7he realized.
Well, he certainly wasn't going to complain.
Instead, he took Pip out to relieve herself and run about, left her there playing, since she knew how to get back inside and up the stairs just fine, and went to make breakfast and get dressed for the day.
While he was still sorting through all the food he'd been given, heart warmed by how thorough the cook and her staff had been for him, despite such an annoying request, he could hear the noise outside increasing.When he finally went to look again, it seemed half the palace had arrived.
He recognized many of them, including Marceau.They stood around alone, in pairs and threes, in larger groups, conversing, pointing… and some had machetes and other tools out, including fire.Many exclaimed as they noticed him on the balcony, but he ignored all their entreaties.
One by one, all the people trying to break through the thorns failed and gave up.Aurélien went back inside and finished sorting out all his foodstuffs.After that, he spent some time painting his nails, just because he could.When they had dried, he ventured out to the balcony again and saw that new faces had appeared now, people he did not recognize, a few he vaguely knew.Mages were in the mix now, trying their methods to get through the thorns.
Fire was a popular choice, but not a single flame succeeded in burning more than the occasional careless wielder.
Aurélien left them to it and took Pip downstairs to play, throwing sticks, giving her treats from his hand, teaching her various tricks as her attention span permitted.When she had tuckered herself right out, he carried her back upstairs and laid her on the bed.
After lunch, he tidied up the tower and then went to watch nitwits try to get through the thorns again.A few tried to speak with him, but he ignored them.Shouted conversations were annoying, and he had nothing to say to any of them.
Toward dinner, his mother arrived, along with a whole lot of fuss and bother.Once she was on her stupid little dais, and what seemed like half the kingdom had gathered around her and the tower, she gave some tiresome speech about magic and worthiness and of course the Test of Heart."Whosoever finds their way through the thorns and climbs the tower shall gain the right to marry my beloved son, Prince Aurélien."
Beloved son?Aurélien didn't laugh, but only barely.
Honestly, he was surprised it had taken her this long to spin everything to her advantage.A big, showy, ridiculous test to prove worthiness?That would draw people of all shapes and sizes, of all walks of life, to her kingdom?This was probably the best thing he'd ever done for her.No doubt the longer he remained in his tower, the more useful he would be.
Well, that suited him fine.
Going back inside, he climbed into bed to join Pip in taking a nap.His peculiar version of freedom would not last forever, so he would enjoy every last second of it.
*~*~*
Time passed quickly and slowly at the same time.People from far and wide came to try their hand at getting past the thorns to the 'mysterious' prince at the top of the tower.Castle staff sent him food every week, and the horse that carried the small cart was able to get through with ease.
Many,manypeople tried to sneak in that way, but the magic wasn't having it.One man had nearly died, twisted up so tightly in the thorns.Aurélien sensed he'd only lived because the magic had taken pity and released him.Since then, everyone had left the horse and cart alone.When it came, he unloaded everything, put it away, and the horse left again.
A few kind souls on the staff always added comforts and amenities for him.Additional bedclothes, more warm clothing, toys and other items for Pip, books, playing cards.Someone had even packed up nearly his entire workroom and sent that long for him.And wasn't it nice to be able to work on his tapestries as often as he pleased, instead of only being able to do so for brief moments between his duties or by forsaking sleep.
It was early morning on the day of his twenty-fifth birthday, the sun barely up, when Pip ran excitedly,happily, to the balcony and started barking the same way she did whenever she greeted him.Curiosity ran through him, and he abandoned his weaving to join her—even as Pip ran off across the room and down the stairs.Where in the world did she think she was going?
A figure in a long, fur-trimmed cloak stood staring intently at the thorns.He wore leather armor with metal greaves and braces.Just behind him was a large black horse with a light gray mane and tail and steel gray hooves.Even at a distance, there was no mistaking the quality of that horse and its tacking.
The thorns shifted the way they did when the cart came, and Aurélien gaped as Pip burst out of them and threw herself at the visitor.She was bigger now, much bigger, but that didn't stop the strange visitor from laughing in delight and scooping her up.Pip licked excitedly, frantically, at the man's face—pushing back his hood in the process, revealing a familiar face.
Aurélien gasped, and the man looked up.Keone.But this time, his beautiful hair was wrapped around his head almost like a crown and decorated with jewels and gold that no average person could ever afford.In the middle of his forehead was a diamond-shaped jewel that seemed to contain every possible color, drawing out the impossibly beautiful ocean blue of his eyes.
His heart beat so fast in his chest that he could hardly breathe.
"Are you going to let me in?"Keone asked.
All of Aurélien's cautious joy fled, replaced by hurt and anger."Why, did you forget something in your haste to sneak out?Tell me what and I'll toss it to you, stranger.Otherwise, you can stay out there same as the rest.Pip, get back here right now."
He swore the brat barked at him in amusement, but she obediently headed for the thorns—then stopped and waited.
If he'd been given a hundred chances to guess, Aurélien never would have predicted that the next thing to happen was Keonestripping.Naked, he piled all his clothing and weapons onto the saddle, then clicked at the horse, which obligingly followed Pip through the thorns.
"Why are you always getting naked in the middle of the woods?"
Keone looked up with a fleeting grin before he gave a sharp cry, as though in pain.Despite himself, Aurélien surged forward, hands gripping the balcony railing, biting down hard against calling Keone's name as he fell to the ground, twitching and writhing, twisting…
And thenchanging.
