Captain Thompson’s lovely home, on a quiet street, with wealthy, quiet neighbors, was nothing like The Vulture. Then again, what was? Nevertheless, it was a house full of secrets. But also full of love. The captain’s love for his children permeated everything, and what ever secrets were had, and mistakes were made, that at least was still true.

If the prince didn’t have an important mission to attend to, he could see getting comfortable here. Maybe even sticking around indefinitely. The bed was awfully soft.

Elwin was laying beside him, staring at the ceiling, troubled.

“Do you wish we weren’t staying here?” Prin asked.

“No, no, its not that.” Elwin said. “I just . . . have a lot of thoughts. Don’t you?” He turned to face Prin and smiled. “But we’re still here, and still together.”

“That’s right!” the prince grinned. “If you’re thinking about Valor and his curse, so am I. It seems like . . . it seems like something could be done about it. Anyway, I want to interview everyone in the family tomorrow to verify all the details in the captain’s stories. Maybe there’s some kind of loophole?”

“Hmm, that sounds ambitious.” Elwin said. “If there’s anything I can do to help, just say it.”

“Of course.” Prin leaned over and kissed Elwin’s cheek. “Goes without saying.”

“That’s not actually what I was thinking about though.” Elwin admitted. “Have you ever talked to Dru? The niece?”

“No, I guess I haven’t. I’ve only seen her when you’ve seen her.” Prin said. “Hey, come to think of it, so she hangs out at Mama Kris’s? With that person?” He just remembered it, as Dru being there had not seemed like the very most important part of that whole confrontation, it had slipped right out of his mind.

“Yes.” Elwin said darkly. “And she has an as yet unknown, but intimate seeming relationship with Wrena.”

“She does!?” Prin’s eyes were wide in the candle light. “I didn’t know that.”

“I accidentally eavesdropped.” Elwin said. “Well . . . maybe not so much accidentally.”

“What do you think is going on?” The prince asked. “I mean, the captain seems to accept that she is half feral, or something. But I don’t see it. She seems to be pretty put together.”

“I think,” Elwin lowered his voice, eavesdropping was a two way street after all. “She may be stealing from or otherwise taking advantage of this family. Maybe being close to Wrena gives her some kind of access she wouldn’t have otherwise had . . .?”

“Don’t say that lightly.” Prin said. “The captain could kick us out if he didn’t believe you.”

“Oh I know! I wouldn’t say a thing to him without evidence.” Elwin said. “I’m just watching is all, just watching to see if any evidence appears.”

“Right, gotcha.” Prin nodded. “Wise.”

After a long moment of silence, Prin spoke up again. “I wonder if it’s possible maybe he is outgrowing the curse? Like, when was the last bad, outrageously, abnormally, bad thing to have happened to Valor? Maybe it’s been a while.”

Elwin snuggled his head into Prin’s shoulder. “Don’t take this the wrong way, sweetness, because you know I love you . . .”

“What? What is it?” Prin put his hand up and rubbed Elwin’s head. Even though he knew he was about to possibly say something he shouldn’t, Prin already knew he couldn’t be mad. No matter what it was.

“It’s us. Us showing up here.” Elwin said. “The latest bead, maybe the focal point, in the whole necklace of disaster.”

“Oh.” The prince said, his mind mercifully blanking, if only for a brief moment. “O-ooh!” he repeated as realization dawned. “I would never eat Valor, are you crazy!?”

“Maybe the curse doesn’t know that.” Elwin said gently. “Have you been feeling any rumblings lately? Are you . . . are you alright for now?”

“I’m fine!” Prin said. “I feel perfectly . . . full. And well.”

“Okay, good.” Elwin said, relief registering in his voice. “Let me know if anything changes. Maybe in the mean time we should, I mean, just as a back up plan, not that we will need one . . . Keep our eyes open for the right kind of . . .”

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“Bad person?” the prince asked. “Delicious person?”

“Yes.” Elwin said.

“I’m sure you’re thinking of who I’m thinking of.” Prin said. “But how on earth I could manage to be alone with him, if the need arises. I can’t even imagine? It seems like there are a lot of guards. Like the big lady . . .”

“I bet we could come up with something, some sort of excuse.” Elwin said. “I think getting back out of Mama Kris’s after the fact would be the trickier part.”

“I could always pretend I wanted to try out for a job there after all.” Prin said in a teasing tone.

“Oh, no.” Elwin laughed. “I don’t know about that. I mean, that makes me very uncomfortable.” He hurried to add. “Not because I think they wouldn’t hire you.”

“Maybe it should be you.” The prince teased. “They would hire you for sure.”

The next morning, the bell rang eight times, calling the family to an eight am breakfast.

Elwin rolled over and drowsily put his arm around Prin, snuggling him close. He just wanted to close his eyes again, burrowing his face into the pillows that smelled sweetly of fresh air on a cloudless day, and not concern himself with worldly things like eating.

The prince, however, opened his blue eyes wide at the first chime of the bell.

“Oh! I said I would check in on Valor and see if he needed any help in the mornings. Since Mrs. Frances helper is a bit . . . well rightfully wary of him.” Prin said.

“He wont throw anything at you, I imagine.” Elwin said. Adding, he had better not, silently to himself. “O-oh you really are his assistant now.”

“No, not really.” Prin waved his hand. He sat up and stretched.

“I can’t see you emptying chamber pots . . . and stuff like that.” Elwin said. “Want me to come with?”

“If you want to.” Prin said, sounding somewhat hesitant. “It’s not really necessary though. You can sleep in a little bit instead.”

“It’s okay. I’m ready to get up.” Elwin lied.

The two of them quickly got dressed and went to Valor’s room. The prince knocked on the door, a bit timidly, Elwin thought.

Elwin followed it up with a heartier knock of his own. He listened carefully for a reply from inside the room, leaning forward so that he would be sure of hearing it.

Suddenly, he felt a sharp poke in his calf and heard a yelp from Prin. Elwin turned around quickly to see Valor behind them, walking cane in hand, locked and loaded.

“What are you doing?” Valor asked.

He looked comfy with a long tunic top over leggings. Solid black with a floppy bow at his throat. His two little familiars at his feet. He frowned at them, ice-like eyes narrowed behind his pink lensed glasses.

The prince grinned, while rubbing the back of his leg with one hand. “We came to get you up, but I can see that wasn’t necessary.”

“Thank you anyway.” Valor said dryly.

Elwin had a mind to complain about being poked, he was sure it would leave a bruise, but he didn’t want to rock the boat.

“Let’s just . . . go to breakfast.” He said.

“Where else?” Valor said. He turned on his heels and led the way to the kitchen.

Elwin shot a complaining look at his prince, who just shrugged and smiled in return. Whatcha gonna do?

In the kitchen, Captain Thompson was already seated, alone, at the kitchen table. “My boys!” He said cheerily.

After yesterdays depressing ‘story hour’, Elwin was surprised to see him in such a good mood. He half thought that the captain would be angry at them for encouraging the reveal, and thereby becoming the secret’s new keepers.

“Good morning.” Valor said, sitting down in his usual seat.

Prin sat beside him, and Elwin looked around, wondering if they should wait for the appearance of Wrena and Dru to start eating.

Mrs. Frances was making a huge stack of fluffy pancakes, and Elwin could feel his mouth begin to water. How he had missed good cooking in just these few days he had been away from home.

“No need to wait on them.” The captain said jovially. “After gallivanting around all night, they often miss breakfast.” He laughed. “Girls will be girls!”

Elwin sat down beside the captain.

“Speaking of gallivanting, I had the most relaxing evening.” Captain Thompson stretched his arms up over his head. “I really needed it too. I saw Rose, of course, and you’ll never believe –”

“We don’t want to hear about it.” Valor said.

Mrs. Frances and her assistant delivered heaping plates of pancakes, with sausage on the side, and fresh fruit. As well as a pitcher of warm maple syrup for dressing.

“Oh hush.” The captain said. “I wasn’t going to say anything not fit for childish ears! Although someday soon you’ll be begging to go to the font of beauty and elegance, in the pink house in the center of town . . . Eh, never mind. A conversation for another day. Anyways, you’ll never guess what we talked about.” He paused for a long enough moment for Elwin and Prin to exchange glances. They had no clue.

“A big party that’s coming up!” Captain Thompson declared. “In fact, well, according to Rose, it’s the biggest and most prestigious party all year. At least, taking place on this small island.” He chuckled. “Apparently, dignitaries and dilettantes even come from OFF island to attend. What do you think of THAT, Elwin and Prin? Rose insisted that the two of you would want to go. Of course, as for me, I don’t care much for these events and generally tend to turn them down.”

This prompted another exchange of glances between Prin and Elwin.

“Now, the girls will be rip roaring excited, I imagine.” The captain continued. So I thought the two of you could go as their dates! You know, just a little arm candy. So they don’t have to enter the party unaccompanied.

And of course, with Rose on my arm, I’ll be sure to have fun for once, at such an event.” He looked very self-satisfied to be telling them this.

After a long moment of uncomfortable silence, where the captain clearly was expecting them to declare their excitement and gratitude at the opportunity, Elwin finally spoke up.

“It’s not that we don’t appreciate . . .” he trailed. “I’m just not sure we’re the types either . . .”

“I mean, it does sound kind of fun.” Prin said thoughtfully. “I’ve never been to anything like that and I always did wonder what it would be like . . . but still.”

“To invite us to a lavish party . . .” Elwin said.

“Oh, I forgot! Rose said be sure to tell you that Freya, the fortune teller, will be there.” The captain said.

“Well, that changes everything.” Prin said.

At the same time Elwin said, “We’d be delighted to accept.”