Aneira didn’t get any sleep. Every noise had their eyes flying open, looking around the dark sitting room. Aneira couldn’t bring themself to sleep anywhere else. They gave up trying to sleep before the sun came up, rising from the sofa and refolding the throw over the sofa’s back and rearranging the pillows again.

Heading into the kitchen, Aneira felt their heart stop entirely. Seeing the larder door left wide open. They rushed to the door and looked down into the early morning gloom. They saw no one. Hurrying up the stairs, Aneira checked every room. But no one was there. After rummaging through the crawlspace that served as an attic, Aneira dropped to the floor and leaned against the wall with a long sigh.

She’d left. Life goes on as normal.

The thought wasn’t as comforting as Aneira expected it to be. Aneira shook their head and chased away the thoughts of Lady Callafon and whatever could have been. There was no way it would work, not with…

Aneira hurried down the stairs chastising themself for wasting time that they needed for tending to the animals and the gardens. They grabbed their coat and stomped into the muck boots. The kitchen door opened before Aneira could grab it. Which revealed the missing Lady Callafon holding the basket of fresh gathered eggs.

They stared at each other in surprise.

“I. thought I would repay you for letting me stay.” Lady Callafon said, holding the basket out to Aneira. “You didn’t have to help me, and it was risky for you to do so. Thank you.”

“Oh.” Aneira managed, taking the basket. “Don’t mention it.”

“I will. I promise I’ll repay you when I find the lost heir.” Lady Callafon said.

“You really don’t have to,” Aneira said. Taking the eggs to the counter. “We live so far outside the kingdom we aren’t much affected by whoever’s in charge.”

“Not everyone has that luxury.” Lady Callafon said stubbornly. “You should care more about the way this kingdom is run.”

“Not everyone has that luxury.” Aneira threw the noble woman’s words back at her. Taking the pot out to pasteurize the eggs. Remembering Roskva wasn’t here, they put the pot to the side.

“Right.” Lady Callafon said irritably. Still following Aneira around the kitchen. Waiting patiently as Aneira stomped back into their muck boots. “Is there something I can help with?”

“Why are you still here?” Aneira turned abruptly, coming far too close to the Lady for their comfort. They could feel a cold breath touching their cheeks. Making their already pale face take on a deathly glow. The Lady took a quick step back and scowled at Aneira.

“I’m…” Lady Callafon started but she didn’t seem to have anything to say. “I’m laying low.”

“Laying low?” Aneira sighed and opened the back door. Turning away before any ice appeared on the window glass. “The Royal Guards are only a few steps away, anyone could see you and tell them. There are so many better places to hide. Like, literally anywhere else.”

“You’re so cold.” Lady Callafon grit her teeth. “You could freeze the summer.” Aneira said nothing. Going out to the barn to find the barn animals.

“I don’t suppose you’d know anything about a missing prince?” Lady Callafon pressed, still following Aneira.

“You want a story?” Aneira turned, confused.

“What? No! I mean it!” The Lady insisted. “Years ago the prince went missing and everyone assumed he was dead! But then this came to the palace! Ten years ago!” Lady Callafon fished an old letter from inside her shirt.

“Okay?” Aneira said slowly. “I don’t have any lost princes here.”

“He had children. Two.” The Lady pressed, continuing after Aneira persistently.

“As most married couples tend to do.” Aneira continued, opening the stall door to the cow’s pen.

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“Please.” Lady Callafon nearly yelled but cleared her throat and regained herself. “Please, try to cooperate with me.”

“I’m sorry,” Aneira turned to face Lady Callafon. “But, I don’t know anything about a lost prince. My sister and I were born here on this farm. If there is royalty here, they’re well hidden.” Lady Callafon sighed, watching Aneira sit upon the stool and milked the cow.

“What about your parents? Would they?”

“No.” Aneira snapped, the cow let out a panicked moo and kicked the bucket. Spilling the milk over the ground. Aneira stood up quickly and pet the poor cow until she calmed down.

“Sorry. I wish I could help.” Aneira said, still petting the cow. They struggled to come up with any words but had nothing to say. They picked up the nearly empty milk bucket and let the cow out to pasture.

“How about some breakfast before you go?” Aneira asked, “There’s no milk unfortunately.”

“That’s okay, thanks.” Lady Callafon nodded, still disappointed. They went back into the kitchen and Aneira started the pasteurization process while also beginning breakfast for the pair of them. It felt good to cook for two again, even though they had only needed to cook one meal for themself.

But the meal prep was interrupted by a loud knock on the door. Lady Callafon looked up in alarm, as did Aneira. They raced for the door as the Lady scrambled for a hiding place. The knocking intensified to banging on the door.

“I’m coming!” Aneira called, running to the door. They opened the door and was shoved aside by guards rushing in. “What are you doing!?!”

“Sorry, we’ve had a neighbor tell us you’ve been harboring the fugitive.” The captain of the Wolves said, swaggering into the door frame and leaning on it.

“You could knock but you couldn’t wait for me to move out of the way?” Aneira asked, annoyed. Brushing the flour from their apron.

“We don’t want to give you time to hide the criminal,” The captain said smugly. Aneira glared at him.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m the only one here. My sister lives with me but she’s off to town.” Aneira said, knowing they were lying by omission. “Perhaps that’s what you heard.”

“I know what I heard.” The captain said irritably. “I’m sure the prince would be lenient with you if you’re cooperative.”

“You really think so?” Aneira asked, not buying it for a second. The look in the captain’s eyes told them that he was lying. “I’ll have to remember that if I ever commit a crime.”

“If that’s the way you want to play this.” He frowned, “Such a shame, I rather liked you.”

“I’m torn apart.” Aneira said monotonously. A thud above them made their heart skip. “Are they in the attic?”

“Why? Something hiding up there?” The Captain asked smugly.

“They better not be making a mess,” Aneira said. “That's all we have left of our parents.”

“Oh.” The captain said, a hint of disappointment in his voice. Aneira held themself as they waited impatiently for their fate.

It felt like forever, but the guards came back down into the sitting room. Empty-handed.

“Sorry, sir. We didn’t find anyone. We searched everywhere.” The first guard said, Aneira looked expectantly at the captain. He stared blankly at his men.

“You’re sure?” He asked.

“Unfortunately. We left no door unopened and no box unchecked.” The guard said. The captain straightened and looked at Aneira.

“Well. It seems we were mistaken.” he said, awkwardly shifting with his belt. “Sorry to have inconvenienced you.” Aneira nodded and watched the guards funnel out of their house. Shutting the door behind the parade. They sighed heavily in relief. But the relief faded in a second as they remembered the attic. They ran up the stairs and found the ladder pulled down. They rushed up into the attic and stared in horror at the overturned boxes. Contents spilled all over the ground. They sniffed as the sight brought flooding emotions filled them. They set a trunk upright and looked over the mess left. The papers and clothes with boot prints on them.

“Are they gone?” A hushed whisper had Aneira jumped to their feet.

“What?! Yes! They are.” Aneira said, then a pair of hands grabbed a small, tiny boarded up window. Lady Callafon hoisted herself up and shimmied between a pair of loose boards and back into the attic.

“You’re still here?” Aneira said in disbelief. “Someone saw you here and you almost got us both thrown in the dungeon!”

“The dungeon?” Lady Callafon snickered. “We’d be lucky if that’s all that happened. More likely, we’d be executed on the spot.”

“My point exactly.” Aneira knelt down and began gathering up their parents' things to put away again.

“Wait. What’s all this?” Lady Callafon asked, hastily kneeling down and pushing Aneira’s hands away.

“Get your hands out of there.” Aneira snapped viciously. Slapping Lady Callafon’s hands. But she’d already grabbed and held something in her hands as if she’d caught a falling star.

“Is this what I think it is?” She whispered.

“My father’s old seal? Give it back!” Aneira held out their hand impatiently.

“No, wait. Please humor me.” The woman begged, fishing out the letter and showing the broken wax seal. Matching the gold seal to the ancient crest of the kingdom stamped on the letter.