The night before the big social event of the season, the prince was looking over his interview questions. He hoped he hadn’t forgotten an important one. Of course, he would use the opportunity to try and get a longer, a real, appointment for later. But what if it didn’t work out? What if this was his only chance to interrogate this particular witch.

“Don’t make it into an interrogation.” Elwin advised, as if on cue. “You’ll scare her off and she’ll avoid you like the plague for the rest of the night.”

“Number one: Are you, have you ever met, or have you even heard of a witch who could shape shift from an adolescent to an old lady? And can lay extremely powerful curses which transform the victim’s entire body? Or even, either of those things independently of the other? She may also be traveling on a boat with an ugly mermaid figurehead.” Prin forged ahead.

“She’s not a genie, you don’t have to ask her a question so complete that it avoids any loopholes.” Elwin said. “And isn’t that a little heavy for cocktail conversation?”

“Number two: Do you have a spell for seeking out the whereabouts of a specific person? Even if all the information you have on the person is contained within question number one?” Prin asked.

“That is a good one.” Elwin was forced to acknowledge. “You’ll have to get her alone somehow to ask her such in depth questions, though. It doesn’t seem like she would want to get into it in front of a room full of guests. And especially admit it if she can’t do anything.”

“Oh, I’m prepared that any of her answers may be lies.” Prin assured. “Number three: Have you ever been to a kingdom named TallHillde? This is meant to startled her, see? In case she is the witch, in a shapeshifted form or knows more then she is letting on. I feel like if she says no, and it’s a lie, I’ll at least be able to tell it in her face. In fact, maybe this question would have a better impact if it was number one? Just come straight out swinging, what do you think?”

“Yes, maybe so.” Elwin said. His brows were creased again. Prin could tell when he was worried, it was always written right on his face.

The prince put his hand over Elwin’s. “I’m fine.” He said firmly. Although, he didn’t feel fine, not exactly. But he could get through this day before figuring out . . . what to do next. “And I won’t get us kicked out of the party. As far as embarrassing you?” He gave Elwin a cheesy grin. “No guarantees.”

Elwin laughed. “I’m not worried about that. I just hope you have some fun, you know? And don’t expect too all firing much from this so-called witch. She may not be much of one anyway, more of a bull shit artist.”

“We know they exist. There have to be more than one – two – different witches out there.” Prin admired Elwin’s skepticism, but sometimes, with the goal in mind of helping Prin avoid disappointment, it got to be too much. Even if she isn’t real, that doesn’t mean she doesn’t know something.”

“People around here seem to think she is good at reading cards and giving advice.” Elwin acknowledged. But his voice said, of course, people are stupid.

“I would love to have my future told! Wouldn’t that be interesting?” Prin endeavored to waggle his eyebrows suggestively, a skill he had yet to master. “But I suppose that would be something I would have to make an appointment for . . .”

“I believe that’s the accepted method.” Elwin agreed.

“However . . . this is me we’re talking about here.” Prin said.

“I wouldn’t put it past you to get a reading on the spot.” Elwin grinned.

“I do-o tend to get my own way.” Prin teased.

Elwin reached out to the prince and pulled him close, stealing a quick kiss. “We had better try and get some rest.” He said.

Prin’s stomach did a happy seasick little flip flop, which hopefully was just as a result of the kiss. “If we even can sleep!”

“I can.” Elwin assured. He fluffed the pillows and settled into them. “Have you tucked Valor in?” Prin could tell he was half teasing, half serious when he asked it.

“Yes. He’s asleep, I’m pretty sure.” Prin said. “What’s with you two?” He laughed, shaking his head at the same time.

Elwin’s eyes looked startled, and a shade of pink spread across his cheeks. “I guess there is a sort of rivalry there. Even if it is one sided? It’s like he wants me to compete with him, but to do that would be acknowledging him as some kind of rival. Like a real one. Which is what he wants. But I just can’t see it that way. Still, it bothers me more then it should.” He spoke haltingly, as though Prin had been dragging something out of him he would rather not talk about. Something embarrassing to say the least.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Prin blinked, his mind trying to digest what Elwin was saying.

“I just meant, I don’t know how the two of you can sleep with the big party tomorrow hanging over our heads. So much excitement and all.

Elwin’s cheeks turned a deeper shade of crimson.

Prin giggled. “I’m sorry for laughing. Do you really think you need to fight over me? With a child. This is too much.”

“Child? More like demon seed.” Elwin grumbled. “Also, he’s not that much younger than we are. Just ‘cause he dresses like he stole his wardrobe from a toddler . . .” Elwin couldn’t look Prin in the eye. “Also, he is very determined.”

The prince put his hand on Elwin’s cheek. “It’s one of his better qualities, though misguided in this instance.”

Elwin put his own hand over Prin’s. “This is just hard for me. I’m not used to having to share you. And of course I knew from the moment we left the Vulture that others would fall in love with you the way that I have, and I would have to come to grips with it. I just can’t.” His brown eyes were so earnest, like a hound puppy. Would he start howling like one next?

“Didn’t we have this same conversation after we met Aster? I feel the same way about you.” Prin said. “Even before we left the castle, I could see the way people looked –“

Elwin interrupted him with another kiss.

This one lingered a little longer then was usual, leaving Prin slightly breathless and with an ache for more. Which was also unusual. He wondered if it was his turn to blush. “Let’s go to sleep.”

“Tomorrow will be a long day, I have a feeling.” Elwin agreed. He tucked the blanket in around Prin.

“Yes, I think you’re right. No matter what happens it will be a big day.” Prin said.

*

The morning started off with a knock at the door of their bedroom. Elwin rolled toward Prin and threw his arm over him protectively.

“Just a minute.” Elwin mumbled at the door. Noisy door, interrupting a good sleep. Just as the dream was getting interesting too. It should mind its business.

The door swung open, creaky on its aged and slightly rusted hinges.

Elwin felt a hand on his head and then his arm, a light touch heavier than a butterfly but not so heavy as a jumping mouse. He cracked one eye open.

Valor was standing there, hunched over in his night shirt and slippers, chewing on his lower lip. His entire posture spelled out anguished anxiety. “Prin, Prin . . .” He whispered.

“You don’t have to whisper.” Elwin said. He took Valor’s reaching hand out of the air, hovering over him, and placed it on Prin’s shoulder. “What’s the matter?”

“What’s the matter!?” Valor yelled, volume suddenly going from one to a hundred.

“Mmm, Val, what?” Prin asked sleepily. He scootched over to the middle of the bed, and pulled Valor’s light form into the bed beside him. “It’s too early.”

Valor allowed himself to be pulled, but clearly was in no mood to relax. He practically vibrated with intensity. He rolled over to face Prin until their noses were nearly touching. “I can’t do this.”

“Do what?” Prin patted the boy’s disheveled copper-gold hair, smoothing it down.

“This! This! This entire day. I’m calling it off. I will stay home. You can do what you want of course, but I don’t see why anyone would want to go to a big party.” Valor said.

“Well . . . there will be fascinating people there. And food and drinks.” Prin began.

“There will be food poisoning, a wild animal invasion, a masked robber, not to mention all the trip hazards and rude inquisitive people. Also maybe something like a sinkhole that will swallow the entire house in one big gulp.” Valor said. “And I can’t understand what people are saying with all the background noise and people talking over each other.”

Elwin felt like he had heard this conversation enough times over the last couple days to be able to predict which word would come next with at least a 90% accuracy. But he had nothing to add and should have just kept his mouth shut. However . . . “Okay, forget it. I’ll just be Prin’s date, since you aren’t coming.” Elwin said. “We’ll have so much fun we might not come back until morning.” He could tell his delivery was off, the words a bit dry and clogged with sleep, but hopefully it still had the intended result.

This produced an angry exhale of breath from Valor, who no doubt knew he was being manipulated but couldn’t help himself anyway.

“I have that good luck charm we’ve been working on.” Prin said. “You’ll have that in your pocket. And my lucky necklace. Not to mention the lucky me on your arm!” He laughed. “El just wants to hog me for himself, you hear that?”

Valor frowned, more of a pout then anything. He inched slightly forward until his nose bumped into Prin’s.

“You’re definitely coming with us.” Prin assured. “But if you didn’t we would still be going anyway, and have a good time without you. Valor, you don’t want to miss out on absolutely everything your entire life. You have to be defiant, as I know you can be. It’s like practically your specialty! Openly defiant of this curse, right?”

“Show the curse who’s boss.” Elwin teased. He didn’t care much himself if Valor came along or not, and frankly preferred if he didn’t. However, Prin would take it as a personal failure, and he couldn’t have that happen.

“It will be an adventure!” Prin assured. “And I can’t wait to see us all dressed up in the fancy clothes from that shop. We will find you some other young people from the neighborhood to talk to, it will be a good time to get an introduction.”

“Rich men’s children should be your ideal demographic.” Elwin said. Although secretly he was not sure that they had been brought up to have the highest tolerance for weird, so who could say how that would turn out.

“I won’t be foisted off on strangers.” Valor said.

“There’s that spirit of defiance we all know and love!” Prin said enthusiastically. He put his arms around Valor and snuggled him close.

“Now, can we sleep for another hour? It’s barely the ass crack of dawn.” Elwin said.

Prin laughed. “Oh you. I’m mu-uuch too wide awake now to go back to sleep.”

“The ass crack of dawn?” Valor commented. “I’ll have to use that one from now on.” He lay still, content to wallow in Prin’s affection and lay in his arms as long as he could get away with.

Elwin, on the other side of Prin, nuzzled into his back and closed his eyes. “I think it’s two against one.”

“Pffft.” Prin said. “I seem to be stuck.”

“Outnumbered, is the word you were looking for.” Valor said. He closed his eyes too, feigning sleep.

“O-kay, fine.” Prin said. “Harumph.”