"I know you think it's crap, but I still think it's worth a shot," Pascal said with a shrug. "Hell, I'd go and wish on your behalf, but I don't think it works that way."
"Picky fountain," I joked.
He grinned, but his smile fell quickly. "I'm still gonna talk to Headmaster, you know. About you."
"Please don't bother," I said. "I don't want you getting in trouble, too."
"What's the worst she can do? It's not like she hasn't punished me before. Besides, she can’t kick me out. You're going to be gone soon, so that leaves me as the oldest and most capable pair of hands she has to do all her dirty work."
"Don't say things like that," I murmured. It wasn't kind to say, but I also didn't want anyone to overhear him. "Promise you won't talk to Headmaster about me?"
Pascal met my gaze hesitantly, opening his mouth to respond, but then was distracted by a man at the orphanage gate. Calling it a gate was an overstatement—it was a short, rickety wooden door that came up to below an adult’s chest. It was more to keep children contained than to keep other people out.
I looked up and noticed the man. He looked at least middle-class, wearing nice clothes that neither of us could afford, but not quite wealthy enough to be a royal. He sneered down at us with a mix of disgust and sympathy.
"Do you two boys belong here?" he asked.
I exchanged a glance with Pascal, who shrugged at the man.
"We're both orphans, so yeah," Pascal said.
The man's expression didn't change. "Aren't you a little old to be here? You should get jobs."
Pascal bristled, getting angry, but I put a hand on his arm to calm him down. It wasn't worth an argument, even though the man's comment reminded me keenly of my situation.
"Have a good day, sir," I said with a polite smile.
The man kept sneering at us. Then he clicked his tongue, pulled out a coin from his pocket, and flicked it at us before walking away.
Pascal's eye widened. "Florian, a coin! Quick, grab it!"
I leaned forward and picked it up, holding it delicately between my fingers. It was gold, not silver like the coins I was used to handling when I ran errands for Headmaster. It felt heavy and important in my hand.
Pascal whistled. "A gold coin... Makes up for that guy's rudeness, that's for sure." He gasped. "Florian, wait! This is a sign. Now youhaveto go to the fountain."
"You're still thinking about that?" I asked.
But Pascal was looking at me seriously. "Do you want angels to come down and command you to go to the fountain?"
Still hesitant, I tried to push the coin into Pascal's hand, but he shook his head and drew back. "No. This is for you. I want you to do this, even if it's just for my sake, okay?"
I bit my lip and looked down at the coin. It glimmered in the light of the setting sun. Should I really do this? I mean, I already promised myself last night that I would if the stars aligned, and like Pascal said, this did feel like a sign...
I folded my fingers over the coin, clutching it firmly in the palm of my hand. "Okay," I said with a sigh. "I'll do it."
Pascal grinned from ear to ear. "I'm so happy you said that." He glanced over his shoulder, then back to me. "Listen, if you go now, I'll cover for you. Headmaster's been avoiding you all day, so I don't know if she's even gonna care enough to ask where you went, but if she does, I'll be ready."
"You would do that for me?" I asked softly.
"Of course I would! You're my best friend."
My heart clenched with affection and I hugged him. "Thank you, Pascal."
He chuckled. "Okay, okay. Enough mushy stuff. Go now before the gate to the castle grounds closes."
He helped me to my feet. Despite my fatigue, hope and curiosity surged through me, giving me the energy to make the trek. I clutched the head of my cane tightly. "All right, I'm going now."
"Good luck."
