Chapter Sixteen: Orther on the Edge

Orther took the first big breath of outside air after he snuck out of his lessons for the day. Who would ever choose to stay cooped up in the decaying stone of Korvethis Castle when the sun was so warm and the breeze so cool? He looked around at his surrounding and felt…honestly rather bored. 

There wasn’t a lot going on anywhere in the castle. There were not many visitors, and those who were visiting had no young ladies that he could charm. He walked aimlessly for a while, watching the servants do whatever they were paid to do. Some saw him and bowed, some didn’t catch his eye as they hauled feed or water or who knows what to who knows where. The frowns on some of their faces made him remember those commoners at the hunt who were protesting. He thought about them often, and wondered if that's what the city around Korvethis was full of; people with frowns and anger. 

His heart felt heavy for approximately twenty seconds before he found that his feet had taken him to the royal stables. Horses were always a fun activity, but what really made him smile was the man running a horse in the paddock outside the large stable. Perrin, the junior groom that usually helped with Orther’s mount. They had known each other for years now, long enough to know Perrin before his father died. He was a respectable groom, so with his passing it wasn’t hard to convince Lord Ranvar Ellok, the Master of Horses, to give Perrin his father’s position. He was still young, only eighteen, Orther’s senior by two years, but they had become quick friends. 

“Oye! Perrin!” Orther called out running to the fence to the paddock and jumping on the lowest rail. If he was dressed for riding he would’ve been able to sit atop the fence, but he didn’t feel the need to rip yet another pair of pants. Perrin turned to see the prince and almost lost a finger to the horse while feeding him an apple. “Stop bribing my horse.” 

Perrin glanced over. “I’m feeding him. 

“You’re buying his affection.” Orther accused. 

Perring shrugged. “Didn’t realize it was for sale.” 

Orther jumped off the fence and walked over to the gate and through. His maid would have a fit with his shoes later that evening, but that was the last thing on the prince’s mind as he walked up to his horse with his hand held out. The animal ignored him and nosed Perrin’s pocket instead.

Perrin smiled. “Apparently quite cheaply.” 

Orther sighed. “Traitor.” 

“Me or the horse?” Perring asked. 

“Both of you.” Orther accused. 

Perrin produced another slice of apple from his pocket. “Difference is, Your Highness, he works for his treats.” 

Orther put his hands on his waist and stared at him. 

“That sounded less treasonous in my head.” Perrin chuckled, Orther smiled as well. 

Perring grabbed the reins of the beast and led him back to the stable to get cleaned and ready for sleep. It was getting pretty close to evening. Orther followed, getting more and more restless. Once Perrin had his horse in his own personal stall he closed the gate before Orther joined them. He took off the saddle and started brushing the horse down before feeding him his dinner. 

Orther chatted with Perrin for a while, talking about all the annoying things that were happening in the castle. Perrin gave his feedback like he always did, making Orther smile and chuckle at the ridiculousness of what his life was like. “Give me something to do.” Orther finally begged. 

Perrin didn’t look up from the saddle he was oiling. “No.” 

“I’m serious.” 

“So am I.” Perrin said firmly. 

Orther was quiet for a moment, not sure how to continue his argument. “I can work.” 

Perrin finally looked up at him, his golden brown eyes glowing in the sunset behind him. His curls in his brown hair more vibrant with every drip of sweat fell off of him during the day. “Last time you helped, I spent an hour looking for a hoof pick.” 

“I put it away.” Orther looked offended. 

Perring scoffed. “You put it in the grain bin.” 

Orther shrugged. “That sounds like away.” 

“There was grain in it.” 

“Then why were you looking there?” Orther asked. 

Perrin stared at him, Orther smiled. “Because apparently I’ve gotten very good at thinking like an idiot.” 

Orther nudged his shoulder through the gate. “See? I’m teaching you useful things.” 

Orther kept chatting with him until Perrin finished with his horse and left his stall. Perrin was done for the day. He gave the horse a few good scratches under the jaw and began to walk out with his prince. After his shift he and Orther would usually meander around the grounds until someone came for him to be called for supper, but tonight, Perrin began leading him straight back to the castle. “You’re in a hurry.” 

“You’re observant.” Perrin told him casually. 

“Where are you going?” Orther asked him. 

“Away from here.” Perrin said subtly. 

“Where?” 

“Somewhere?” 

“With whom?”

Perrin stopped in his steps and looked at his princely friend. “Do you interrogate all your servants?” 

Orther shrugged. “Only the suspicious ones.” 

Perring starred at him annoyingly. “I’m not suspicious.” 

“You’re brushing your hair with your fingers.” Orther told him. 

Perrin looked at his hand in his hair, pulling a knot out of it. “I brush my hair.” 

“Not voluntarily.” 

“Fuck off.” Perrin grumbled and kept walking. 

Orther grinned “Where are you going?” 

Perrin sighed. “My sister works at a tavern in the lower city.” 

Orther’s eyebrows rose. “You have a sister?” 

“Unfortunaetly…” 

“...Is she pretty?” Orther asked. 

Perrin pointed at him. “You are not coming.” 

Orther hadn’t even considered it….not until then. His face changed from curiosity to thoughtfulness. 

“No.” Perrin said, knowing the face his prince was giving. 

“I haven’t said anything.” 

“You don’t need to.” Perrin said. 

“What if I just…” 

“No.” Perrin said again. 

Orther huffed. “You don’t even know what I was going to ask.” 

“You were going to ask if you could come.” 

Orther’s eyebrows rose. “Can I?” 

“No.” Perrin said again. 

“Why?” Orther was frustrated. 

Perrin chuckled under his breath. “Because you are Prince Orther.” 

Orther glanced toward the doors that would lead him back into the castle. “Not if nobody knows.” 

Perrin groaned. “Can you please just make my life easy…for once?” 

Orther looked at the castle, all the way up to the top of the large prison he had been stuck in all his life. “You’re not supposed to let me leave?” 

“Correct.” 

Orther’s eyebrows rose. “Then don’t let me.” 

Perrin stared at him, an insane plan forming inside of both their brains. 

They snuck after dark, both wearing cloak, walking out of an unmanned guard exit few people knew about. It meant they had to climb over an unruly brush that hadn’t been groomed for a long time, but the two boys didn’t care. They basically fell down the tall cliff that separated the beginnings of the castle grounds to the most wealthy part of the city below. They had a ways to go, after getting on a public street Perrin took him down alley ways. In one he demanded that Orther leave his expensive looking coat so that he would fit in better. 

Orther was overwhelmed in the best way ever seeing the city as Perrin showed him. It wasn’t his first time in the city, but it was his first without guards and grand parades. The merchants didn’t try to straighten as he crossed and no one bowed as he passed. He loved it. 

Perrin was an excellent tour guide. As they made their way further and further away from the castle he showed Orther the alleys to travel down that saved time. He pointed out vendors that cheated drunkards. He steered clear of where guards tended to stand, and showed which shops sold the best food, food that Orther wouldn’t dream of getting at the castle. 

Orther’s thoughts conflicted with what he remembered of the commoners who were protesting at the hunt. They had all looked so angry back then, and the people he was now surrounded by looked the same clothing wise, but everyone was happy. They weren’t demanding anything, they weren’t an angry mass, they were just living their lives happily. 

Perrin stopped in front of a tavern called ‘The Lion’s Head’ and walked in to the loud, overwhelmingly smelling of ale, music blaring from the mass of musicians in the corner, crowded room and Orther was very happy he had his friend to guide him. They pushed to a table surprisingly empty and sat, and quickly got yelled at by a woman. 

“You’re late!” she yelled and all other sound seemed to dim as Orther looked at the curly haired brunette that was obviously Perrin’s sister. They both had the brown bouncy curls on their hair, both had the olive skin and freckles across their nose and cheeks. Even if their eyes were different colors, his gold and hers emerald, they still looked the same. 

“I brought someone.” Perrin pointed towards him and he smiled awkwardly. 

She gave him a five second stare. “You brought me another problem.” 

Orther sat stunned for a few seconds before he laughed. “I like her.” 

“Don’t.” Perrin snapped. 

“Name is Tessa, yell for me if you want a drink.” she turned and walked through the crowd. 

“I like her alot.” Orther told his friend. 

Perrin rolled his eyes and grabbed two mugs of ale off a passing tray. “Drink, enjoy, and don’t goggle my sister.” 

The drink was disgusting, but he told his friend it was excellent. Perrin laughed and drank as well. It wasn’t long until he started to feel warm and relaxed and much more happy than he had in a long time. He shouted and laughed and Perrin matched his joy. The people around him grew louder and happier with every sip. 

Eventually Orther realized Perrin kept looking at a beautiful woman in burgundy. She watched everything in the room, slowly sipping something red. 

The night was the more enjoyable than Orther expected, especially when he knew if he was back in the castle he’d be eating a quiet dinner, perhaps learning some boring political fact he was supposed to memorize before being ushered to bed. 

Instead he got destroyed at a card game by Perrin, he lost money because he had absolutely no understanding of what constituted as a reasonable wager. He watched Tessa dance while she worked. He laughed loudly while a commoner sang badly and because of it, got pulled into the song as well. He fell into a chair at a random table and got pulled into an arm wrestling match that he lost at. He laughed so hard he couldn’t breathe. He didn’t think anyone at the castle would’ve dared compete with him because of his title. 

He then caught Perrin looking at the woman in burgundy again. He pulled Tessa close as she passed and pointed towards her brother and the woman. “What do you know of this situation?” 

“That is Veyra. Perrin’s been staring at her for six months.” Tessa shouted in his ear above the noise. 

“Has he?” Orther’s eyebrows rose. 

Tessa made eye contact with the prince. “Don’t.” Orther began to pull out his purse. “Orther.” 

“I’m helping.” Orther explained. 

Tessa sighed. “Something tells me you never help.” 

Orther stood with a stumble and made his way over to the woman. She stayed seated, a slight amused smile as he got closer. “You seem lonely.” Orther said with a charming smile. 

“You could change that…for a price.” the woman smiled. 

Orther looked back at Perrin, who looked distraught. “My friend over there, you could make his whole year.” He pulled blindly from his purse, pulling six coins from his purse. He put them in Veyra’s hand. Her dark eyes looked over the coins and then back at him with a subtle realization. Orther stood, wondering if he had done something wrong. Veyra then took the coins and stood, walked over to Perrin and took his hand. He stood, gulped and followed her to the staircase. He looked back at Orther and mouthed something obscene before he was gone. Orther sat back in his chair and laughed hard, harder than he had in a long time. 

He sat there, for a while listening to the noise of the patrons dwindling and enjoying the feeling of freedom. Orther wasn’t certain a place like that truly ever emptied, but perhaps softened. The shouting had dwindled to conversations. Someone snored with his cheek against a table near the hearth. The musicians who had spent most of the evening murdering a fiddle had finally packed it away.

Perrin was still nowhere to be seen. Orther grinned into his cup. He would never let him live this down. A chair scraped across the floor opposite him and Tessa dropped into it with a groan. “Oh thank the gods.” She looked exhausted, her hair went every which way, her skin was damp with sweat, but she still had a smile on her face. They stared at each other for a while with no words passed between them. 

“Long night?” Orther asked, keeping eye contact. 

“You’ve been here.” Tessa said blankly. 

“Correct.” Orther didn’t take the smile off of his face. 

“Then why are you asking me stupid questions?” 

He smiled, perhaps chuckled a little. “To conversate?” 

“Try harder.” Tessa said as she reached across the table, took his cup from his hand and drank from it. Orther sat staring at her. She took a big gulp and then spoke. “What?” 

“That’s mine.” Orther stated. 

“You weren’t using it.” Tessa said taking another drink. 

Orther laughed again. “I was holding it.” 

“Poorly.” she drank again. 

Orther laughed loudly. Tessa had finally taken her apron off. Her sleeves were still shoved past her elbows, and several curls had escaped whatever arrangement had once held her hair away from her face. There was a smear of something along one wrist. Ale, perhaps…or gravy. She looked tired, and somehow prettier than she had three hours ago. Her fingers found the small brass pendant hanging at her chest and turned it absently. 

Orther noticed her doing that several times throughout the evening. “What’s that?” 

Her hand stopped. “This?” He nodded. Tessa looked down at it. For the first time all night, her answer wasn’t immediate. “My father’s.” 

For the first time that night Orther’s smile faltered. “Was?” Tessa nodded. “I’m sorry.” Orther knew this story, of course, because her father had once been his horse’s groom, but somehow he still wanted to hear it from her side. 

She shrugged, although her thumb continued rubbing across the worn metal. “Three years ago.” 

“What happened?” 

“Horse threw him.” Tessa said, Orther winced. “Didn’t kill him,” she added. “Not then. It broke his back badly enough that he never properly recovered. Fever took him the following winter.” Orther fought to say the right thing, but Tessa didn’t notice. She looked across the room toward the stairs Perrin had disappeared up earlier. “He taught Perrin everything he knows.” 

“Horses?” Orther asked. 

“No. Drinking and making terrible decisions.” Tessa glared at him with amusement. Orther barked a laugh, and she smiled. “Horses too.” She released the pendant. “He worked in the royal stables.” 

Orther went very still. Tessa didn’t notice. “Did he?” 

“Most of his life. Perrin practically grew up there. Used to follow Father around until someone finally decided it was easier to give him a shovel than keep throwing him out.” 

Orther smiled at how accurate this was to his friend. “Sounds like Perrin.” 

“Oh, he was insufferable?” 

“Was?” Orther asked. That earned him a grin. 

“Fair.” 

Orther leaned back in his chair. “And you?” 

“What about me?” 

“You didn’t follow your father around?” Orther asked, though he knew the answer. 

Tessa snorted. “I followed him more than Perrin did.” 

That surprised Orther. “You like horses?” 

Tessa’s eyebrows rose. “I know more about horses than Perrin.” 

Orther laughed, but she didn’t. His laughter died as he realized she was serious. “You’re serious.” 

“Painfully.” 

“But…” Orther looked around. “You work here.” Something changed in her expression. Not anger exactly, Orther realized immediately he’d stepped somewhere he hadn’t meant to. “Sorry.” 

“No.” Tessa traced a gouge in the tabletop with her fingernail. “You’re not wrong.” She glanced toward the bar. “I like it here. Mostly. The owner’s decent. Pay is good if the men are drunk enough to forget what they’ve already tipped.” 

“That’s a strategy?” Orther asked. 

“That’s a profession.” Tessa winked. 

Orther smiled. “But?” 

Tessa studied him for a moment. “I wanted Father’s work.” 

“In the royal stables?” 

“Eventually.” she looked almost embarrassed saying it. Not because she thought the dream foolish, Orther realized. Because she’d been taught that everyone else did. “I wanted to train them,” she continued. “Not just brush them and shovel shit behind them. I wanted to choose breeding pairs. Break the young ones. Work with the difficult ones. Father said I could look at a horse walking across a yard and tell which leg was bothering it.”

“Can you?” Orther asked, very interested. 

“Usually.” Tessa shrugged. 

“That’s impressive.” 

Tessa laughed softly. “Tell that to a stablemaster.” 

Orther frowned. He remembered going to Lord Ellok and making a case for Perrin. There was never anything said about a girl looking to fill her father’s role. “You tried?” 

“Twice.” She wasn’t looking at him anymore. 

Orther hesitated to ask his next question, but he did anyway. “And?” 

She gave him a look. “What do you think?” 

Orther knew the answer, but he didn’t understand, not completely. If she was as good with horses as she said, wouldn’t there be at least talk about her? “Why wouldn’t they take her?” 

That actually made her laugh. “Oh, you’re precious.” 

“I’m serious.” 

“So were they.” She leaned forward. “A woman can’t control a frightened stallion. A woman doesn’t have the strength for the work. A stable isn’t a proper place for an unmarried woman. What happens when she has children? What happens when she marries?” Tess counted each objection on her fingers. “Apparently my womb is a tremendous inconvenience to horses.” 

Orther choked on his drink. 

Tessa grinned. “Meanwhile Perrin shows up with half Father’s knowledge and a cock, and suddenly he’s an apprentice.” 

Orther coughed harder. “Are you trying to kill me?” 

“Not unless you stop tipping.” 

He laughed again, but the thought stayed with him. “That’s not fair.” 

Tessa shrugged. “Most things aren’t.” 

Orther thought suddenly of the road during the hunt. The shouting. People pressing against one another while guards kept them back. Things thrown towards riders who had never learned their names. He pushed the memory away. “Why doesn’t Perrin teach you?” 

She shrugged. “He does.” 

That surprised him. “When?” He wondered if his horse knew this girl before he did.

“Whenever he can. I go riding with him sometimes. Mam thinks I’m visiting friends.” 

“You’re not?” 

“I don’t have that many friends.” Orther smiled. Tessa pointed at him. “Don’t look so pleased. You’re not one of them.” 

“Not yet.” He winked. Her eyes narrowed. There it was again. That feeling he’d had several times tonight. At court, people laughed before Orther finished a joke. They agreed with opinions he hadn’t finished forming. Girls looked at him and saw Prince Orther before they saw anything else. Tessa looked at him like she was deciding whether he was worth another five minutes. He liked it far too much. “What would you do?” he asked. 

“If what?” 

“If someone let you?” Orther asked. There was a thought blooming in the back of his mind, one that he actually might be able to pull off because of his title. 

She went quiet. Orther nodded toward the pendant. “If nobody cared that you were a woman. If you could do whatever you wanted with horses. What would you do?” 

Tessa’s face changed. It happened slowly. “I’d have my own stable.” There. No sarcasm. “I’d train horses people had given up on. Father was good at that. He said most bad horses were frightened horses somebody had punished for being frightened.” Orther listened. “I’d breed some too. Not the enormous warhorsed everyone at court likes. Something smaller, something fast and clever. Something the could climb.” 

“Mountain horses.” Orther subtly smiled. 

Her eyes lit. “Exactly.” She leaned forward now. “I’ve thought about going north. There’s a breed up there with legs like…” she stopped as she looked at Orther and realized he was smiling. “What?” 

“Nothing.” 

“You’re laughing at me.”

Orther’s eyebrows rose. “I’m not.” 

“You are.” Tessa's smile started to slip. 

“I’m really not.” 

“Then why are you looking at me like that?” 

Orther tried to find a way to explain. Because he had barely heard her speak ten sentences without making a joke all night. And suddenly she’d forgotten to protect herself. “I like hearing you talk about something you love.” 

Tessa stared at him. 

Orther immediately wished he’s said literally anything else. “That sounded…” 

“Soft?” 

“Awful.” 

“Very soft.” 

“Forget it.” 

“No.” 

“Tessa.” 

“I’m keeping that forever.” 

Orther sighed heavily and reached for his cup. She moved it out of his reach. “Give me that.” 

“No.” Tessa bit her lip. 

“That’s theft.” 

Tessa shrugged. “Call the guards.” 

He almost laughed. Instead he looked at her. Her smile faltered slightly. “Your mother doesn’t mind you working here?” he asked. 

“Mam minds everything.” Tessa cocked her head. 

“Everything?” 

“Everything Perrin does, certainly.”

“Reasonable woman.” Orther nodded in agreement. 

“She’d like you.” Tessa told him with her smooth voice. 

“I like her already.” 

“No, you don’t.” Tessa argued. 

“Why?” 

“Because she’d put you to work.” 

Orther grinned. “I work.” Tessa looked pointedly at his hands. He followed her gaze. “What?” 

“Those.” she nodded at his hands.

Orther lifted them up. “My hands?” 

Tessa nodded. “Soft.” 

Orther looked offended. “They are not.” 

She caught one before he could pull it away. Orther stopped. Tessa turned his hand palm-up. Her fingertips were rougher than his. “You’ve never worked a day in your life.” 

“That’s not true.” 

“Doing what?” Orther opened his mouth, but then closed it. Tessa’s mouth twitched. “Thought so.” 

“I ride.” Orther told her. 

“So do I.” 

“I hunt.” 

“So does Perrin.” 

“I…” 

“Soft.” She released him. 

Orther rubbed his palm as though she’d injured his dignity there. “How many of you are there?” he asked. 

“What?” 

“At home.” 

Tessa leaned back. “Mam. Perrin. Me. Tomas is twelve. Nella is seven.” 

“Five of you.” Orther stated thinking about how much nicer it’d be to have five in his family instead of the eleven he was apart of. 

“Four, if someone offers Perrin a reasonable price.” 

“I already bought him something tonight.”

Tessa groaned. “Gods, don’t remind me.” 

Orther laughed. “Was that inappropriate?” 

“Wildly.” Tessa rubbed her eyes. 

“He seemed happy.” Orther shrugged. 

“Perrin would be happy if you gave him a shiny rock.” Tessa rolled her eyes. 

“I’ll remember that for his birthday.” 

She smiled, then quieter, “He doesn’t get to do things like this much.” 

Orther smiled too. “Neither do I.” Tessa studied him. Orther realized his mistake. 

“Why?” She asked. 

He shrugged. “Work.” 

“Those soft hands aren’t convincing me.” 

Orther sighed. “It’s complicated.” 

“Everything about you seems complicated.” For one terrifying moment, Orther thought she knew. Then Tessa touched her father’s pendant again. “My family isn’t complicated.” 

“No?” 

“Annoying. Loud. Broke half the time. But not complicated.” There was affection beneath every word. “Mam worries. Tomas eats everything that isn’t nailed down. Nella asks questions until you contemplate walking into the river. Perrin thinks he’s much cleverer than he is.” 

“And you?” Orther asked, fully immersed in her sory. 

“I’m delightful.” 

Orther laughed. “Obviously. 

Tessa smiled at him. Neither spoke. The tavern suddenly seemed quieter than it had any right to be. Someone extinguished a lamp across the room. Orther became acutely aware that Tessa’s hand was still resting on the table beside his. He turned his palm upward. Not quite touching her. An invitation. Tessa looked down. Then at him. “You’re strange Orther.” 

“So I’ve been told.” 

Tessa still cautiously looked at him. “I haven’t decided whether I like you.” 

“Well, you’ve spent the entire night insulting me.” Orther reminded her. 

“That’s not an answer.” 

“I think it is.” 

Her smile appeared slowly. She leaned closer. Orther did too. “Still haven’t decided,” she murmured. 

“Take your time.” Orther smiled as their noses touched. Tessa kissed him. It was brief at first, almost testing the idea. She drew back just far enough to look at him. Orther smiled. “Well?” 

“Still deciding.” She kissed him again. This time Orther laughed against her mouth and Tessa shoved his shoulder. “Don’t ruin it.” 

“I’m sorry.” 

“No, you’re not.” Tessa kissed his lips. 

“Not remotely.” Orther mumbled. She shook her head, smiling and rested her forehead briefly against him. For one quiet moment, Orther wasn’t a prince sneaking though his own city. Tessa wasn’t the tavern girl who’d been told what she could never become. They were simply two young people sitting at the end of a very good night, neither knowing how different the morning would look. Orther thought, with the absolute certainty of someone who had never yet learned how quickly a life could change, what harm could one night possibly do?

The first rays of the sun were creeping through the quiet city when Perrin and made their way back up to the castle. Both quiet and smiling, both thinking about their night, both hoping to spend the rest of the day doing what was demanded, while they nursed their throbbing heads and thought about the beds they had slept in. 

But as they walked through the entrance they had snuck out of the night before they were met by a handful of guards, Lord Ellok, Lord Vannar and High Chancelor Deymar. All three men did not look happy. Orther sighed and looked over at Perrin, who had gone white and green all at the same time. 

“Prince Orther, your mother, High Queen Lioraen, would like a word with you.” Lord Vannar pressed. 

“I’m sure she’d rather see her son after he was bathed.” Orther grumbled. 

“I do believe she meant promptly.” Lord Vannar said, pushing up his glasses. 

“Oh alright, come Perrin, we must appease the Queen.” Orther grumbled. 

“Perrin will be dealt with at the stables, Your Highness.” High Chancellor Deymar said with a bow. 

Orther looked at Deymar and Ellok and then over at Perrin. “You all do realize we are gone because of my doing, correct?” 

“Of course, Your Highness.” High Chancellor nodded and then stood with his hands folded behind him. 

Orther had a sinking feeling he couldn’t understand that made him hesitate. “Lets not keep your mother waiting, Prince Orther.” Lord Vannar prompted 

Orther left with the Lord Chamberlain, leaving his friend with the two lords. He vowed to go find Perrin to figure out what his punishment would be after he spoke with his mother and took a shower. 

Lioraen waited until the door closed behind him. “Sit.” 

Orther sat. His mother looked as though she’d been awake for hours. Perhaps she had. “Did anyone know who you were?” 

“No.” Orther said with a slight smile. 

“Did anyone ask?” 

“No.” he answered again. 

“Did anyone offer your powders? Medicines? Anything you were expected to swallow?” Lioraen asked him with a straight face. 

Orther’s eyebrows rose. “No.” 

“Did you purchase anything?” Lioraen asked. 

“Ale.” 

“Orther.” 

He shifted. “A few games. Food. I paid for…” He stopped. 

Lioraen’s eyes sharpened. “For?” 

Orther runned the back of his neck. “Company. For Perrin.” 

His mother’s expression didn’t change. “Did you…partake?” 

“No.” 

Lioraen took a breath. “Did anyone else approach you for money?” 

“No.” 

“Did you give anyone your name?” 

“Only Orther.” 

A muscle moved in Lioraen’s jaw. “That’s your name.” 

“It’s not as though there’s only one.” Orther argued. 

“There’s only one Prince Orther.” 

Orther sighed. “Nobody knew I was a prince, okay?” 

Lioraen regarded him for a long moment. “Did you bed anyone?” Orther’s face warmed. His mother closed her eyes. “Gods.” 

“She didn’t know who I was.” Orther tried to make it better. 

“That wasn’t my question.” 

Orther hesitated. “Yes.” 

“Who?” 

“Perrin’s sister.” 

That finally got a reaction. Lioraen stared at him. “His sister.” 

“Her name is Tessa.” Orther explained. 

“I don’t particularly care what her name is.” Lioraen said, writing something down on a paper. 

“I do.” Orther stated. Something in his answer made Lioraen pause. Orther leaned forward. “Actually, she’s brilliant with horses.” 

His mother blinked. “Excuse me?” 

“She wanted to work in the royal stables. Their father taught her. She knows more than Perrin does, apparently. She wants to train them and breed mountain horses and…” 

Lioraen gave a short, dark chuckle. 

Orther stopped. “What?” 

“No.” 

Orther knew there would be resistance, but a flat out no? “You haven’t even met her.” 

“I don’t need to.” Lioraen went back to writing. 

“Why?” 

Lioraen looked up at her son. “Because after last night, that girl will never set foot inside the royal stables.” 

His smile disappeared. “Why not?” 

Lioraen studied her son. “Orther, Perrin has been dismissed. 

Orther stood in silence, his mind refusing to believe the words his mother just told him. “What?” 

“He’s been stripped of his position and barred from future service to the Crown.” 

Orther stood. “For taking me drinking?” 

“For removing a prince from royal protection, taking royal property beyond the gates without authorization, bringing you into a house where your safety could not be assured, procuring a woman for your companion…” 

“I did that.” Orther tried to protest. 

“...and facilitating an intimate encounter between an heir to Korvethis and his own sister.” 

“He didn’t facilitate anything!” Orther shouted. 

“It does not matter.” Lioraen said matter-of-factly. 

“It matters to me!” 

Lioraen’s voice remained horribly level. “The family will leave the city before sundown.” 

Orther stared at her. “Wha…” he couldn’t even finish the word. 

“They are being expelled from the capital.” 

“Mother.” Orther tried to begin to reason, but Lioraen didn’t not give him the space. 

“Given what may now result from your encounter with the girl, allowing the family to remain here would be extraordinarily unwise.” 

It took him a moment. Then he understood, and his stomach dropped. “You mean if she’s…” 

“Yes.” 

Orther sank back into the chair. A few hours ago Tessa had been talking about mountain horses. Now she was being thrown out of the city. “Mother, I asked him to take me.” 

Lioraen sighed. “I know.” 

“He told me he could lose his position.” 

“I know.” she said again. 

“And I went anyway.” Orther realized. 

Lioraen looked at him. “I know.” 

Orther waited, for the shouting or the punishment. Anything, but none came. “Then, what happens to me?” he began to think about the dungeons he snuck down in a year ago, would be be sent down there to spend the rest of his days until he was an old man and couldn’t cause anymore problems?

For the first time, something almost like sadness passed across his mother’s face. “You’re a prince, Orther.” She sighed. “Before you return to your responsibilities for the day, please go take a long, hot shower and get a better smell on you. Let’s try to minimize the rumors that will be floating around today.” 

As the sun began to set that day, after Orther had bathed and sat through all his lessons, including a second study he had to make up for missing it the day before, he rode on horseback with two guards behind him, through the city. He had gotten information on where to find Perrin and his family. In the old, run down neighborhood he found a cracking wagon with an old horse as multiple people walked in and out of the house loading all they could. 

Tessa stopped first when she saw him. Her constant smile from last night was gone, and when he saw the man jump off his royal horse, her eyebrows furrowed more. Perrin walked out next and saw their guest and looked down and sighed. 

Orther walked past the wagon realizing they would be lucky if they made it out of the city without something breaking on it. Orther walked past the wagon and saw Tessa tying something down. “You didn’t tell me.” she hissed, not looking at him. 

Orther looked down. “I didn’t think it mattered.” 

“Of course you didn’t.” Tessa gave him a long, haunted look before she walked away. 

Orther tried to navigate, try to reason but Perrin walked to the wagon instead. He grabbed the coin purse he had brought and handed it to his friend. “Please.” 

“Perrin!” yelled an older woman, Mam, Orther guessed. She had curly hair as well and Tessa’s eyes. She took one look at Orther and then at her son and anger rose. “We do not need anything else from the Prince of Korvethis.” 

Orther’s hand holding the purse dropped to his side. One of the castle’s own guards was waiting for their quick departure. Two young children came from the worn house and looked at him. The younger girl, Tessa had called her, Nella, ran out with a ragged cloth, perhaps made with clothing and looked right at Orther. “Prince Orther!” she ran up to him and wrapped her tiny arms around him as if he knew her. The guards took steps closing in, but just as fast as she gave him a hug, she left. She climbed up on the wagon and waged. “Goodbye Prince Orther!” 

Days had gone by and the castle was quieter than he had remembered, though Perrin had never been in the castle. He hadn’t gone to visit his horse, his heart hurt too much with it. Really, his heart hurt all the time, and within a week he had snuck off himself to the tavern, just to feel the happiness he had felt that one beautiful night. But even as he sat there, drinking his ale, acting like a commoner, hearing all the liveliness around him, the magic was gone, as if Tessa had somehow taken it with her. 

“Pretty prince.” said a sly, female voice behind him. He froze and slowly turned to see Veyra. Still just as beautiful, still as seductive in her burgundy dress. 

“You…knew?” he asked in more or less a whisper. 

“Eventually.” She slowly pulled out one of the coins he had given her. She brought it close to his face and Orther looked to see his father’s face on the coin. “You paid me with a royal sovereign.”

“So?” Orther asked, highly confused. 

Veyra looked at him as though he was painfully stupid. “You really should learn what commoner money looks like.” 

Orther let out an embarrassed laugh as she slid the coin back in her belt and found a seat right by him. “Where’s your friend?” 

Orther couldn’t think of a reason to not be honest. He had been living with the guilt for over a week and it wasn’t doing anyone any good. “Gone.” He gulped back more emotion then he wanted to let out. “It’s my fault.” 

“Is it?” Veyra asked blankly.

Orther looked at her. “Obviously.” 

“Did you order Perrin to take you?” 

Orther thought back to the early evening of that night. “No.” 

“Did you threaten him?” Veyra asked. 

“No, never.” Orther said. 

“Did he know who you were?” 

Orther nodded. 

“Did he know he could lose his position?” 

Orther didn’t want to answer, but Veyra was good at waiting. Eventually he gave in. “Yes.” 

“And Tessa?” Veyra asked

Orther looked away. “What about her?” 

“Did you force her?” 

Orther shook his head violently. “No.” 

Veyra put her elbows on the table and her chin in her hands. “Did you promise her anything?” 

“No…” 

“Did you tell her you loved her?”

Orther shook his head. 

“Did you say you would come back?” Veyra asked. 

“No.” Orther said. 

Veyra laughed. “Then what did you do exactly?” 

Orther’s voice was more quiet. “I didn’t tell her who I was.” 

Veyra sat and considered. “That was cowardly.” 

Orther looked at her sharply. “I didn’t think it mattered.” 

She gave him a pitiful look. “Of course it mattered. She might’ve made a different choice knowing where you came from.” 

Orther hadn’t considered that. “I guess you are right.”

“Exactly.” Veyra chewed on her lip. “So that’s yours.” 

“What’s mine?” Orther asked. 

“Not telling her.” Veyra stretched one of her hands towards Orther’s drink and took it. “Keep that part.” She took a drink. 

Veyra sat and considered that. "That was cowardly."

Orther looked at her sharply. "I didn't think it mattered."

"Of course it mattered. She might have made a different choice." Veyra explained. 

Orther watched her drink his ale and thought. Would Tessa have said now if she knew he was a prince? Had keeping that from her changed her life? Would she have said no, and what would he have done with that?” 

“Perrin couldn’t say no to me.” Orther admitted. 

“But he did.” Veyra told him. 

“What?” Orther asked. 

“The other night. When you asked to come.” She smiled faintly. “I believe he told you no several times.” 

Orther remembered, “How do you know this?” 

“My services also include conversation.” She said with a wink. Orther nodded, feeling more naive. “But then he changed his mind.” 

“Because I’m a prince.” Orther explained. 

“Veyra shrugged. “Perhaps.” 

“Well, that’s my point.” Orther told her, feeling more frustrated. 

“No. That’s the part you’re trying to make the point.” Veyra took another sip. 

Orther scoffed at her. “You don’t understand.” 

“I understand perfectly. You have more power than Perrin. That doesn’t mean Perrin has no will.” 

Orther found himself glaring. “Well then what am I supposed to do?” 

Veyra looked at him confused. “About what?” 

Orther clenched his fists. “About all of this.” 

“Oh….nothing.” Veyra shrugged. 

Orther realized this might’ve been the worst conversation he had ever had. “Their entire life is ruined.” 

Veyra nodded. “And did you try to fix it?” 

“I…” Orther thought for a moment. “...yes.” 

“Could you do anything?” Veyra asked.

Orther felt another wave on embarrassment thinking about his mother. “No.” 

“Then….you can’t do anything.” 

“I can’t just stop caring.” Orther explained. 

“I didn’t tell you to. Knowing a prince cares about the people he interacts with is impressive.” Veyra applauded. Orther looked at her with so much confusion. “If someone wants something from me, I decide if I’m willing to give it. I name my price and he decides if he’s willing to give it.” 

“But that’s different.” Orther argued. 

“Why?” 

“Because that’s coin.” 

“Sometimes.” Veyra shrugged. “People offer all sorts of things, pretty prince. Money, time, bodies, secrets, love.” She shrugged again. “You decide what you’re willing to give. You only take what is freely offered. And you don’t promise what you cannot keep.” 

Orther knew this was something that would ring in his memory for a long time. “And if the person regrets what they gave you?” 

Veyra considered his question for a while. “Then they’re allowed to regret it.” 

“That’s all?” Orther asked

“Regret doesn’t make their choice yours.” Veyra explained. 

“Perrin regrets it.” Orther told her. 

“I’m sure he does.” 

“Tessa probably does.” 

“Perhaps” She shrugged again. 

“And I’m supposed to feel nothing?” Orther asked. 

“No.” The answer surprised him. She leaned in close. “Feel terrible. Cry about it if you like, miss them. Wish you’d chosen differently. Try to repair what you can.” She then cupped his cheek in her palm and looked him in the eyes. “But don’t start believing everyone else’s choices belong to you simply because you’re powerful enough to blame yourself for them.” 

Orther stared at her speechless for quiet awhile, even after she took her hand away. Veyra smiled as she saw that he had finally understood a little of what she said. Then, she held out her hand.

Orther looked at her hand, palm up. “What?” 

“A coin.” Veyra smiled. 

“For…what?” Orther asked, ready to decline an invitation upstairs. 

“My advice.” Veyra said seriously. 

Orther found himself laughing “You charge for that?” 

“I charge for everything, pretty prince.” Orther dug around in his purse and found two sovereign coins. He laid them in her palm and she smiled sweetly. “There.” 

“There what?” 

“You wanted something from me. I gave it. I wanted something from you. You gave it.” She slipped the coins away. “Now neither of us owes the other anything. 

Orther walked back from the tavern under the cover of night, knowing full well that he would probably have to have another conversation with his mother, but he wasn’t thinking about that. He started to test what Veyra had told him. Perrin knew. It didn’t make the guilt disappear, but it did change it’s shape. Perrin chose. It made it hurt less. ‘Tessa chose me.’ Orther thought, and it still hurt. He remembered her saying she hadn’t decided whether she liked him, but she kissed him anyway. ‘I should have told her who I was.’ That part was his. He could own that. But everything?

Perrin’s decision. Tessa’s decision. His mother’s decision. The Crown’s decision. They couldn’t all belong to him. Perrin could have said no. Tessa could have said no. Orther repeated that until the towers of Korvethis Castle appeared above the rooftops. He had lied to Tessa. That belonged to him. Perrin had chosen to open the gate. Tessa had chosen to kiss him. His mother had chosen what came afterward. Not every consequence has his simply because he stood at the center of them. By the time the guards bowed and opened the gate, it almost sounded like the truth.