a jester's last day

Arfarlendetterban arose at the jester’s risk
for it would be the jester to take the brunt of the punishment;

but Arfarlendetterban blew warm air into the cusp
of a hand
and stood straight
and away he received the attention that would be-huddle the
elders, the statesmen, the king:
“Who is that schmink? And why is he proud? And whoa
our jester has stunk our choice by the apparence of such boldness.
The people’s hearts will shiver against our miserable choice. The jester must die.”

But do not give your goosebumps so much credibility, reader …
Arfarlendetterban is a hero if not the main character, and so of course he
will both take the jester’s job and protect him.

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