Jack Did Something

The boy gasped as he studied the live video feed being broadcasted to his laptop. The boy's eyes were naturally already very wide, and they grew wider still making an amusing contrast with his narrow face, an incongruity harmonious with that of the laptop that held his rapt attention. The device was a flat unfolded square of plastic unremarkable in any other modern setting but considering its surroundings: a stone carved room suffused with hundreds of dripping tallow candles, and a large wooden desk piled high with scrolls and quills, it was enough to make a time traveler want to take double inventory before leaving. The boy backed away slowly from the laptop in shock and horror, “oh-nonononono..” he whispered to himself, “oh nonon—” As the boy was retreating from the screen he tripped over a pile of dirty robes that he had left on the floor some nights previous. The impact of his bottom slamming into rug-on-stone jolted him out of his stupor and he scrambled to his feet before charging through the doorway and down the candle lit corridor screaming, “Master! Master!” Through his mad dash he knocked over several senior maesters, one of whom was carrying several racks of freshly bottled ink. The boy barely registered the cascading crash of a hundred bottles of shattering glass as he blazed onward. Within seconds he had reached the door at the end of the corridor and threw it open. “Master!” he called once more and the sound startled the old man within the room who was looking through a bronze telescope. “Oh my!” the old man said in surprise “Why, what on earth is the meaning of this young man?” “Master” the young boy wheezed while trying to regain his breath, “the signs, the signs!” “Slow down, slow down my boy.” The old Master said to the young man. He guided him over to a wooden chair in the corner. “Let me fetch you a glass of water.” By the time the old Master returned with two cups of water, one for himself and one for the boy, the boy had time enough to calm himself and speak coherently. “Now what is this