“Well, you have to take her home obviously!” Prin’s chipper voice had a strain to the edge of it that he hoped Aster didn’t notice. He was so relieved that Aster hadn’t ask him about the murder that he was almost giddy again.

Maybe Aster was still thinking about it but didn’t want to say anything that dark in front of Valor. Prin would just have to keep Valor with him everywhere he went for the rest of his life.

Aster twisted up her lip on one side. “You’re funny.”

“I think he’s right. Or at least someone has to do it.” Valor said. He held out his hand hopefully, flat and still as he could make it. “I wish you would come home with me for a little while. We could always bring you back.” When he addressed the fairy his voice was soft and wistful, a boy trying to be sweet with a girl. Who clearly wasn’t accustomed to it.

“It’s not a very big thingy.” Aster said. “How much could it cost to just ship her home? Get a small box, poke a few air holes.” Aster suddenly made a face and jumped. “Ouch!”

“Did she sting you!?” Prin exclaimed.

Elwin jumped up and started toward Aster, right before Aster grinned and winked at them.

“Just kidding.” Aster said. “I had you all going though, didn’t I?” She laughed.

Elwin sat back down with a sigh.

He clearly wasn’t going to say anything, so Prin had to. “Aster . . . you have to be careful. She really is – could be dangerous.” He warned. “We don’t know what she’s capable of.”

“Pfft.” Aster shrugged.

“I’m not afraid.” Valor said.

“I know. ‘Cause you aren’t afraid of anything.” Prin said. Although he knew it wasn’t true, he figured Valor would like to hear it. It was how he wanted to see himself.

The fairy showed no signs of giving up her post, so Prin took Valor’s outstretched hand and planted a little kiss on his palm. “It’s no use, the little one has already chosen her person. I don’t think she’s going to leave Aster’s side.”

“I could stay here until she gets to know me?” Valor suggested. Although his tone was that of a child asking for his third cake from the market stall. Wishful thinking at best.

“It wouldn’t bother me any, but I don’t think your father would approve.” Aster said.

“You have a doctor’s appointment this afternoon, remember?” Elwin said.

Valor lowered his hand back to his lap with an air of defeat.

“I guess I’ll just be holding on to it.” Aster said, voice bemused. “I mean, what other choice do I have? No offense. She’s not bothering me any.”

“When we leave this island, we’ll take the fairy with us.” Elwin said seriously.

“We? WE, we? That sounds nice.” Aster said.

“When will that be?” Valor wondered.

“As soon as we can.” Prin answered, not caring to elaborate. He stood up and led Valor along with him to the door.

Elwin followed, but turned back to Aster, his handsome face creased with concern. “Seriously. Be careful.”

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“I always am.” Aster said, by way of a non-answer.

As they were leaving Mama Kris’s backyard, Prin thought he saw Jules face at the window, skulking around and watching them. He wouldn’t be surprised.

“We never really figured out what sort of magic the fairy has.” Elwin pointed out, as he helped Valor into the waiting carriage.

“Maybe Aster will learn how to communicate with her. I mean, even better. Or, she might just not trust us enough yet.” Prin said.

Valor settled into his seat, beside Prin and across from Elwin. He sighed like all the spirit was leaving his body along with the expelled air. Or, he was just really tired. He leaned against Prin.

“We’ll be home soon.” Prin put his arm around the thin boy, who seemed frail today after his health scare. He also seemed especially cuddly. Maybe because exhaustion had rendered him unguarded and vulnerable.

“Just let me know, give me a little notice when you’re leaving.” Valor said. “And Aster Rose too? If I understood that correctly.”

“She can’t stay where she is, it’s no kind of life.” Elwin said.

“My father will be just as heartbroken as I am, then.” Valor said.

“Don’t be melodramatic.” Elwin said. Though if you knew him like Prin did, his eyes were concerned.

Prin patted Valor’s back. “It will all be okay. Papa will find a new friend.” Although of course he left it an unspoken truth, that the new Rose would be no match for the original.

When they got back to the captain’s house, they put Valor right to bed. He didn’t complain, and barely spared the time to take off his shoes before sliding under the covers.

“It really will be hard on him when we leave.” Prin fretted, once he and Elwin were back out in the hallway.

“Yes. But at the same time it will be just as well. It’s not like we don’t seem to attract a lot of trouble wherever we go.” Elwin winced. “And the sooner the better, before he gets even more attached.”

“I don’t think Valor has had any problem attracting his own trouble, before we ever got added to the mix.” Prin said. He was a bit offended. As though they weren’t good for Valor, as though he wasn’t trying to help him.

“Yes but . . . it’s one more thing.” Elwin said.

“I wish we could get this curse off his back before we leave.” Prin said, knowing it was a pipe dream at this point. Today he felt like they were no closer than they had ever been to answers.

They passed Mrs. Frances’s mouse-like assistant in the hallway. And she whispered something under her breath. Prin thought it was, I can’t believe you’re still here. But he couldn’t be sure. He turned and watched to make sure she wasn’t going into Valor’s room. Maybe it had rubbed off from Elwin, but at this point he did find her weird. In fact it was almost strange he hadn’t noticed it right away.

Later on the doctor came, looking grim but determined. Bracing himself for the potential onslaught of shoes and knick knacks. Probably.

Captain Thompson went with him to Valor’s room, and somehow word got around the house, and by the time the doctor was leaving again, Mrs. Frances, Dru, Wrena, Prin, and Elwin had all gathered in the kitchen to see him off.

The captain walked outside with him and came back a moment later ready to address his audience. “He said he couldn’t find anythin’ particularly wrong but prescribed a vitamin tonic to shore him up.”

“Papa! Of course there’s something wrong!” Wrena was giving her father a look like he had personally failed her.

To his credit he didn’t wilt under it. “Okay, my dove, then you might say he couldn’t find anything. Finding being the word of importance here.” He turned to specifically address Prin and Elwin. “Doc said the spell was probably brought on by anxiety and over doing it. Best he can reckon. I’m afraid, as much as Val has enjoyed them, your little outings are going to have to be put on indefinite hiatus.”

In other words, no more field trips. Prin frowned. He didn’t agree, but at the same time didn’t feel like he had any standing to argue.

“If anything was stressing it was those two freaks that showed up here last night. Not anything these two did.” Dru said defensively. So she was pro fresh air and exercise then.

“I blame myself for that one. And also for the party, which was too overwhelming for him.” Captain Thompson said. “Nevertheless, no matter what was the final straw, we have to be careful with our boy. I almost called him baby. To me he is still the baby.” The captain looked teary eyed for a moment. “Poor motherless child.”

“Yes! Poor dear. He never stood a chance.” Mrs. Frances pulled and twisted her handkerchief between her hands. “I fed that little one with a bottle of goat’s milk every two hours. But it’s no substitution.”

Wrena crossed her arms over her chest and rolled her eyes.

“We have to look out for him and keep his nerves from being over taxed!” Captain Thompson pounded the table with his fist, causing everyone else in the room to jump. “Sorry about that.” He said sheepishly. “Do you think we can keep everything calming around here?”