Prin guessed he did drift off, in the middle of the sandwich, even though he never would have guessed he could. There was something so much more soft and sweet about Valor while he was sleeping. Like the oversize kitten he sometimes resembled. Prin found himself cuddling him close like a teddy bear. And he didn’t feel at all odd about it, until that is, their morning sleep was once again interrupted.

The brief knock was so directly proceeded by belligerent footsteps stomping into the room, that his mind didn’t even have time to process the knocking.

“What the hell are you doing with my brother!?” Wrena demanded to know, her squeaky yet sulky voice somehow reaching a brand new octave.

Prin cracked an eye open and was startled to find the young woman’s face within biting distance of his own.

Her hair was in curlers and her dressing robe gaped to reveal an intricate night gown covered in lace and at least three colors of ribbons. She was pretty, objectively speaking, but came across as trying too hard.

“It’s none of your business.” Valor said, not moving from his cozy spot within Prin’s arms.

“Not doing anything.” Prin said. He wasn’t sure Valor’s response was really the best way to smooth over the situation.

“You don’t have to appease her, Prin. She doesn’t matter.” Valor said coldly.

“You know my brother isn’t right in the head! Not to mention he isn’t even fifteen yet. This is not good. This is so not good. Just wait until my father finds out about this!” Wrena put her hands on her hips and glared.

“Finds out about what?” Prin asked. He felt distinctly pronounced guilty, but of what crime he had no idea. He felt Elwin shift behind him, and make a small, annoyed sound in his throat. “Wait a second, not right in the head?” He felt a surge of protectiveness for Valor. This was supposed to be his sister?

“You know very well what I’m talking about!” Wrena exclaimed.

“You won’t tell anyone anything.” Valor said. “I know where the bodies are buried and you know it. Now leave us alone. It’s not like you actually care anyway.”

“Father will have you sent to jail! If he doesn’t kill you first.” Wrena said confidently.

“Go ahead and tell him then. He will just write Prin into his will and adopt him.” Valor smirked.

“If you think he would approve of this you really are touched in the head!” Wrena for the first time directly addressed her brother.

“Approve of what? What’s going on here?” Prin was wide awake now, but no less confused.

“Alright. This has gone on long enough.” Elwin got out of his side of the bed and walked over to the other side. “Up you go.” He took Valor by the arms and lifted him from the bed. He ushered him toward the door. “Both of you, take your squabbling act on the road.” He turned to Wrena on the way past her. “Don’t come in here like that. Both of you. Okay?”

“This is my house!” Wrena sputtered. “I can go where I please.”

“You know very well nothing nefarious happened between Prin and your brother, you’re just raising a stink to be dramatic. And you,” He turned back to Valor. “Are egging her on because you think it’s funny. Now, that’s all we have to say on the matter.” He opened the door.

Valor went through it. “I’ll meet you at breakfast.” He said mildly.

Wrena went to follow him but turned back. “Oh, wait. I meant to tell you that the tailors are here with your outfits.” She went through the door and turned to face Elwin and get one extra last word in. “I’ll have my eye on the two of –”

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

Before she could even finish, Elwin shut the door in her face and latched it. “We should keep this door locked from now on.”

*

The boy stood with his back stone column straight, clutching the charm tightly in his hand.

His suit was grey with a silky silver shine wherever the light hit it. The jacket went only to his waist, accentuating his already long slender legs into the elegant legs of a deer. His boots were green leather, like his hooves were only hidden in the grass. His shirt, longer than the jacket, and softly flowing, was pale pink with flowers and greenery painted on in a wavy semi abstract manner, like a garden seen through a rain washed window. He had even allowed a dusting of makeup to be applied to smooth the appearance of his scars but insisted he needed to keep his pink glasses on, for the comfort of his eyes against harsh and unfamiliar lighting.

The captain had provided a small chest of glittering jewels and baubles, no doubt ill gotten gains from long ago, for the young people to pick over. Prin had chosen from this a gold and green enamel snake bracelet to clasp around the boy’s wrist.

The handmade charm the boy was holding consisted of a bag made from a lace handkerchief that had been owned and carried by Valor’s dead mother, and was filled with mementos that Prin had read, or just assumed, would bring good luck. A lock of hair from his father, for protection, as well as a paw print on paper from each of his furry familiars. A tiny horseshoe charm, that Prin had heard, contrary to popular belief, actually represented the womb of the goddess from which they had all sprung, and therefor the ultimate in amulets for children, and mothers. As well as whatever else Prin could think of that would be small enough to fit in the little palm sized bag.

“That’s supposed to go in your pocket.” Prin took the little bag from his hand and tucked it into the hidden inner pocket of the suit jacket. He straightened his own lucky coin necklace around the boy’s neck.

Valor was being very passive in all this, and Prin hoped that he was hanging in there. But was afraid to directly ask.

Valor switched his hand to clutching the necklace.

“You look amazing, gorgeous.” Prin said. Even this did not chisel a smile out of his pale stony face.

Prin temporarily gave up and turned to watch Elwin, who was still being dressed by Felix and Nannette, while the woman Wrena had hired in to work on hair and makeup was fussing with his hair.

Elwin looked a bit uncomfortable.

Prin smiled at him reassuringly.

It had been decided, not by himself certainly, that Elwin would be accompanying Wrena into the party. Because of this, his dapper charcoal colored suit was worn with a blue shirt to coordinate with her blue gown. Although, Prin did wonder if it was intentional, or not, that the shirt so resembled the color of his own eyes.

Elwin smiled back. He flipped the jacket open, revealing it’s lining was entirely sky complete with white clouds passing through. And the buttons on the front of it were silver birds. Very whimsical. Prin approved.

He was tingling with anticipation of what they would dress him in, after seeing Valor and Elwin looking so fine. He tried to talk himself out of the inevitable disappointment that may come if he didn’t like it. He would pretend to like it, and that would be good enough.

Wrena and Dru were an odd pair, sat at the table looking through the jewelry box, their heads companionably close and laughing like no one else was in the room.

Dru was wearing close fitting trousers and tall boots with gold buckles that matched, close enough, with the gold buckles on the antique green velvet coat she wore. Where had she got that thing? Clearly from the captain’s own closet. She put a necklace of rubies on her head like a crown and pulled a face.

Wrena laughed and called her your majesty. She was wearing oceans and skies worth of voluminous blue silk with dreamy epaulets of lace at each shoulder and cascading down like a veil for each arm. She was already adorned in emerald necklace and earrings. She took out a necklace of golden citrines and suggested it for Dru.

“Alright, Mr. Blue Eyes, it’s your turn.” Nannette beckoned him over. He could swear she winked at him from behind her firmly affixed monocle.

They dressed Prin in a suit of pale gold that shined and shimmered like a beam of sunset on the ocean. There was a vest involved, that was green with real gold threads in the stitching. And the shirt underneath was the embroidered flowers he had so admired from the shop.

He wasn’t sure about it at first, would too many people be looking at him? Would they be blinded? Would they think he was tacky? He didn’t dare voice his reservations.

“The flower garden.” Nannette stood Valor and Prin together to admire the coordination of their outfits.

“The gold really sets off your eyes.” Felix said shyly. Perhaps sensing he was unsure.

Elwin smiled at him tenderly from across the room, and his eyes met Prin’s as he said, “Beautiful.” And Prin knew he meant it.

The prince smiled at them. “Thank you.”