When Elwin returned, the room was flooded with afternoon light, and the prince was sifting through outfits in Valor’s closet. “Everything in here is black and grey.” He commented. “You know, just because you can’t see . . .”
“It means everything matches, and stains from food aren’t noticeable.” Valor said, his quiet voice hoarse.
“Actually, okay, that’s very smart.” Prin acknowledged. He appeared to be looking for something specific, rejecting most of them in turn. He finally pulled out a soft grey shirt and black shorts. “I wonder if this will do, what do you think, El?”
“Looks good.” Elwin said. A lot of the clothes were much too baby-ish for a teenager, and Prin appeared to be trying to sift for the few things that weren’t.
“What did you bring?” Prin sniffed in Elwin’s direction and came over to take an apple tart from him. “Oooh, these look so good! Let’s all sit down and eat one.” He plopped down on the bed beside Valor and patted beside him.
Elwin didn’t feel comfortable, but took Prin’s lead and sat down on the bed. The feather mattress sunk beneath him, it was like sitting on a thick cloud. “This is a nice bed.”
Prin placed one of the tarts in Valor’s hand. “Were going to need our strength today.”
“What for?” Valor asked.
“You’re supposed to be my assistant, remember? In the library?” Prin prompted. He took a big bite of his own apple tart. “Mrs. Frances is a really great cook. Elwin, you should get this recipe and send it to your parents.”
Best they don’t know where we are, Elwin was thinking, but didn’t say it.
Valor took a small bite of his food. “You don’t need my help.”
“Sure I do! It’s a total mess in there.” Prin said. “Also, I have something of a side mission, I was hoping you could help me with.”
“What is it?” Valor asked, taking the bait.
Elwin relaxed enough to eat his own apple tart. The crust was perfectly flaky and the filling soft and briming with cinnamon apples. He ate it quickly but wished he had gone much slower. Maybe he really should get the recipe.
“I have to find as much information as possible on witches, wizards, magic users in general. And you know, your papa used to be a pirate, right? Which is a type of an outlaw? Just like a witch. I was thinking, maybe in his library . . .” Prin said.
Valor took another nibble of his food before replying in a dead pan voice. “What if I didn’t know that about my father, after all, how would I? And you just revealed a family secret.”
“What!? It never occurred to me.” Prin said, blue eyes wide.
Elwin could see the boy enjoyed messing with him, it was kind of cute.
Valor gave a little half smile, a smirk almost. “Of course he has a lot of books on magic and the supernatural in his collection. People who make their livings on the sea tend to be a superstitious lot, he always says. I even have some blank books where we can take notes. But why do you care about it? I know why I do . . .”
“Why do you then?” Prin said, cagily.
“Because if modern medicine fails you, what else do you have to fall back on? I have been making notes, well, written down for me by others, whenever there is mention of a cure for blindness in old medical books. But most of it is quackery or poison.” Valor said. “What have I got better to do?”
Prin put his hand on Valor’s arm. “There are a lot of things you could be doing. You’re a kid, you should be having fun!”
“Name three fun things I am able to do.” Valor narrowed his pale eyes. “I have nothing but time.”
“We-ell . . . take walks on the beach . . . talking to people . . . playing music . . . dancing.” Prin suggested.
Valor made a funny noise. “Pfft.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “If I’m in an unfamiliar place, I trip over things. I have zero musical talent. And, what am I supposed to do at the beach? Watch a beautiful sunset over the ocean. No. Try again.”
“You still have several senses left, do you not?” The prince said.
Elwin could tell he was getting annoyed and sought to diffuse the situation. “Do you want to get dressed?” He asked gently. “If you raise up your arms I can assist you.”
“I can do it myself.” Valor said.
“Why don’t you have a companion, anyway? Or a helper? You’d be so much happier with one.” Prin said. He smiled at Elwin.
“They never last long.” Valor said. Despite his protests, he raised his arms up over his head.
Elwin reached for his night gown to hike it up over his head, and suddenly had a surge of awkwardness. Wasn’t it weird to do this for someone other than the prince? It felt uncomfortable and a little bit wrong.
It was too late, as he had already made the offer, so he reached out, balling up the soft fabric in each hand, and pulled it up over the boy’s head in one swift motion.
Valor was not so different in build from Prin. His too thin torso had pale blue veins visible. And where Elwin’s hand grazed as he put the grey shirt on him, his skin was as soft as a baby’s.
Valor never turned his quizzical face from its tilt in Prin’s direction. “This is Elwin, did you say?” Valor asked.
“Yes.” Prin said. “But you can’t have him, he’s mine.” He winked at Elwin.
Elwin felt the color rise in his face. He certainly wasn’t going to argue the fact, though.
“Elwin.” Valor tested the name, his pink tongue darting out slightly over his pursed cupid’s bow of a mouth. “Elwin, then. What does he look like?” He pointed in Prin’s general direction.
“You’re asking me?” Elwin was startled.
“Who else is here?” Valor asked.
“Okay . . .” Elwin looked at Prin. “Let’s see. He’s very tall. And he has black curly hair that’s too long right now, but I kind of like it that way, to be honest. And he has long eyelashes, and blue, blue, blue eyes.” A thousand times blue. Elwin felt his description was inadequate, but that should cover the basics.
“Hmm.” Valor said.
“Scoot over a little.” Elwin shifted the boy out from under the copious blankets to put his pants on him. Like dressing a big doll. Was there some part of him that already missed this a little with Prin? Nah, he still did it just the other morning. Even though it was no longer necessary, strictly speaking.
“What does he look like?” He pointed towards Elwin.
“I was hoping you would ask me that.” Prin put his hands together in anticipation. “Elwin looks like the youth who fights a lion, in those old paintings? Oh, maybe that’s not the best for you . . . Elwin looks like the protagonist of a wonderful fantasy adventure novel. The fair knight. Kind, and brave, and beautiful. And strong. But the kindness and bravery are the most prevalent qualities, and cleverness. He would only rely on brute strength as a last resort.” He smiled triumphantly, feeling good about the description he had obviously given some thought to.
Elwin thought he would faint from blood rushing to his head, but tried to ignore it and concentrate on doing up the tiny buttons on the front of Valor’s shirt.
“That tells me very little of what he actually looks like.” Valor said. “But it certainly does paint a picture.”
“Fair hair, dark eyes.” The prince said. “And a nice physique. All the girls turn to look.” Prin clarified.
“Ah.” Valor nodded. “What do I look like, then?”
“What do you look like?” Prin asked. “A young man who has been weeping all day. And could really use more sun.”
“Ha ha.” Valor said sourly.
“If you’re worried about your scars, you shouldn’t.” Elwin said quickly, desperate to say anything to cover his own embarrassment. “They just make you seem more interesting.”
“That’s true.” Prin said. “Nanny always said scars are a roadmap of your adventures.”
“Adventures in mental illness.” Valor said. His lids were low over his pale eyes, giving him an expression somewhere between cynical and petulant.
“In fact, forget about working for now. Let’s go for a walk.” The prince declared. “You could use getting out of the house. Now, where are your shoes?”
“Who are you to tell me what to do?” Valor asked. He didn’t seem mad about it, just asking.
“No one in particular.” Prin said with a grin. “You like me though, don’t you? And want to keep me around? Let’s meet in the middle.”
Elwin chewed on the corner of his lip, this tactic was making him very nervous, but Prin seemed to believe he knew what he was doing.
“By meet in the middle, you mean do as you say.” Valor said. “I have never been very good at that.” He reached out to Prin with both hands. “Let me touch you.”
The prince leaned in close to Valor until their foreheads touched.
“Not that close.” Valor pushed him away. He ran his fingers over Prin’s face thoroughly and through his hair, as though mapping his features inch by inch.
Elwin thought this took a lot of trust, what if Valor went crazy and decided to poke Prin’s eyes out? He obviously wasn’t the most stable kid.
Prin didn’t seem at all worried, looking into Valor’s sightless eyes and holding still for the examination.
“Are you going to just forget about what my father wants you to do, and be my assistant?” Valor asked. He dropped his hands back to his sides.
Prin tilted his head to the side. “No-o, I don’t think so. How about I continue working for the captain but just be your friend, instead?”
“Is that a counteroffer? What does “friend” entail?” Valor asked dryly.
“I guess we’re about to find out, aren’t we?” The prince said cheerily.
Elwin admired his optimism.
Eventually, shoes were located and applied, along with glasses that had a round gold frame and dark pink lenses. Which succeeded in giving Valor somewhat of the appearance of an albino rabbit. But who was Elwin to judge.
Even though Valor had paused his protesting and followed along with them up until this point, when they got to the kitchen exit, he seemed reluctant, almost scared to go outside.
Mrs. Frances hovered nearby with a concerned expression on her face and started to say something, to which Prin put his fingers to his lips in a shh gesture, giving her a pointed look.
Valor held the door frame with one hand and his cane in the other, as though afraid he was about to be pushed into the ocean and needed some sort of floatation device.
The prince stood behind him with his hand on his shoulder. The two cats lingered by the kitchen table. One of them mewed a question, although whether that question was a show of concern or an ask about the whereabouts of lunch was anyone’s guess.
“Come to think of it, I haven’t been outside in quite a long time.” Valor said.
“What need does he have to go out there?” Mrs. Frances asked, not able to hold it in any longer. She looked, if anything, more scared than Valor himself.
“Because that’s where the world is.” Prin said simply. “Real life is out there, waiting to be experienced.”
Elwin couldn’t help but think of the dark side of real life, and how much of it they had already experienced in their own brief time out in the wider world. Also the streets outside this house were full of people being beaten, pirates (retired or otherwise), and ladies of the night. So, it certainly wasn’t all lollipops and roses out there. Maybe the nervousness was contagious.
“How about we just walk around the yard today? A good first step.” Elwin suggested.
Valor visibly relaxed, the stiffness in his shoulders easing out and his entire posture changed. “Alright, but not because I can’t handle a longer walk.”
“Of course not.” Elwin assured.
And so the three of them, with Mrs. Frances trailing along behind like an overwrought babysitter, ventured into the sun.
When Elwin returned, the room was flooded with afternoon light, and the prince was sifting through outfits in Valor’s closet. “Everything in here is black and grey.” He commented. “You know, just because you can’t see . . .”
“It means everything matches, and stains from food aren’t noticeable.” Valor said, his quiet voice hoarse.
“Actually, okay, that’s very smart.” Prin acknowledged. He appeared to be looking for something specific, rejecting most of them in turn. He finally pulled out a soft grey shirt and black shorts. “I wonder if this will do, what do you think, El?”
“Looks good.” Elwin said. A lot of the clothes were much too baby-ish for a teenager, and Prin appeared to be trying to sift for the few things that weren’t.
“What did you bring?” Prin sniffed in Elwin’s direction and came over to take an apple tart from him. “Oooh, these look so good! Let’s all sit down and eat one.” He plopped down on the bed beside Valor and patted beside him.
Elwin didn’t feel comfortable, but took Prin’s lead and sat down on the bed. The feather mattress sunk beneath him, it was like sitting on a thick cloud. “This is a nice bed.”
Prin placed one of the tarts in Valor’s hand. “Were going to need our strength today.”
“What for?” Valor asked.
“You’re supposed to be my assistant, remember? In the library?” Prin prompted. He took a big bite of his own apple tart. “Mrs. Frances is a really great cook. Elwin, you should get this recipe and send it to your parents.”
Best they don’t know where we are, Elwin was thinking, but didn’t say it.
Valor took a small bite of his food. “You don’t need my help.”
“Sure I do! It’s a total mess in there.” Prin said. “Also, I have something of a side mission, I was hoping you could help me with.”
“What is it?” Valor asked, taking the bait.
Elwin relaxed enough to eat his own apple tart. The crust was perfectly flaky and the filling soft and briming with cinnamon apples. He ate it quickly but wished he had gone much slower. Maybe he really should get the recipe.
“I have to find as much information as possible on witches, wizards, magic users in general. And you know, your papa used to be a pirate, right? Which is a type of an outlaw? Just like a witch. I was thinking, maybe in his library . . .” Prin said.
Valor took another nibble of his food before replying in a dead pan voice. “What if I didn’t know that about my father, after all, how would I? And you just revealed a family secret.”
“What!? It never occurred to me.” Prin said, blue eyes wide.
Elwin could see the boy enjoyed messing with him, it was kind of cute.
Valor gave a little half smile, a smirk almost. “Of course he has a lot of books on magic and the supernatural in his collection. People who make their livings on the sea tend to be a superstitious lot, he always says. I even have some blank books where we can take notes. But why do you care about it? I know why I do . . .”
“Why do you then?” Prin said, cagily.
“Because if modern medicine fails you, what else do you have to fall back on? I have been making notes, well, written down for me by others, whenever there is mention of a cure for blindness in old medical books. But most of it is quackery or poison.” Valor said. “What have I got better to do?”
Prin put his hand on Valor’s arm. “There are a lot of things you could be doing. You’re a kid, you should be having fun!”
“Name three fun things I am able to do.” Valor narrowed his pale eyes. “I have nothing but time.”
“We-ell . . . take walks on the beach . . . talking to people . . . playing music . . . dancing.” Prin suggested.
Valor made a funny noise. “Pfft.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “If I’m in an unfamiliar place, I trip over things. I have zero musical talent. And, what am I supposed to do at the beach? Watch a beautiful sunset over the ocean. No. Try again.”
“You still have several senses left, do you not?” The prince said.
Elwin could tell he was getting annoyed and sought to diffuse the situation. “Do you want to get dressed?” He asked gently. “If you raise up your arms I can assist you.”
“I can do it myself.” Valor said.
“Why don’t you have a companion, anyway? Or a helper? You’d be so much happier with one.” Prin said. He smiled at Elwin.
“They never last long.” Valor said. Despite his protests, he raised his arms up over his head.
Elwin reached for his night gown to hike it up over his head, and suddenly had a surge of awkwardness. Wasn’t it weird to do this for someone other than the prince? It felt uncomfortable and a little bit wrong.
It was too late, as he had already made the offer, so he reached out, balling up the soft fabric in each hand, and pulled it up over the boy’s head in one swift motion.
Valor was not so different in build from Prin. His too thin torso had pale blue veins visible. And where Elwin’s hand grazed as he put the grey shirt on him, his skin was as soft as a baby’s.
Valor never turned his quizzical face from its tilt in Prin’s direction. “This is Elwin, did you say?” Valor asked.
“Yes.” Prin said. “But you can’t have him, he’s mine.” He winked at Elwin.
Elwin felt the color rise in his face. He certainly wasn’t going to argue the fact, though.
“Elwin.” Valor tested the name, his pink tongue darting out slightly over his pursed cupid’s bow of a mouth. “Elwin, then. What does he look like?” He pointed in Prin’s general direction.
“You’re asking me?” Elwin was startled.
“Who else is here?” Valor asked.
“Okay . . .” Elwin looked at Prin. “Let’s see. He’s very tall. And he has black curly hair that’s too long right now, but I kind of like it that way, to be honest. And he has long eyelashes, and blue, blue, blue eyes.” A thousand times blue. Elwin felt his description was inadequate, but that should cover the basics.
“Hmm.” Valor said.
“Scoot over a little.” Elwin shifted the boy out from under the copious blankets to put his pants on him. Like dressing a big doll. Was there some part of him that already missed this a little with Prin? Nah, he still did it just the other morning. Even though it was no longer necessary, strictly speaking.
“What does he look like?” He pointed towards Elwin.
“I was hoping you would ask me that.” Prin put his hands together in anticipation. “Elwin looks like the youth who fights a lion, in those old paintings? Oh, maybe that’s not the best for you . . . Elwin looks like the protagonist of a wonderful fantasy adventure novel. The fair knight. Kind, and brave, and beautiful. And strong. But the kindness and bravery are the most prevalent qualities, and cleverness. He would only rely on brute strength as a last resort.” He smiled triumphantly, feeling good about the description he had obviously given some thought to.
Elwin thought he would faint from blood rushing to his head, but tried to ignore it and concentrate on doing up the tiny buttons on the front of Valor’s shirt.
“That tells me very little of what he actually looks like.” Valor said. “But it certainly does paint a picture.”
“Fair hair, dark eyes.” The prince said. “And a nice physique. All the girls turn to look.” Prin clarified.
“Ah.” Valor nodded. “What do I look like, then?”
“What do you look like?” Prin asked. “A young man who has been weeping all day. And could really use more sun.”
“Ha ha.” Valor said sourly.
“If you’re worried about your scars, you shouldn’t.” Elwin said quickly, desperate to say anything to cover his own embarrassment. “They just make you seem more interesting.”
“That’s true.” Prin said. “Nanny always said scars are a roadmap of your adventures.”
“Adventures in mental illness.” Valor said. His lids were low over his pale eyes, giving him an expression somewhere between cynical and petulant.
“In fact, forget about working for now. Let’s go for a walk.” The prince declared. “You could use getting out of the house. Now, where are your shoes?”
“Who are you to tell me what to do?” Valor asked. He didn’t seem mad about it, just asking.
“No one in particular.” Prin said with a grin. “You like me though, don’t you? And want to keep me around? Let’s meet in the middle.”
Elwin chewed on the corner of his lip, this tactic was making him very nervous, but Prin seemed to believe he knew what he was doing.
“By meet in the middle, you mean do as you say.” Valor said. “I have never been very good at that.” He reached out to Prin with both hands. “Let me touch you.”
The prince leaned in close to Valor until their foreheads touched.
“Not that close.” Valor pushed him away. He ran his fingers over Prin’s face thoroughly and through his hair, as though mapping his features inch by inch.
Elwin thought this took a lot of trust, what if Valor went crazy and decided to poke Prin’s eyes out? He obviously wasn’t the most stable kid.
Prin didn’t seem at all worried, looking into Valor’s sightless eyes and holding still for the examination.
“Are you going to just forget about what my father wants you to do, and be my assistant?” Valor asked. He dropped his hands back to his sides.
Prin tilted his head to the side. “No-o, I don’t think so. How about I continue working for the captain but just be your friend, instead?”
“Is that a counteroffer? What does “friend” entail?” Valor asked dryly.
“I guess we’re about to find out, aren’t we?” The prince said cheerily.
Elwin admired his optimism.
Eventually, shoes were located and applied, along with glasses that had a round gold frame and dark pink lenses. Which succeeded in giving Valor somewhat of the appearance of an albino rabbit. But who was Elwin to judge.
Even though Valor had paused his protesting and followed along with them up until this point, when they got to the kitchen exit, he seemed reluctant, almost scared to go outside.
Mrs. Frances hovered nearby with a concerned expression on her face and started to say something, to which Prin put his fingers to his lips in a shh gesture, giving her a pointed look.
Valor held the door frame with one hand and his cane in the other, as though afraid he was about to be pushed into the ocean and needed some sort of floatation device.
The prince stood behind him with his hand on his shoulder. The two cats lingered by the kitchen table. One of them mewed a question, although whether that question was a show of concern or an ask about the whereabouts of lunch was anyone’s guess.
“Come to think of it, I haven’t been outside in quite a long time.” Valor said.
“What need does he have to go out there?” Mrs. Frances asked, not able to hold it in any longer. She looked, if anything, more scared than Valor himself.
“Because that’s where the world is.” Prin said simply. “Real life is out there, waiting to be experienced.”
Elwin couldn’t help but think of the dark side of real life, and how much of it they had already experienced in their own brief time out in the wider world. Also the streets outside this house were full of people being beaten, pirates (retired or otherwise), and ladies of the night. So, it certainly wasn’t all lollipops and roses out there. Maybe the nervousness was contagious.
“How about we just walk around the yard today? A good first step.” Elwin suggested.
Valor visibly relaxed, the stiffness in his shoulders easing out and his entire posture changed. “Alright, but not because I can’t handle a longer walk.”
“Of course not.” Elwin assured.
And so the three of them, with Mrs. Frances trailing along behind like an overwrought babysitter, ventured into the sun.
