If looks could kill, Prin would be a dead man.

Aster screwed up her features, her eyes shooting sparks. “Listen here, bunny, if you think you can tell me what to do and what not to do you had better get in line early and pack a lunch, but even then it aint happening.” She set up straighter and pointed her finger at Prin.

“But . . . he . . . loves you I think. And he’ll keep you safe, which is something I can’t do.” Prin said helplessly. He had really stepped in it this time, but there didn’t seem much else to do besides keep walking.

Aster crossed her arms over her chest. “Why don’t you just stay with Valor then, and I’ll go off adventuring with Elwin and find the witch.”

Prin laughed weakly. “I have no doubt you would do a better job of it than I am. I get your point though, and I’m sorry.”

Aster’s expression cracked and a smile spilled through, like she couldn’t hold it any longer. “Stop saying things you have to say sorry about!”

“It was out of line trying to tell you to stay here.” Prin said. “I’m s- I’ll do better.”

Aster laughed. “Come here.” She pulled Prin into her arms and hugged him, heedless of the jewelry falling on the floor. “Why can’t I stay mad at you?”

“I don’t know, because you really should.” Prin could feel tears gathering in his eyes and before he knew it they had escaped down his cheeks and onto Aster’s shoulder.

“Now this doesn’t mean I trust you, or anything, just because I forgive you.” Aster said.

“I-I know, and you shouldn’t . . .” Prin said. He felt at home in her arms and didn’t want to leave them for anything.

“And you can’t be bossing me around, either. I’m older than you and ten times as stubborn.” Aster said.

“I don’t know about tha-aat.” Prin said. “I’m pretty stubborn myself.”

“We will find her, Prin.” Aster said firmly.

Prin hugged her back, feeling her thin body beneath the soft cloth of the chemise. “You don’t have to help me.”

Aster wiggled her arm free and awkwardly patted the top of Prin’s head. “Careful. My arm.”

“Oops! I’m sorry!” Prin let go and backed away slightly, swiping at his tears with the back of his hand. “That will take a long time to heal won’t it.”

“I’m not sure.” Aster said. “But we’re not going to wait around here for all that. There’s too much to do.”

“You aren’t well Aster, you lost a lot of blood. And, apparently, you need that to live?” Prin said wryly. “A little recovery time is necessary.”

Aster waved her hand dismissively. “I shouldn’t have scared you yesterday with my . . . overreaction to the fire. I’m not usually a basket case like that, you know me, it doesn’t mean I’m dying. I just have trauma regarding fire.”

“I know.” Prin said. He lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “I wish you would tell me about it. You now know everything about me.” He idly picked up a delicate scarf painted with flying dragons and mountain peaks, and ran it back and forth through his fingers.

Aster leaned back on her good arm, looking up at the ceiling, red curls like a mane around her head. “Meet me at midnight under a full moon in a clearing in the forest shaped like a perfect circle, and make sure you have some time on your hands, if you want to get into that whole story.”

“Oh Aster, you’ve teased it enough.” Prin said. “Please?” He scooched up on the bed and fluffed the pillows behind him, getting comfortable. “Is this the guest room?”

“Hmm? No, it’s old red beard’s. That’s what the girls call him. It’s a term of endearment.” Aster said.

“Oh!” Prin wasn’t sure he should be getting comfortable then. “Is it okay? Is he coming right back?”

“I’m not sure, he said he had some work to do in the office. I think he slept a little last night. Or lay down and was quiet anyway.” Aster said. “He seems to be worried.” She laughed. “Well, of course, I mean, under the circumstances. That guy’s scary friend will be coming around looking for him eventually right? Raven?”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“Crow. But don’t change the subject.” Prin said.

“It’s bad, that trouble is at his door.” Aster said. “But if anyone in the world can handle it, it’s Cornelius.” This seemed to perk her up again and she smiled. “Do you want to know all about me so bad? Is this a blackmail thing?” She teased.

Prin laughed. “It’s a friendship thing. Also, you know I have a weakness for a good story.” Prin was hoping this would bring them closer together. The more bonded they were, the more Aster would understand that Prin would never ever hurt her. Willingly, at least.

“Okay, so, you know how I told you about my home growing up. . . And my mama? She had her own house with three stories.” She stretched her hands out to show it was such a big house you could barely imagine it. “It was an old stately mansion, and required upkeep but you better believe she personally picked up the hammer and saw when needed to keep that house in good shape. As did her mother before her. Her name was Rose and she looked like me. Except, all woman, of course, and I think taller? But maybe that’s because most of my memories were as a kid when I had to crane my neck to look up at her. Like a flower bending toward the sun.” Aster looked pleased with herself for that one. “Also she liked to wear really high heels.”

“Rose?” Prin asked.

“Oh, I don’t know if I told you this already, but yes, she did try to name me after herself. Only, wiser heads prevailed when they saw that her one and done precious daughter was wrongly genitaled. I think someone suggested Aster as a good gender neutral flower name and in a drugged out post birth state she just said sure, fine, sounds good, whatever.” Aster said.

“It is a really nice name.” Prin said. “Aster. I love it.”

“It also means star.” Aster said.

“And you are one.” Prin said sincerely.

Aster laughed. “Flattery will get you everywhere.” Although she seemed light hearted now, Prin noticed her hand, the manicure already suffering neglect, picking at her bandaged arm.

“Here.” Prin placed a pig, carved of a delicate pink stone with darker spots made to look like the pigs natural coloring, into the offending hand. The way the lamp light twinkled off its tiny ruby eyes made it look like it was winking at them. He hoped the treasures could distract her nervous hands.

Aster turned it over from one hand to the other. “How cute! If I only had a shelf to put this on maybe I’d keep it after all . . .”

“You were saying? Your mom ran . . . an establishment like Mama Kris’s?” Prin liked the word establishment better then the word brothel, or gods forbid something worse, it sounded more genteel.

“Oh no! Nothing like hers at all.” Aster said emphatically. “All the ladies shared their money and helped each other . . . If you didn’t have the spirit of cooperation you were pretty quickly asked to leave. Anyways, I think I may have told you most of this already.”

“I don’t mind. I like to listen to you, Aster.” Prin said.

“Prin, bunny rabbit, don’t take this entirely the wrong way but you are the only man that has ever said something like that to me who didn’t want to get into my bloomers at the nearest opportunity.” Aster laughed. “I don’t know what to make of you sometimes.”

Prin felt his cheeks getting hot. “I don’t really think of you that way, although . . . you’re very a-attractive.”

Aster patted his leg. “I know you’re just a dewy eyed innocent, I’m only teasing you.”

“Sometimes I think Elwin is worried I have a crush on you.” Prin said. Why did he just admit that? Of course he was a little too conscious of Aster sometimes when she was close to him. Like right now. But wasn’t everybody?

“Elwin has nothing to worry about.” Aster said. “What will happen when he figures out what he looks like?”

“I hate to think.” Prin laughed. “Are you gonna tell me about . . . you know? Or just keep distracting me?”

Aster held the pig in one hand and her other drifted to the bandages on her arm. “Of course, it’s not a big secret or anything. You know I’m an open book.”

Prin plucked a rabbit figurine off the red coverlet and pressed it into Aster’s empty hand. It was sleek and grey, with long ears.

Aster looked at it closer before continuing. “Pirating. Very lucrative, huh? Maybe I went into the wrong line of work.”

“Do you think he kept every cool or unusual item he ever stole? Or did he buy these things with stolen coins?” It occurred to Prin to wonder.

“It’s a mix.” Aster said. “A lot of them were loot but some of them belonged to his wife. He bought her a lot of gifts.”

Prin wondered if it was weird for Aster that he tried to regift them to her. Although seemingly made no secret of where they had come from. He didn’t ask. “There was a fire.” Prin prompted. “I’m sorry.”

“This was about . . . time has no meaning . . . five years ago I think. It seems like so long, yet also like it just happened?” Aster said. “It was the early morning hours, still dark.

I was upstairs, my room was on the third floor. The guests, that’s what mama called the clients, you know. They weren’t allowed up there, it was mostly our rooms, and the nursery. It was rare to have a . . . this type of business to allow you to keep your children with you. You know? I mean, not the greatest environment. But mama raised me there, and she knew it could be done, so it wasn’t exactly encouraged but there were a few small kids. A four year old, one who was about six, and a baby, Eva. I was the assistant midwife for Eva! It was not a particularly easy birth, it was er, memorable. But the mom and baby both pulled through okay. So you can understand she was my little pet. Ten months old.

Anyways, I was in charge of them a lot. The older two I was teaching to read and write. Thomie and Bean, but that’s not important I guess.”

Prin suddenly got a cold chill form nowhere. Was there going to be a dead baby in this story? He wasn’t sure he could handle it. “You don’t have to talk about this. I shouldn’t have forced it.” Prin said quickly.

“Nah, nah, it’s okay.” Aster said. “I might as well. Then you’ll know.”

Prin chewed on his lower lip. He had asked for it, he supposed he deserved what he got.