzzies into Lovino.

"Thank you. I know it must be awful, toting around a blind seer."

Antonio's laughter resounded through the empty halls of the palace, "Not at all~" he said, stopping to look at him, "I've never enjoyed myself more than when I get to stand by your side and protect you…"

There was always something comforting about that voice.
"Thank you…" Lovino said softly.

The two continued through the halls at a slow pace. Once they were at the room, Antonio walked Lovino in and over to his bed. Lovino sat down. Antonio began to leave, but Lovino reached out to him, "I want you to stay and tell me stories again."

"You know I got in trouble the last time I did that…" he said softly.

"I don't care." Lovino huffed. He got up and walked quickly to his bathing room. Since he'd been in this room since birth, he knew it very well. No amount of blindness slowed him down, "Stories, now."

Antonio shook his head and followed him. He stood at the door while Lovino stripped and sank into the water. Once he was settled, Antonio sat down in the door and told Lovino his favorite story. It was about two brothers as different as night and day. One rose at dawn and the other slept in. One loved adventure and the other loved being at home. He told him about the adventurous brother getting into trouble one day and running away, while the second brother vowed to find him and stop him from hurting people. It all seemed so heroic the way Antonio made it seem.

By the time he was done, Lovino was done bathing. He stood up and dried off before grabbing a simple pair of pants. He pulled them on and made his way to the bed, "Good night Antonio." The young man said.

"Good night, my lord. Sleep well and wish that hero luck~" he chuckled before leaving the room.

Lovino let the silence take over the room. He hated silence. The prince spent as much time in silence as he had spent living. It drove him insane, but he knew it was because they believed that his visions were stronger. However, they didn't know that it didn't matter if he was in silence or had instruments in his ears, the visions were the same.

He curled up and began singing a song he heard once a year on his birthday, when his mother would sit outside his door in the middle of the night and sing to him. He desperately wanted to be with her, to be the son she got to hold and cuddle.

Lovino pulled his pillow over his head and let out a soft breath. It wasn't long before he'd fallen asleep.

There was a man… his stormy eyes fierce. He held onto a rope as his ship drifted into port.

Now he had something in his arms… he rushed… guards would notice, he was afraid, fearful of being caught. What was that…?

The guards yelled, something important… a treasure…? Feliciano stood on the balcony, his posture stiff, but his eyes worried. Something important was taken. The pirate took it. Wealth… treasure… those words stuck out. Had the pirate taken valuables? Yes, that seemed right…

Lovino jerked awake, sweat beading down his face and back. He jumped out of the bed and ran to the door, "Antonio! I must go see my brother!"

Antonio nodded and let Lovino grab onto his arms before he began hurrying down the halls towards the king's room. Once there, the guard pushed it open.

"Your majesty?"

Feliciano jolted upright and whined. He slid out of bed, much to the annoyance of his current bed partner. "What…?"

Lovino wrinkled his nose. He hated the smell of sex on his brother. "You reek…" he hissed, "And it's important… I had a vision. An important one, too. A pirate… he's on his way to steal your wealth and if you don't act fast, he'll succeed."

Feliciano nodded, "Take my brother to his room and then go ready soldiers to filter through the streets to find this supposed pirate. I want him in chains and locked away. Station someone or three at the treasury as well. Anything else in the castle isn't worth enough to take guards away from patrol."

"Yes, your majesty." Antonio bowed before taking Lovino back towards his room, "It's imperative you stay in your room, my lord."

Lovino scoffed, "What else is new…?" he slipped into his room and the door shut behind him. He trembled lightly. He hated being alone… He'd been alone all his life. He recalled times Feliciano had gotten hurt and everyone rushed to appease him. However, if Lovino bumped against something, he got a new nurse to watch over him, one that would 'do her job'. His mother never came to comfort him at night when he woke screaming from a particularly terrifying vision. He walked over and sat down on his chair, however, missed and landed on the floor, "ow!" he hissed, getting up, "I'm going to kill whoever moved this!" he snapped, tears sliding down his face. It didn't hurt too much, but it was enough to leave him pushed over the edge. Everything wrong with his life came crashing down, leaving him sobbing, pleading with the gods for a better life…

The door opened and he wiped his face, "Did you find that pirate?"

Antonio's voice answered, "Yeah, we have him. Everything is fine now. But I have wonderful news… You were just in time to catch him before he did something awful, his majesty is rewarding you well. He wants you to enjoy a walk through the gardens."

Lovino snorted and rubbed his face, "I could use a walk…" he got up and pulled on his robes. He pulled up the hood and walked over to take the man's arm. They walked down the halls in silence, taking turns and went outside. Lovino sighed softly as the fresh air hit him. He leaned his head against the man's arm and inhaled his scent and paused, "You smell different… like … like the sea…" his eyes widened and the man, he knew now wasn't Antonio, tied a cloth around his mouth and scooped him up. He felt him begin running. He pounded his fists against him before reaching up to pull down the cloth. They came to a stop where the pirate tied his hands together and threw him over his shoulder.

"Troublesome little shit aren't ya…?" he said, his voice changed from mimicking his guard's to a bit deeper.

Lovino kicked his legs, trying to escape, but it was no use. The sound of the sea hitting shore hit his ears and he felt more tears roll down his cheeks. He was the kingdom's treasure… how could he be so stupid…? The pirate slowed to a walk as his boots clicked against the wooden deck. He began shouting orders to his men to hightail it out of there while the guards were still busy.

Lovino was dropped on a bed that smelled much like the man who'd grabbed him up. He wriggled, struggling to pull the rope off his wrists, however, he failed and the ship began rocking slightly as it began drifting out. He screamed against the cloth on his mouth, but to no avail.

He didn't know how long he'd been lying there, the ship rocking making his stomach turn, before the man came back, "There~ we're as far away as we need to be." He said, untying Lovino's ties and mouth covering.

Lovino promptly leaned over the side of the bed and threw up everything that was in his stomach. He trembled, "Make it stop moving!" he whined loudly, "Oh gods above, I feel sick…"

"Disgusting…" the man said, "I'll get someone to clean that up…" he could be heard moving around the room. He called for a cabin boy, how rushed in to clean up Lovino's mess. "There… now that that's taken care of, I'm captain Dimas, owner of this fine ship and the man you're going to be seeing for now. I've had a nice long run on this ship, but with things getting as dangerous as they are, I can't run the risk of not having a seer on my ship and you're the only one around so… congratulations~"

Lovino just stared into nothing ness, unsure of what to think. "Take me back to the palace!" he hissed, not sure why that was much better of an option. He was going to be used for his power until he died at this rate.

Dimas chuckled and sat down somewhere in the room, "Nah, I'm captain here and I'll give the orders~"

"I said take me back!" he said, trying to make his wavering voice sound stronger.

"No, you're going to be seeing for me."

Lovino growled, "Joke's on you asshole, I can only see things for my brother!"

Dimas just laughed, "That is not what I heard~ you see anything that happens to be decided before you, or anything important – like seeing me coming towards the palace. So, if I were to decide to head home to Portugal and rob the first port city I see, you'd tell me what happens."

Lovino frowned and looked away, sure enough the images appearing before him as Dimas was killed, "That's a stupid idea."

"See~? I knew you'd come in handy." He leaned back, "Just behave and we'll get along just fine."

"You're a disgusting man!" the oracle yelled, getting up out of the bed to stumble around the room and towards the door.

Dimas jumped up and grabbed him into his arms, "If I'm disgusting, then my men are completely putrid. I'd watch myself if I were you. Leaving this room could mean your pristine little asshole becomes a cesspool of semen and disease." He dropped him back on the bed.

Lovino trembled, "you're going to be captured! I'll be rescued and they'll-"

"They'll what…? Take you back home to be locked away in that tower, princess? To be fed the same thing, day in and day out. To be used to your gift to keep your precious little brother's bed full and treasury full and the people of the kingdom fat while you suffer in the dark abyss that is your mind until you finally get so sick of it, you hand yourself from the balcony as your great uncle did?"

The oracle fell silent, staring into the distance as he let those words sink in. His stomach churned again and he dry heaved.

"Just stay here. You'd be better off on this ship any day." The man said. Lovino heard the door swing open and shut, a latch then bolted into place, probably locking him in from the outside.

Lovino choked out a sob and covered his face. The ship creaked and wind blew against the ship. He heard the men outside and for once, he just wished it would be silent.

~Lady Pyrien