Chapter 13
Two weeks later, a small crowd of people gathered in the throne room so Lord Badru could reveal the shield-shaped plaque his team of craftspeople had created to remember Private Wynn’s sacrifice.
Flurry had decided to hang the plaque on the wall just to the right of his throne because that was where Wynn had been standing that day. The placement also meant that everyone facing the prince would see it forever.
I stood beside Flurry as some of those who’d served with Wynn spoke about him.
I heard them, but I wasn’t really listening as I focused on Flurry.
He’d insisted that he felt more accepting about what had happened, but didn’t think the guilt would ever leave him completely.
I couldn’t help keeping a hand on his lower back now, just beneath his wings which had been out all day.
“He’d have been so proud of this, Your Highness,” Mister Wynn said as he stood in front of Flurry. “He was always dedicated to protecting the court and everyone in it.”
Flurry nodded, his wings fluttering for a moment. “We will remember him always.”
Everyone headed outside, where we were going to announce the contest for the sculpture to remember all those who had died due to the curse.
I had Flurry stay back with me, though. When they had all gone out, and I nodded at the two guards to close the huge throne room doors, I turned to Flurry and his frowny face.
“Fly around,” I said and waved at the room.
“Excuse me?”
“Your wings have been out all day. You’re obviously feeling a lot of emotions. Maybe you even want to run away. So use the space and the little bit of time that we have to work out that energy.”
I made a buzzing noise at him, which was probably the wrong thing to do considering how much deeper his frown got. But before I could apologize, Flurry huffed a laugh and looked away with a roll of his eyes.
“You’re an idiot.”
“I know.”
He flew around the room, though. Like, seriously zoomed in giant figure-eights around the four massive pillars. He wore leggings and a fur-trimmed tunic with a cape that flapped behind him. After a few minutes, he came to a halt in front of me, panting like he’d been running.
I knew he wasn’t going to thank me or confirm that it had been a good idea, so I stole a kiss before offering him my arm to guide him outside.
The crowd cheered when he came into view on the palace steps. He waved, and the cheering increased. I hoped that helped him feel better about this day because it was clear that his people loved him even if he didn’t think he deserved that.
Someone handed Giselle a shiny silver megaphone, and after a nod from Flurry, she spoke to the crowd.
“Under the prince’s direction, Lord Lennon and I have directed our artists to craft a sculpture of Private Archibald Wynn, who recently gave his life to save Prince Flurris.
This sculpture will represent all those soldiers lost to war over the years, their names carved into the base so none shall ever be forgotten. ”
The crowd politely clapped, and I couldn’t help wondering how many of them had lost a soldier to the wars over the years. Were they glad the barriers had stopped all the violence?
“The prince has also asked us,” Giselle continued, “to create a sculpture to remember those lost to the curse. Rather than design this ourselves, we would like to open the design process to all of you. Submit your ideas to me within the next month, and we will select the winner. The final sculpture will be placed here, in front of the fountain.”
The clapping was less this time, with a few people in the crowd openly crying.
I gasped when I realized one of them was Lars, the dungeon master.
He gruffly wiped away a tear before loudly clapping, which got another round of applause out of those nearest him.
I discretely waved to him, remembering our time together with an odd fondness, and got a nod from him in return.
Someone called out, asking if there was an age limit on submissions.
Giselle said there wasn’t, and I could see several kids start smiling.
I hadn’t expected thunderous applause from either announcement, but it was nice to see a little enthusiasm from some of those present.
Which made me wonder how they would let the rest of the court know about the contest.
I leaned a bit toward Badru and whispered, “How will they spread the word about all this?”
“Oh, there are hundreds of news riders nowadays who’ll take the message far and wide.
We didn’t used to have so many, but when the farms started failing, the prince began to pay anyone who could ride to take messages to every village or homestead.
” He nodded toward the back of the crowd where people were climbing onto horses.
Others were already riding off into the distance.
“And do they bring news back with them as well?”
“They do.” He grinned at me. “We are a well-oiled gossip machine.”
I laughed with him. It was possible someone needed to invent a printing press, but I had a feeling everything newsworthy in the court—from the arrival of a human to the fact he was bedding the prince—was getting around just fine.
Giselle thanked everyone for coming, Flurry waved to the crowd and, when he turned to go back inside, he held out his hand for me. I took his hand and walked with him quietly all the way up to his bed chamber.
I was surprised to find six people dressed like they’d just graduated high school standing around the breakfast nook. Their hats and robes were either yellow, black, or baby blue, and they had these huge old-looking books with them. All six bowed at Flurry when we walked in.
“Anything?” he asked them.
A woman in yellow shook her head. “Apologies, Your Highness, but the area seems well and truly closed still. We can still see the remnants of the magic, but it is definitely fading.”
Flurry sighed and closed his eyes for a few seconds. I guessed they were talking about the fairy ring and how I’d arrived through it. That it was completely shut off and even the evidence of it was disappearing had me feeling terrible. Like they’d had hope but now it was gone.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered to him.
He gave me a sad little smile before gesturing toward the door. “Thank you, everyone. Please return to your normal duties now.”
They walked out and closed the door behind them as Flurry went and sat down on the bench at the end of his bed. I wasn’t sure if I should stay or go.
“They’ve been here every day since your arrival,” he said, leaning over on his knees.
“And now they’re done?”
He nodded. “It’s always the same answer.”
I couldn’t stand how sad this was making him and went over to kneel on the floor in front of him. I sat back on my heels and held his hands. “I’m so sorry, Flurry. I can see how this would’ve made you all so hopeful that there was a solution to the curse.”
“It’s not that. Or, well, it’s not just that.” He squeezed my fingers and leaned in to kiss me. “Milo, you’re trapped here. No one can figure out how to send you home.”
I blinked at him and realized I hadn’t been thinking about that. Like hardly at all. I’d thought about it a time or two, worried for my friends, but I wasn’t longing to leave here. I didn’t…
“I don’t want to go back.”
“What?”
He looked surprised, and I worried that maybe he didn’t feel the same way. But I’d said it and I wouldn’t be taking it back. I gulped a little to admit it, but said it clearly. “I don’t want to go home. I want to stay here. With you.”
Flurry’s blue eyes got glassy and pink tinged his cheeks as snowflakes suddenly fell from above.
I smiled and sat up to grab him to me. He sniffed and squeezed me tight. With my lips pressed to his pointy ear, I whispered, “You don’t have to say anything. It’s okay. I can still hear you.”
Silently, he clung to me as perfectly magical snow gently covered us. I didn’t need the words yet to believe that he loved me, too.
All of a sudden, I heard a giant crack thunder. Or stone breaking? I flinched back and stared at Flurry staring back at me. “What was that?”
He shook his head, looking spooked. “I don’t know.”
I got up and went to a window. “I don’t think it was thunder. It’s sunny out.”
The sound of feet running reached my ears just before someone pounded on the door. Flurry rushed to open it. “What’s happened?” he asked the guards in the hall. “Are we under attack?”
I braced myself for something awful.
“Your Highness, we don’t know what the sound was but,” he said breathlessly, “we’re seeing snowmelt and flowers. Sir, there are flowers!”