The prince stood outside of Valor’s door, trying to prepare himself for a difficult situation. It was hard to believe that Elwin, usually so much better at this kind of thing than himself, had screwed it up so badly. By his own admission. Prin didn’t know what had been said.

He considered knocking, rejected it. Prin opened the door to see the oil lamps that Elwin must have lit still burning. Like two embers in a piece of coal. It was dark outside now, so there was no point in opening the curtains.

The captain and Mrs. Frances had been afraid to come in, depending on Prin to diffuse the situation. They depended on him too much, and much too quickly.

Valor was laying in the bed, on top of the covers, slowly drying clothes matted to his body.

“Who’s there?” He asked, without bothering to open his eyes, for what was the point.

“It’s Prin. I don’t feel so good myself, I thought you could take care of me.” Prin sat down on the edge of the bed and kicked off his boots. He hadn’t bothered to get dressed again, instead walking over to Valor’s room in his nightshirt with a warm knitted shawl draped over his shoulders. It was a little inappropriate maybe, but why stand on ceremony, the boy couldn’t see that he was half naked anyway. And he really wasn’t in the mood for this.

Valor laughed, a hoarse unpleasant sound. “You’re messing with me. I do have to admit it’s funny, though.”

“No, I’m being serious. Elwin is off doing chores for your father.” Prin lied. “And I don’t know if you knew this? If I told you already? But I used to be really quite sickly and sometimes . . . I guess I over do it a little and have a relapse of sorts.”

“I hope you didn’t catch a cold because of me.” Valor said.

“Why would it be because of you?” Prin asked. “No, this just happens sometimes.” He really did hope it wasn’t what happened sometimes. He ate before he came over to Valor’s room, but he could eat again.

“Oh. What can I do for you?” Valor asked. He sat up, that languid graceful movement, showing again a sort of what could have been in this young man’s life. The beauty of form, the agile movement. He could have been someone to be reckoned with, in one way or another.

Er, differently to how he was reckoned with now.

“Maybe we can – Do you have a bell or something that we can ring for assistance? How about we have a bath? And then maybe something sweet? Cake or pastries.” Prin suggested. “This was always my method for feeling better after a bad day.”

“A bath together?” Valor asked. Twin rosettes of color appeared on his scarred cheeks.

Prin shrugged, realizing he couldn’t see it. “Either way, doesn’t matter to me. I’m not shy.”

“Are you a fool?” Valor asked.

“Ah, so you’re the shy one. I already saw you naked when I helped you get dressed. What’s the big deal?” Prin asked.

“You are a fool.” Valor said decisively.

“Alright, scrap heap that idea then.” Prin said. “What do you do to feel better?” He flopped down across the foot of the bed like a loyal old dog. “I bet you don’t have any better suggestions.” Prin got back up quickly and went to Valor’s wardrobe. “You have to get changed anyway, that’s the main thing.”

“What do I do?” Valor asked. “I wish I knew. You know what two people do in a bath together? Grown people. We aren’t kids. I’m not a kid. If you know what I’m talking about then . . .”

“I have trouble thinking of you as not a kid. I don’t mean anything negative by it, though. I see you as a kid – young person, with a lot of potential. A world of it.” Prin chose a plain black cotton night gown for Valor, he hadn’t even known they came in that color. There were also grey ones but that seemed even more drab somehow.

“Yes, and you have your precious Elwin. I know.” Valor said. “I just don’t accept it as an impediment.”

Prin felt like they were having two different conversations on top of each other, but there wasn’t much he could do about that. “Take your clothes off and put this on, you contrary critter.” He threw the nightshirt at Valor.

It landed on his head, a direct hit, startling a laugh out of him that was more genuine. “Where did you learn to talk like that?” He asked.

“Probably from a book.” Prin said. “Or maybe from Squeaks, he was the cabin boy on the ship that brought us here.” Where had he heard that?

“It was a rhetorical question.” Valor struggled out of his clothes and into the nightshirt. “Will you stay with me tonight?”

“I don’t know.” Prin said, meaning no.

“Please.” The earnestness in his voice was endearing. Prin wondered if the events of the day had caused further cracks in the boy’s hard shell. He wasn’t very good at hiding behind that thing anyway

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“For a little while, I guess. Let’s read and eat snacks, okay? You’re supposed to be taking care of me, remember?” Prin said.

Elwin couldn’t sleep without his prince, and he had no intention of trying. It’s not like he didn’t know where to find him. At midnight he got impatient.

The house was dark and quiet, and it felt really strange to be walking through it in this state. Especially someone else’s house, that he wasn’t even completely familiar with yet. What ghosts traveled these halls? What secrets could one unwillingly walk in on?

He shook it out of his mind, but no sooner he did, then he heard rustling and banging around in the front room. The room he had been spending a lot of time cleaning and organizing. Like a giant rat.

Elwin decided to be sneaky. He didn’t know what came over him in moments like these, since he really didn’t consider himself that kind of person. But here he went anyway.

The door was already opened a crack and meager candlelight leaked from it and into the hallway.

“Damn it! Damn it straight to the underworld!” Someone cursed from inside.

There was Devil Dru, clearly speaking in her native tongue, and looking annoyed as she dug through a trunk of old rags.

She looked, strangely enough, more attractive then usual off her guard. She was wearing her boots with her white night dress tucked into leather leggings. And her dark hair was artfully disheveled. Elwin suddenly knew what was different about her. She was absent the smug look of superiority that ever hovered. She must be having a hard time.

Also, she was messing up the tidy piles he had been struggling to form.

Elwin rapped lightly on the door, not wanting to startle her. Though he wasn’t sure why he should care, after she had done it to him. And would again, no doubt.

Dru turned around, and her cocky grin resurfaced for a moment before she pouted out her lower lip. “Hey, you.” She said.

“Hey. Whatcha doing?” Elwin asked. Then, feeling too casual the first time. “What are you doing?” He corrected. “I had that mess straightened out. Well, a little anyway. And now look at it.”

“Oh what do you care? It’s job security aint it?” Dru stuck out her tongue. “Help me out, kid, help me out! I guess I’m sort of expected now to go to that party and I don’t have anything to wear.” She held out the handful of tattered disintegrating lace that was once a dress, or part of one anyway. “Isn’t there anything in all this junk that could pass for a party dress?”

Elwin realized the other thing that was missing from her, her glasses. They had defined her face and she looked almost a different person without them on. “There are a lot of old clothes, although I think most of them are the captain’s from his young swashbuckling days.”

“That would be okay!” Dru said. “I prefer to wear men’s clothes anyway, truth to tell. I was just trying to humor the old man.”

“You don’t think he would mind?” Elwin asked.

“Why would he mind! They’re just going to waste in here.” Dru said. “Help me look. Help me look.”

Elwin sighed. He supposed he might as well. He thought he remembered seeing some clothes in a certain box and moved some things around to get to it. “You’re always snooping around in here, is there something specific you’re trying to find?”

“Huh? Party clothes, I already told you.” Dru said, digging further into the trunk, down deep where the good stuff surely lay.

“No, I mean in general. Not just today.” Elwin said. It wasn’t any business of his really, but still, he had been dying to know.

“Oh, you know, gold and gems. Pirate treasure, of a generalized nature. Nothing specific.” Dru said nonchalantly.

“Isn’t that stealing from your uncle?” Elwin asked.

“Na-aah.” Dru said. “Nah. Ooo, look at this!” She pulled out a green velvet jacket full of shiny gold and silver buckles, with wide embroidered cuffs. Only a little moth eaten.

“You will be the most interesting looking girl there, for sure.” Elwin said. He did think she could pull it off. If she didn’t mind looking like a man, which she didn’t seem to. A man from a hundred years ago.

Dru grinned cheesily. “Cool.”

Elwin pulled out a handful of silk scarves and a lacy veil. “You can do something with these maybe? This one’s blue and green.” He showed her one with a swirling pattern.

“I wonder if the cap’n will get all nostalgic when he sees me decked out in this?” Dru said.

Elwin laughed. “Maybe. He might draw a sword on you.”

Devil Dru laughed so hard she had to hold her side against a sudden stitch. “Old man! I’d like to see him try.”

“He still has it in him.” Elwin said. “I wouldn’t get on his bad side.”

Dru lightly punched him on the shoulder. “Just see that you don’t.” She went back to digging for more pieces to complete her look.

“He-ey, didn’t your uncle give you money for a dress?” Elwin suddenly remembered.

Dru shook her head. “You think I would spend all that on a dress?”

“Hmm, no, I guess not.” Elwin did not think that, now that she mentioned it.

“Nah, it’s long gone.” Dru said, voice faint coming from where her head was near the bottom of the deep chest. “Why buy something stupid like a dress, when there’s fun to be had?”

“Good luck there, I’ll see ya later.” Elwin said, backing away toward the door. It was later, and he was tired after the long day. He was suddenly tempted to take the time to tell Dru all about the string of bizarrities they had encountered while out with Valor. But, no, it was too late to get into all that. Not tonight.

“Thanks for the help.” Dru called after him, lifting up one hand to wave behind her.

Elwin continued on in his original mission, and when he got to Valor’s room he simply opened the door and went in. The room was quiet and nearly dark again, the last oil lamp sputtering lazily in the dark.

Valor was in bed, laying with one arm underneath his head and one hand in Prin’s.

The prince had fallen asleep next to him, his head bent awkwardly over an open book, and his hand occupied.

“He must be sleeping really well.” Elwin whispered.

“Yes, don’t wake him.” Valor said.

“I’m taking him back to our room.” Elwin said. “He’s no good to you now anyway.” Meaning now that his eyes were shut, and he couldn’t read.

“I have no problem with you, not really.” Valor said, voice back to the deadpan iciness that was its default.

“Okay?” Elwin had no idea where he was going with this. Was he after an apology for earlier? Elwin bent and put his arms around Prin, preparing to pick him up and carry him, as he had done so many times.

“But if you try to take him away from me, we will fight.” Valor said. “I will fight you for him.”

“Right now?” It was too late at night for this shit.

“No, not right now. In general.” Valor corrected.

“Oh, okay, see you tomorrow then.” Elwin said awkwardly. What did one say to that?

He picked up Prin, staggering slightly under the weight but trying hard to hold steady. How had he forgotten this wasn’t so easy anymore? Thank the gods it wasn’t.

“I just thought that you should know.” Valor said.

“Duly noted.” Elwin carried Prin away.

Even as tired as he was, it was hard to get to sleep that night for thinking of the odd boy and what he could have possibly meant. Between him and his almost as odd cousin, the house was full of mysteries and wonders.