Bas got over the warning of being thrown overboard rather quickly. He found it fascinating to watch the crew work, and would join in their work. The prince made it a habit to hunt Jonathan down at meal time, and proudly explain some of the things he learned about sailing during that day.
Jonathan had a brief worry about whether Bas would want to join a crew of pirates, but it really wasn’t his problem if a local prince ran off to be a thief and sailor. His fingers kept itching to do something as well, which led to him reading through the books he packed and helping out the kitchen. The improvement in food quality was appreciated. He had a feeling that the regular cook had lost the ability to taste salt properly.
It was a bit tough going upstream, but they managed. The ship had gotten an upgrade in the form of a magically powered engine, a sort of cousin of the ones that ran the trains.
Jonathan suspected that they stole it, but he didn’t really care that much. It was none of his business how they managed to get a large engine and enough mana to power it.
They arrived in the capital of Celtie after about a week on board. More accurately, Jonathan and Bas were dropped off nearby the city. The captain didn’t want to risk a port check. From where they had been left ashore, they rode to the capital.
A weight dropped on Jonathan’s shoulder as they approached the city gates.
Jonathan slowed Biscuit down to a walk. He greeted Oceton and took the two letters tied to the bird’s leg.
Aderes confirmed that she would expect him in late Spring or early Summer. As for Liam, he was still in the city and was able to get what Jonathan asked.
“Who are the letters from?”
“Royalty,” Jonathan deadpanned. He was completely serious, but Bas didn’t have to know that.
Jonathan and Bas checked into an inn early. Jonathan told Bas to stay there while he went to take care of something.
Along the way, Jonathan bought a book. He walked through a small park. It was a tiny bastion of green amidst the greys and blacks of the stronghold. The trees were still rather spindly and provided little shade.
Jonathan hadn’t been prepared to be tackled from the side, but he should have. “Really?” He asked, voice muffled by how he had face planted into the grass. “You’re getting a bit too big for surprise attacks.”
Liam looked a bit sheepish and sat down on the ground nearby. The 6th prince of the Hrea Empire had dressed in the clothes meant for a gardener. The curly red hair was fine, but his sea green eyes were giveaways of his heritage. “I got the two passes you wanted.” He held up the two crystalline squares.
Jonathan sat up and took them after a quick inspection. “Thank you.”
The two newest extensions to the train network were finished two years ago, Celtie was connected to Maskiff’s and Reagle’s trains, which meant it was possible to ride the train to any of the countries in the Hrea Empire. Passes were used for nobles, foreign diplomats, important civil servants, or staff for imperial royalty.
Jonathan and Liam talked for quite a bit, catching up on things they hadn’t said in their letters.
The two were interrupted by another man. He was a bit taller and thinner than Jonathan. He had a pair of spectacles dangling from his neck, but he did not squint as if it was hard for him to see up close. Curly red hair was pulled back in a short ponytail—exposed the freckles across his neck. “Roscoe,” he quietly said. “I didn’t think you were alive.”
“Oliver,” Liam replied. He was biting his lip with a guilty expression.
Jonathan tried to keep the appearance of being relaxed, but he really wasn’t. He couldn’t handle too many more people knowing Roscoe was alive. “Hi.” He needed to keep Oliver quiet, but he knew little about the 2nd Prince.
Oliver hesitated at the idea of getting his clothes dirty. However, he eventually sat down to create a lopsided circle with the younger two princes. “What do you want?”
“What do you want?” Jonathan parroted back.
Oceton was puffed up, turning a bit more cherry red as he started preparing gathering mana to cast fire magic.
“It seems both of us are curious about each other’s intentions and end goals,” Oliver cautiously stated. He had an eye on the large bird of prey perched on Jonathan’s shoulder.
Liam was twisting his hands together. He stayed silent, out of the way. It was unlike him, but he didn’t like serious conflicts.
“Maybe we should discuss this another time?” Jonathan suggested.
Oliver glanced at Liam. He frowned at how obviously worried, and silent, Liam was. “What have you been doing the past few years, at least?”
Jonathan smiled and explained, “I’m a lumberjack.”
“You’re joking,” Oliver flatly replied. He raised both of his eyebrows.
“He’s not,” Liam vouched. “Roscoe even knows who sells those undying flowers from Alita. I got a few for my birthday.”
“Call me Jonathan,” he reminded.
“Right,” Liam muttered.
“That does explain where you got that one bouquet in your room.” Oliver glanced back at Jonathan. “You had your one question, and I have mine. Why did you leave?”
The tension was back and Oliver didn’t seem to want to accept nothing for an answer. He was waiting, patiently.
Jonathan felt slightly sad over the guilt that twisted over Liam’s face when he said not to call him Roscoe. He saw the same expression on Oliver’s when he admitted, “I had to leave because Consort Lorelei got too close.”
“Ah,” Oliver said. “Yes . . . Mother is like that, unfortunately.”
Liam had curled up a bit, hugging his knees. He quickly changed the topic to Oceton.
The sun continued to burn it’s trail across the sky.
Jonathan went back to the inn, one pocket a bit heavier from the note Oliver had slipped into it. The note was rather simple: an offer to meet again when Jonathan was on the way back home.
It had been a bit nice to get to know Liam’s older brother Oliver, despite the two’s mother. A misfortune of life for many that they were not able to choose their parents. On the other hand, their parents were not able to choose their children either.
A/N
Hey guys look who it is, Oliver from the bonus chapter. He is the favorite of one of my editors.
