“How do you even plan on getting off the island yourself?” Aster asked him.

By this point it was fully dark outside, and more people, were milling around. Streetlights had been lit, casting a warm glow on everything.

“I don’t know.” Prin admitted.

“Hey, bunny? Where you going to sleep tonight?” Aster wondered.

“I don’t know that either.” Prin said. “My friend has been working on the docks, maybe he has some money . . .” He wished he could be sure of it.

“Oh, that’s right, you’re traveling with a friend.” She reached up and caressed the bruised side of his face. “If you’re sure everything’s alright with that, then I’ll drop it.”

“He would never hurt me.” The prince said firmly. “He’s the best person I know. I would even put him up against the people I don’t know.” He realized the amount of people he knew was still shockingly small. He smiled at Aster. “Thank you for caring though. And for everything.”

She waved it away. “It was fun for me to have someone new to talk to. I am so bo-ored to be honest with you. And . . . I’m sorry.” She looked at the ground, shuffling her red patent leather boots.

“There has to be another way for you to get out, and we’ll find it.” Prin said.

Aster giggled. “You’re just so sweet. I’ll ask around, try to find you a job for tomorrow. Did you say you can work in kitchens?”

“I have just a little experience with that.” Prin said.

“You see that big store front, the coral one? That’s Mama Kris’s.” Aster pointed at the building in question. “Listen.” She sighed. “I hate to do this, but I do have my own place. Sort of. It’s not much, but I don’t bring the clients there. You and your friend can sleep on my floor, if you can’t get something better. I hate the idea of you sleeping outside.”

“Will you get in trouble if we do?” The prince hated the idea of imposing, but he just might hate sleeping outside in that boat on the beach a little bit more, and he was fairly sure Elwin would agree.

“Nah, no one cares. As long as I go to work and bring in money, I’m left to my own devices pretty much. It’s not even part of the main house, really. You’ll see.” Aster said. “If you decide to do it, just come around the back door? The front door is for clients. Ask for me and someone will find me.”

Prin hugged Aster. It was an impulsive move he couldn’t believe he had done, but she just seemed like she needed a hug. Or maybe he was the one that needed it.

“No need for all that.” Aster said gently. But she didn’t try to pull away from him, instead patting him on the back like you would a small child.

Prin found it pleasant. He reluctantly let her go after a long moment.

“Don’t make that face at me!” Aster said. “I don’t even know what it means. We’ll see each other again soon.” She shook her finger playfully at him. “Now, don’t loiter around here or you might get propositioned again.”

*

Despite Aster’s very apt advice on loitering, the prince didn’t want to stray away from his plan to meet up with Elwin at the restaurant. So, he had to stick around, watching the back of Aster’s turquoise dress recede into the darkness, then pass under the streetlight, before disappearing into Mama Kris’s house. Establishment? Shop? For the buying and selling of assorted affections.

If she traded in affection all night, why did she seem so lonely?

*

Elwin was tired. Tired and he felt like crying. Tired, he felt like crying, and he missed his prince. Tired, felt like crying, missed Prin, and was faint with hunger. Also, his feet hurt.

Could he ever take a break? Or were those days over completely.

The short walk from the docks into town had been uneventful and quiet. All of that changed when he saw the bustling street with the, indeed fancy, girls walking back and forth or chatting it up with men of all sorts. Some could have definitely been pirates, he supposed.

The restaurant was crowded now, all the round outdoor tables filled to capacity. Where would Prin be in this half dark mess, in the shadows or lit by the flame of one of the strategically lit streetlights?

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Elwin didn’t see him at first, and was about to give up, figuring that he had gotten intimidated by the crowd and retreated to the private beach they had first landed on. But no, there he was, a figure in the shadows, timidly stepping into the light with his walking stick in hand. He was standing by the restaurant, hiding.

If Elwin had the strength to run to him, he would have, but as it was he straggled along to meet him in his dark corner of the world. “Prin!” He called.

“El!” Prin went towards him and grabbed him by the arm pulling him into the comforting shadows and into his arms. “So glad to see you! Why does it feel like it has been so much longer ago then a few hours?”

“I don’t know why.” Elwin said. “I worry about you the whole time we’re apart.” Prin’s arms felt strong and he couldn’t help noticing that his hair smelled amazing.

“You’re going to have to stop that.” Prin said.

“I know, I know.” Elwin said, not really knowing at all. “Why do you smell so nice?”

“Oh, I don’t usually?” Prin teased. He let Elwin go and stood back a step. “You’re white as a ghost. Or maybe it’s just the lighting? No, it’s you. Are you okay?”

“Yes, I mean nothing happened. I just need to sit down.” Elwin sunk to the ground quickly, half sitting, half collapsing, with Prin’s arms fluttering near, attempting in vain to catch him.

The prince sat down beside him on the dirty cobblestones. “Oh my gods.” He said softly.

“No, it’s nothing.” Elwin put his head in his hands. “I just worked like a dog for, admittedly only a few hours, but even with the little bit I had already I don’t think it’s enough to get us into the inn for tonight.”

Prin put his hand on Elwin’s head. “You worked so hard . . . I think you just plain over did it.”

“Yeah, maybe. I think I would feel better if I ate something.” Elwin said.

“Oh, here.” Prin pulled something wrapped in a floral handkerchief from the pocket of his cloak. “It’s a little bit smooshed but I think it’s alright.” He handed it to Elwin. “Start with this.” Prin took Elwin’s backpack off of him and pulled out the water jug. “Oof, this is heavy. Here, drink some water too.”

As Elwin unwrapped the sandwich, a perfumed scent wafted up from the handkerchief. “Alright, Prin, where did you get this?” He was too baffled to be suspicious. Even though in the back of his mind he had to acknowledge that this seemed like a very suspicious scenario. Between the clean hair and the mystery sandwich in a girlish hanky. He took a bite of the sandwich, and quickly finished it off.

“Okay, I met someone new. And also, we may have a place to sleep indoors tonight.” Prin said. “I don’t know if it’s the best idea but especially with you not feeling well . . .”

“I’m fine.” Elwin lied. He narrowed his eyes at the prince, did it seem like he was being a little evasive? Or no? His eyes were wide with excitement and the sheen of adventure. Must be nice. “So, you met someone? What did you do while I was at the docks?” Tell me everything.

“Okay, so, someone tried to pick on me. But it’s okay! I could handle it. Before I had a chance to properly get rid of him though, this little, tiny, this fox? This small – short lady. Only not a lady, she says? Anyway, and her dress was –” The prince seemed at a loss to properly express himself, which was unusual for he of many words gleaned from the reading of a couple hundred books.

“That impressive?” Elwin smirked. He took a big drink of water, sure that dehydration was at least some part of the problem. He was already on the cold ground, no one who walked by seemed to be paying them any mind, probably imaging him drunk, so he figured he might as well see how this played out.

“Oh yes! I’d say so. Like no one I’ve ever met before. Anyway, so –” Prin trailed, trying to pick up his runaway train of thought. “Her clothes were just so fine and pretty, I don’t think it is the way the ladies dressed in TallHillde, but what would I know about that? It seemed more modern, with detailed stitching and bright colors, and the daintiest red boots.” He laughed, delighted. “It’s not like me to take notice of such things, I know, but there has never been so much of a nicety to notice. She also has red hair and freckles and her name is Aster, or Rose. She paid for my meal and a bath at the bathhouse. But I did promise I would pay it back and I intend to.”

“Why did Aster-Or-Rose do that for you? What was in it for her?” Elwin wondered. Although, in truth he hardly even doubted Prin’s ability to charm people into giving him things with no benefit whatsoever to themselves, he felt it was best practice to always question people’s motives. If he had learned anything on their journey so far.

“We-ell . . .” Prin made an exaggerated grimace. “She may have been trying to recruit me into a job where she works. But just at first!”

“What job would that be?” Elwin asked.

Prin turned and pointed to a building behind him. “There, in the pink one.”

“Okay, that’s where it is. But what is it?” Elwin asked.

“Sex work.” Prin said. Making a face that said he anticipated Elwin’s reaction to this and would have delayed it longer if he could.

“Sex work!” Elwin said. “Do you even know what that is!?”

“The same thing as prostitution isn’t it?” Prin asked hesitantly.

“I think so, but do you know what it means?” Elwin asked. He was dying to know what Prin thought it meant.

“Yes, I do.” The prince said defiantly. “Why do you think I turned down the job?”

Elwin laughed helplessly.

Prin’s cheeks turned red and he stuck his lower lip out in a comical pout. “I don’t know all the gritty details, but I know enough to know it’s not something I would be interested in. Trading affection for money, seems so desolate. Although Aster said it has good and bad just like any other job.”

Elwin pulled him close and hugged him. “I’m sorry to laugh. I know you have been sheltered, and why, so it’s cruel of me. Just that you not knowing something is a novelty for me, I never get the upper hand on you because I am the more ignorant one. You are so much smarter than me.”

“That’s not even true.” Prin relaxed against him. “You have always been smart. And we have the same education.”

“You know it’s true.” Elwin teased. He twirled a lock of Prin’s clean and sweet smelling hair in his fingers. “I’m glad you knew enough not to fall for it. What that person does for a living is only for people with no one who loves them, not even themselves. It’s a dangerous life, I know that much. Just from the way people talk.”

“That can’t be true.” Prin said. His voice had become shaky and Elwin saw no choice but to try and scramble out of the corner he had talked himself into.

“I mean, what do other people know anyway? I’m sure you’re right.” He said hurriedly.

“We have to help her.” The prince said, his blue-flame eyes boring into Elwin’s. “But first, can we sleep on her floor?”