The sun hung low in the sky.

Everich and Coen had been loitering in town as inconspicuously as they could. They had been sent to watch the road. It wasn’t easy to be inconspicuous when every single resident wanted to personally interrogate them about their presence. Even the overworked mill labourers stopped to chat with them one by one. Coen hoped this would be the last of them. The labourer said;

‘Aren’t you two supposed to be at the fort? Day off today?’

Everich shook his head. They were in uniform. It should have been obvious they were on duty. It was unprofessional to call the man an idiot, so instead, he said;

‘No. Apparently, there’s some fancy nobleman’s son lost in the area. We’re supposed to watch the road in case he passes through.’

‘Lost? Wouldn’t it be better to search the woods?’

‘Maybe! But, I’m just a soldier. It’s not my job to make plans. I do what the Earl tells me. He’s a smart man.’

Coen spoke gruffly;

‘I’m sure you have better things to do than talk to us all day.’

It was a dismissal. They watched the labourer leave. Everich said;

‘Does he really think he’s giving us new advice? I must have heard some variation of 'you should search the woods' two dozen times today.’

Coen shook his head.

‘They all gave the same advice because none of them bothered thinking before they spoke. It’s the most obvious thing to say. You should be grateful. If they were thinking, we’d have been asked much more difficult questions.’

‘Yeah, yeah. I know. We can’t tell them he’s the little nob wanted for treason. It just smarts having to tell everyone we’re standing around because we know better when I still don’t get why we can’t go looking for him.’

‘He’s on the run and will probably be sentenced to death if he’s caught. If he sees soldiers in the woods, he’ll scarper.’

‘We could do it while wearing civilian clothes.’

‘There are probably already people doing exactly that. We’re just the lunks assigned to sit and wait.’

‘It’s so boring. The Earl didn’t need to send two of us.’

‘He did. Neither of us has an infinite bladder. Even if you went quickly, the kid could pass through town without your knowledge while you were busy at the latrine.’

Everich groaned. Coen turned away to hide his smile. Everich was still young. He still wanted to see action and glory. He reminded Coen of himself, ten years prior. Nowadays, he didn’t mind being sent to stand around doing nothing for a day.

Something caught his eye. He tapped Everich’s arm.

‘Hey. Hey. I think that’s him.’

The boy wasn’t wearing the brown jacket and straw hat they’d been told to look for, but the horse matched. A great white beast that the boy rode without a bridle. He had to be Prince Bernard. Coen said;

‘Ev. Go tell the Earl. Hurry.’

Everich departed at a jog. Coen straightened his uniform and walked slowly over to the Prince, trying to look non-threatening. He was unarmed, but a skittish child might just assume he had a hidden weapon. He kept his arms by his sides and his hands visible. The boy watched him like a deer watches a hunter - his horse slowed. It was preparing to turn tail. Coen wasn’t close enough to speak, but he couldn’t risk getting closer. He bowed low and shouted;

‘Good afternoon, your Royal Highness! Are you here to see His Highness, Earl Kaspar? He is waiting for you at the fort.’

Bernard looked down at the soldier. He couldn’t remember who Earl Kaspar was. That probably meant he stayed out of court politics, but it didn’t mean he was willing to commit treason by letting Bernard pass freely. Unwilling to close the gap and speak normally, he shouted back;

‘No, and you don’t need to bow. I’m not a Prince. I’m just travelling.’

Coen stood to attention. It was the next most respectful thing he could think to do, after bowing. He glanced around. There were people watching. They probably heard him shouting. He didn’t want to announce the kid’s identity to everyone. He shuffled closer until he was within speaking distance;

‘Unless I am mistaken, you are Prince Bernard. His Highness, Earl Kaspar has been expecting you since he heard that you were seen riding through Count Gisbert’s lands. He invites you to meet with him.’

Coen held out a letter he’d kept tucked in his belt. When the boy didn’t approach, Coen stepped forward slowly, arm extended. The boy accepted it warily. Coen stepped back, giving the boy space.

Bernard knew Count Gisbert’s name. He was definitely loyal to Lothar. If Gisbert and Kaspar were corresponding regularly it made it more likely that they were both loyal to Lothar. Bernard broke the letter’s seal and read;

> Prince Bernard,

>

> I would like to invite you, at your convenience, to meet with me at Fort Dunswald. Whether you choose to meet me or not, I swear you will come to no harm while in my lands.

>

> Your humble servant,

>

> Earl Kaspar

It was short, to the point, unambiguously treasonous, and likely a trap. Bernard wanted to ask Agatha what they should do, but didn’t want to discuss it with a witness present. Instead, he said;

‘If the wrong person got their hands on this note, it could be construed as treason.’

‘The Earl is aware of the risk. He is inviting you in spite of that.’

Bernard tapped Agatha’s shoulder, hoping she would give him some sign. She flicked her nose towards the man and took a single step forwards. Bernard was surprised. He hadn’t expected her to trust the Earl’s invitation. He relented;

‘Would you show me the way to the fort?’

‘It would be my pleasure, Sir.’

Coen bowed again, then held up his arm, indicating the direction they were headed in. He couldn’t walk in front of a Prince, even one who had been deposed. He had to stay at a respectful distance and point the way with an open hand. He was thankful for the convention - it helped him look meek. He didn’t think Bernard was used to giving orders. They had barely spoken, but he could already tell the boy was too gentle. Too polite. Qualities like that would hinder him if he wanted to rule. The Earl seemed to think the boy was worth the risk. Coen hoped he was right.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Bernard was alert, expecting a trap. He didn’t see any other uniformed soldiers. There were a few townsfolk out on the street as the soldier led him near the edge of the town. They weren’t armed. They looked like completely normal civilians. Their only suspicious features were their intangible cloaks and scarves. Having only seen the people of Hochenberg and a few bandits, Bernard didn’t have a large frame of reference for those. The heavy shift in colour toward icy blue and charcoal grey among the populace of Dunswald was too obvious for him to miss. Both colours made him feel uncomfortable. He was glad to leave them behind on the lonely road up to the fort.

They reached the gate and Bernard dismounted. A groom came at them much too quickly with a rope to take Agatha to the stable. Agatha shied away from him, ducking behind Bernard so the man couldn’t reach her. Bernard held up a hand to stop the groom from continuing his pursuit. To Agatha, he murmured;

‘You good?’

‘I don’t want to be taken to their stable. If you need to run, I won’t be where you need me.’

‘You don’t have to go with him. I can tell him to let you wander freely out here.’

She shook her head.

‘If they plan to keep you, they’ll try to force me into a stable.’

Bernard glanced around the courtyard. It was large but crowded with training equipment for soldiers. She would be easily cornered amongst it. He could send her out to the road. That created different problems.

‘What if you came inside?’

Agatha looked over at the open doors to the fort. It wasn’t an inviting prospect. The walls were thick and the windows small and narrow. Escape would be difficult. Going in was better than being chased and tied down by unfamiliar stable hands, but it meant more people would be aware of her magical ability. An open display of magic might have the benefit of intimidating them, but fear made people act irrationally. She deliberated, shifting her weight nervously from foot to foot. Finally, she said;

‘Alright.’

Coen watched Bernard try to calm his horse. She was an anxious beast. He didn’t understand how the boy could control an animal like her without a bridle. It wouldn’t have been so hard with a placid, even-tempered horse, but if she was making a scene because a stranger got too close, she was neither of those.

Unexpectedly, she shrank.

Coen stifled a gasp. The boy was a wizard. Bernard turned back and nodded at Coen, indicating he wanted to be shown inside. Coen hurried ahead of him to the door, forgetting proper etiquette. He was unnerved by the show of magical power. Agatha followed close on Bernard’s heels.

The fort’s interior was cramped compared to the castle Bernard grew up in. The doors were narrow, the roof was low.

Watching from the shadows at the back of the vestibule, Kaspar was well accustomed to assessing soldiers at a glance. He was confident in his ability; he was rarely wrong. Bernard left him at an uncomfortable loss. The boy stood with the posture of a trained swordsman, but was unarmed. He’d fled the capital days ago, penniless. If he didn’t take a sword with him, at the very least he could have picked up a suitable stick to use as a weapon. He was in constant danger. Failing to do that much was irrational.

He wore a gold crown finer than the official crown of the kingdom over unfashionably short-cropped hair. His jewelled belt glittered brightly in the firelight - it looked completely out of place over his cheap, tattered jacket. The clothing and haircut could have been an attempted disguise. He reportedly escaped wearing a servant's clothing - this outfit was different. The change might have been enough to confuse some of his pursuers if he swapped his horse as well, but Everich reported the boy was still riding Pepin’s stolen beast. Compounding the problem further; wearing extravagant finery over the top of a peasant disguise rendered it worthless. Why not keep the original failed disguise? Why wear the crown at all?

To grant him the benefit of the doubt; it was possible the jewels may have come unexpectedly from the fairy after Bernard traded with some random peasant for the new outfit. He may have been just as miffed about the gaudy trinkets as Kaspar was perplexed. Did he have to wear them though? And, if she gave him those, why not a weapon? Why not suitable clothing for a Prince? Why not armour? The boy represented a tangle of contradictions and unanswerable questions. The tiny pony hiding behind the boy’s skinny legs didn’t help with the assessment. He couldn’t possibly have kept a pet like that with him while on the run.

Aware that he’d left the boy waiting a little too long, Earl Kaspar strode to the centre of the vestibule, arms held wide;

‘Prince Bernard! Welcome! I haven’t seen you since you were knee-high and refusing to eat your greens. It’s been too long.’

Bernard inclined his head respectfully and said;

‘Thank you, sir, but I’m not a Prince any more.’

‘Though you’ve been deposed by the King, you’re still a Prince by blood.’

Bernard felt a little deflated. He assumed he’d been deposed, but hearing it from the Earl made it feel more official. He said;

‘I would prefer not to use a title that I don’t legally possess.’

‘If it makes you that uncomfortable, then, for the duration of your stay, I shall have everyone refer to you by your first name.’

‘Thank you, sir.’

Kaspar wasn’t sure if this humility was sincere. For any other nobleman, he’d have assumed it was calculated. Bernard’s baffling appearance made Kaspar suspect he wasn’t capable of basic scheming. He wasn’t sure. Bernard continued to confuse him. He’d have to test the boy if he wanted answers. He said;

‘I honestly expected to see you sooner. I thought you’d take the road through Dunswald to get to the mountain.’

‘You knew where I was going?’

‘Yes - it seemed rather obvious. Your trip mirrors the one your father took twelve years ago.’

‘Then you know I saw the fairy.’

‘I did suspect,’ Kaspar tapped his head, ‘that you might have got that from her.’

‘Ah, yes.’

Kaspar was mildly relieved at the confirmation of the crown’s source. It meant Bernard was wearing it for a reason other than vanity.

‘Your brother isn’t aware yet - he thought you were going to cross the river at Senau. He asked me to set up an ambush for you there.’

‘He did?’

‘I did as I was told, but only because I knew you wouldn’t go there. I can’t help but wonder why he thought you would.’

‘I don’t think Father told him where the fairy lived.’

‘Why would he tell you and not your older brother?’

‘He didn’t tell any of us. I got the location from the map she left behind.’

‘Then he left you with her note?’

‘What note?’

Kaspar laughed. King Luis had been paranoid about losing power. He didn’t even trust his sons enough to give them the key to gaining the fairy’s favour after he died. He said;

‘So, you found her without the note! When Luis asked me to keep people away from the fairy’s mountain, he told me he didn’t expect many people would try to find her. He claimed the map she left was near unsolvable even with the instructions in the note. It seems he overestimated himself.’

Bernard felt a little proud at that. There were clues he was missing. He’d solved it without them. He asked;

‘Have you been to see the fairy?’

‘I’ve made attempts, but she’s put some kind of enchantment on the forest around her home. My men and I kept getting turned around. We went in circles for days. It makes guarding her quite effortless.’

Bernard was confused about how he got through so easily. The simplest answer was that the fairy must have willed it. She might have wanted to see Agatha again. He said;

‘Then, it’s unreachable?’

‘To most people, yes. You got to her, so she might have made an exception for your Father’s direct descendants.’

Bernard hoped that wasn’t true. He didn’t like the idea of Lothar or Pepin approaching the fairy. He could guess what sorts of things they would ask her for. He couldn’t guess what she would give them, or what she would take in return. Kaspar continued;

‘There are so many things I want to ask you about but I don’t want to be an ungracious host. You must be tired from your journey. Please, join me for dinner. We can talk more about your situation afterwards.’

Bernard didn’t want to risk staying at the fort too long. Fortunately, he was equipped with an acceptable excuse to refuse. He looked down at his clothes. It was very obvious he wasn’t dressed for dinner with an Earl. He said;

‘I’m afraid I can’t accept. I don’t have anything appropriate to wear to dinner. I only have my travelling clothes.’

‘Nonsense. I’ve already taken the liberty of having a room prepared for you, in case you wished to stay the night. You may go there and rest a little. I will have some of my son’s clothes sent up to you shortly. He won’t mind. He’s off on a hunting trip.’

Kaspar gestured to a servant to show Bernard to the room. Bernard cursed internally. He bowed and said;

‘Thank you.’

As Bernard turned to leave, Kaspar said;

‘I should let you know; I intend to send a message to King Lothar tomorrow morning, regarding your arrival here. It is up to you what I write in it. Take some time to think about what you would like me to say. And, don’t worry. I will keep my word. You will be safe in my lands.’

Bernard thanked him again.