A small crowd of knights, farmers, and townspeople – including the bard and the apothecary - are gathered in the castle to watch the queen and king’s ceremony to thank you for bringing prosperity to the land.
[[The queen steps forward]] and the crowd falls silent.She says, "Shepherd, since you first brought your concerns about… strange sheep to us, the fields have been producing tenfold what they used to, the water in the river is clearer, and trade has made our humble and small kingdom swarm with merchants from faraway lands. Our lives and nation are forever changed because of the prosperity you and your work have brought us. For exceptional work in improving our fair land, we present to you this award of one thousand gold pieces."
[[Take the sack of coins.]]The king moves to join her.
"That is not all. There is a vacancy in our counsel: we lack a magic expert, which we now see was a major oversight on our part to be ignorant of such powers."
"Exactly," the queen adds. "So if you are willing, we would be honored if you would take that position and join us and our court here in the castle."
[[Okay!]]
[[Sounds lovely, but...]]"Thank you, your majesties. I’ll accept. ‘Twould be an honor," you say, as you are taken to the tower to be shown your new home.
"Here is your [[advisor's badge]], then. Welcome.""Oh! But, my flock? What’ll happen to them?"
The king gives a hearty chuckle. "We will see to it that your wards are well-cared for. They will have everything their ovine hearts could ever want, and they will have the protection of the royal guard should the need arise."
"I see. Thank you, your majesties. I’ll accept. ‘Twould be an honor."
"Here is your [[very own advisor's badge]], then. Welcome."The queen pins a small gold badge to your shirt. There is a small blue flower tucked beneath as well.
[[Continue|the next year]]You are in your room in the castle tower, surrounded by books and magical experiments. You enjoy the work that you have done for a year now, but it does make you more tired than herding sheep ever did. You close the books on your desk and tidy up. [[You hope that it won't rain.]]The queen pins a small gold badge to your shirt. There is a small bouquet consisting of three wheat stalks and one blue flower tucked beneath as well.
[[Continue|the next year]]Walking to the window, you sense that, while there are clouds in the sky, it will stay dry in the valley tonight, unlike every night for the past week.
You can finally go back to see your flock.
Do you [[climb out the window]] or [[walk out the front gates]]?You take a rope that is sitting on the windowsill and skillfully fasten it and throw it out. You slide down three stories, land in the soft grass outside of the castle walls, and [[head towards your old pasture]].You leave your room and quietly head down the hall. You aren't sneaking out - you are a high-ranking official and a grown person, of course - but you don't want to wake anyone up. Outside of the gates, you nod to the nightwatchman and [[head towards your old pasture]].All of the sheep are lying beneath the big tree in the center of the field; absoultely nothing has changed, except who watches the sheep in the day. The new shepherd doesn't sleep with the sheep, though, but listens out for danger in a small cottage nearby.
With the moon behind the clouds, the scene is only illuminated by the soft blue glow of about half of the flock.
A few lift their heads when they hear you coming. You leaps over the fence and run to the mass of fleece, [[embracing the first of your friends you reach.]]"Hello, Walnut! Hi, Monty. Oh, Daffodil, please don’t eat my shirt. Here, may I please get comfortable? Then I will give you all a pat on the head goodnight. Thank you."
The sheep part and shuffle as you make your way to the center of the group and lay between two of the biggest, using their fleece as a pillow and blanket.
[[You remember that you need to make sure that you are back to castle by sunrise]]."Agnes, you’ll wake me up when you hear the first bird chirp?"
The nearest glowing sheep nods. A lamb that has climbed into your lap gives a small, sad “bah”. You pat its head and say, [["I know, Buddy."]]There are some enthusiastic “bahs”.
"Alright, then it’s time to sleep. Good night, [[my flock]]!"You snap your fingers, and the glowing sheep dim, leaving the pasture in pitch-black.
The End."I know, Buddy, but I have a duty to keep in the castle, just like I have a duty to keep with you all.
And, the new lab is almost done, and then I’ll get to watch over you day and night, and you me. I’ll even introduce you to all my friends from the castle: they’ll visit to see my work and ask my opinion about important things.
[[Does that sound good?]]"
↶↷A small crowd of knights, farmers, and townspeople – including the bard and the apothecary - are gathered in the castle to watch the queen and king’s ceremony to thank you for bringing prosperity to the land.
The queen steps forward and the crowd falls silent.