Awareness came gradually to Elwin. Warmth and softness all around him, like being in a nest. The feeling of pressure on his eyelids of sunlight trying to push its way in. A sweet scent of flowers, not fresh flowers, but floral perfume, which was a different thing entirely.

At first he couldn’t move because he had no desire to move whatsoever. He was free floating, but in a cocoon, so relaxed. Yet eventually the forever slow feeling of not quite awake and still dreaming you could sleep forever, and it wouldn’t be half bad if you did, was replaced by real world concerns.

Wasn’t the warmth a little too warm, after all? And his arms were pressed down on both sides, making him feel a bit stiff, needing to stretch, and even a little trapped. What If he was stuck in a spider’s web and couldn’t get out? Not to mention the uncomfortable pressure in his bladder.

Elwin opened his eyes. The shed room was still encased in dusty dream-like light, although there was a sun beam coming in from a crack in the wall and hitting him directly in the face. He flinched, turning his face to the side to try and escape it.

There was Aster, cuddled up against him, hugging his arm like it was a teddy bear. Her sweet face up turned toward his, all the artifice, all the restless hopeful scheming, all the world weary disappointment, was drained away by the relaxation of deep sleep. Maybe aided by the drugs from the night before. Elwin flinched at his own involvement in that. But at least nothing bad had happened, it was a pretty tame experience, after all. And he felt a little bad at his distrust of Aster, even if it was part of his newfound general paranoia of strangers.

No, he felt sympathy for her now, finally, Prin was right in that she deserved better. Still, he couldn’t help think that he was right in that they couldn’t, and shouldn’t try, to be the ones to help her get it. They were in over their heads as it was, with their own problems. Way, way over their heads.

Thinking of his prince, he turned his head to the other side to see his face, framed by dark curls, on the pillow next to him. Mere inches away, close enough to kiss. Though the sleeping arrangement was a little awkward, Elwin had to smile. They hadn’t broken their pact. And here they both were, safe (enough) and well (enough), and together (never enough, but it would have to do).

Elwin bridged the small gap and kissed Prin on his precious lips, pursed a little already as though they were expecting it. Maybe Prin was only half asleep and thinking the same thing he was.

The prince returned the kiss and smiled, but didn’t otherwise seem inclined to move.

“Prin?” Elwin said softly. “Do you know what time it is?”

Prin didn’t respond.

Elwin felt the pull of sleep return and his eyelids were so heavy. A little more sleep couldn’t hurt. There was nothing so important. . .

“After noon, maybe one o clock. There’s a watch in the vanity drawer.” A soft, sleep strained voice came from the other side.

Elwin felt his arm being squeezed.

“Go back asleep.” Aster continued. “Time has no meaning.”

Elwin was happy to oblige. This felt like the best rest he had in days. Suddenly, as his mind began to sail away again on a drowsy cloud, he was jolted by an unwelcome thought. Wait, maybe there was something important he was supposed to do. Something taking place in the morning which had already passed . . .

His eyes shot completely open and he sat up. “What time did you say it was?”

“Time has no meaning o clock.” Aster said. She let go of the arm she had been clinging on to and sank back into the mound of pillows. “What’s it matter anyway?”

“We were supposed to be at work at ten o clock!” Elwin said.

“Well it’s too late for that now, maybe try again tomorrow?” Aster suggested.

“Prin! We have to get going.” Elwin said.

Prin wiggled beside him. “Not no-ow, we were just about to meet the dragons.” He stuck out his lower lip, clenching his eyes further shut rather than opening them.

“If we don’t manage to keep this job, we wont even be able to leave this island! Then we’ll never meet dragons, or anybody else for that matter.” Elwin said.

That had done the trick. Prin sat up, his eyes wide, pupils mercifully returned to normal. “Oh no! It’s all my fault. Did I ruin everything?”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“What are you talking about, bunny?” Aster murmured. “It’s only Captain Thompson, not an audience with the queen.”

“O-oh, he will be angry.” Prin said ominously.

“No he won’t, just say I detained you. If it’s me, he can’t get mad.” Aster said confidently.

“Not the captain, the boy, Valor.” Prin said.

After stopping briefly to gather their things and put on their boots, also wash their faces and comb their hair (at Aster’s insistence.), Elwin and Prin set out for Captain Thompson’s house. They brought their bags along with them, since they planned to start staying there overnight. Assuming they hadn’t already been fired.

Much to Elwin’s surprise, Aster had urged the prince to keep his key, just so they would have it to fall back on if they needed somewhere to go. Prin had certainly looked relieved at this.

They hurried along just as fast as they could without seeming suspicious, like they were running away from a robbery.

“I think we should go straight around to the back door.” Prin suggested.

“Yes, that was a mistake on our part yesterday, going to the front.” Elwin said.

“How could we know that they live in a constant disaster just waiting to happen?” Prin said.

“Like The Vulture?” Elwin teased.

The prince laughed. “No, nothing is quite like The Vulture.”

They had come to the house and Elwin led the way around back.

“I’m nervous about this.” Prin said.

“It’ll be okay.” Elwin said.

“Hey, what was with that song? Of Aster’s?” Prin asked, clearly hoping to break the tension.

“I know! How weird was that?” Elwin said. He knocked at the back door, feeling the house was oddly, suspiciously quiet. Could there be nobody home?

The second Elwin raised his fist to knock a second time, his guess was proven wrong as the door flew open and the servant girl was standing in the doorway.

“Just a moment.” She mumbled. A dark bruise bloomed on one of her cheeks. She walked quickly away, leaving the door to hang open in her wake.

“We’re in trouble.” Prin whispered.

“Shh.” Elwin said.

Mrs. Frances came to the door, her face grave, wringing her hands in her apron. “Oh where have you been boys! We thought you weren’t coming. And oh, oh, he has been in a state. Come on in, you might as well.” Her tone was hushed, as though afraid of waking a baby, as she ushered them into the kitchen. “I would offer you something to eat and drink but I’m in no mood for hospitality.” She looked at their luggage and then back up to their faces, her own face registering surprise. “You’re here to stay? Maybe that will make a difference, come on.” She took Prin by the arm and ushered him through the house.

They left the luggage right outside the kitchen and Elwin followed them as she took Prin to the staircase.

“The bedrooms are upstairs.” Mrs. Frances said. “Be careful, loves, he throws things. Got my girl square in the face with a metal cup from the breakfast tray this morning. Uncanny how a blind boy can aim his torpedoes straight for one’s face! Go on up, it’s the second door on the right.” She let go of Prin’s arm, clearly not planning to accompany them.

They could hear the low rumbling bass of the captain’s voice from somewhere above.

Elwin saw the prince take a deep breath before charging ahead, and he followed his lead.

Captain Thompson was standing outside of a partially closed door speaking softly, or at least as softly as he was able.

“Valor, do you want another kitten? How about a cake? Would that be nice?” the captain sighed. “A kitten cake then, I don’t know. Tell me what you want, I can’t help you if I don’t know what you want.”

He was wearing an old robe of tatty red velvet, and looked exhausted. He slumped forward in the doorway, clearly afraid to cross the threshold but unwilling to leave.

His face broke into a tired, world weary smile when he saw them approaching. Elwin was relieved, he had thought they might see him angry. And that was not something he cared to experience.

Elwin wondered how long this had been going on.

“Boys, boys! You’re here! Better late then never I always say.” Captain Thompson said.

“Then we still have a job, I guess.” Prin said.

“Yes, yes! Unless . . .” The captain said thoughtfully. “Well, we might have to adjust the parameters, ya see.” He stepped back from the doorway to let them pass into the room. “Prin and Elwin are here!” He called.

“I heard.” Valor’s muffled voice drifted into the hallway, as shaky as an untuned musical note from a rusty instrument.

“If you can take care of him? The girl is afraid . . .” Captain Thompson said.

“I don’t need anyone. I’m not a baby.” The voice drifted out again.

“Of course not, of course not!” the captain laughed nervously.

Prin set his face in a grim line and marched into the room, Elwin trailing behind him, ready to fend off any flying utensils with whatever large book or pot lid he could find lying about to use as a shield.

The room was not as he had expected. It was a large bedroom lined with windows that had their curtains pulled shut. And full of green growing things on every available surface. The bed was large and full of fluffy pillows and blankets. So much so, that Valor as well as his two black cat familiars were practically lost among the bedding.

But no, there was the boy, in the center of the bed, face down in a damp pillow. Disheveled in his wrinkled white night gown, with his rusty-blond hair sticking up around him.

“Good morning!” Prin chirped. “Or, good afternoon. Sorry to be late, we had to pack our bags, and silly me, it’s all my fault, I temporarily lost something very important in the shuffle. Elwin is here with me, I hope you don’t mind, but really he is ever so good at taking care of people. Not that you need to be taken care of, or it is our job to take care of you. But he did take care of me for many years while I was sickly, so I have reason to know he is very good at it.”

Elwin was not sure about this approach, but he kept his mouth shut.

Valor rolled over on his back and sat up, his pink, tear streaked face tilting towards the sound of Prin’s voice.

“I’m going to open all the curtains now, so your lovely plants can have a bit of light.” Prin said. “Have you eaten yet? I bet not. Elwin, could you go get something nice to eat from the kitchen?” He mouthed silently. I’ll be fine.

“Sure.” Elwin said reluctantly.

He went back downstairs and got some apple tarts from Mrs. Frances, who had beamed at him proudly, as though knowing the worst of the storm was already over.