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The clamouring bounced through the walls, their echoes dancing like bat cries against the stone walls and spruce wood beams. His thumb rolled over his knuckles as his thoughts raced over the Tree Witch, the starvation, and his bold move. Let them chew on that! This time I have, it is precious... I must convince this man to come with me, so we may talk together to the Court. His presence will remind them of the dire concerns, the real issues.

Before he could look for the stranger, his guards clamoured next to him. "Sire, what are you doing?"

"Exactly as I said I would. I am meeting with the man I said is to be trained as an heir."

"Sire, I understand your anger," the guard straightened, his voice like cold syrup. "You are behaving as a child, and all the world will listen even as you defy its rules."

"I understand if you would want to go home to your family, and no longer be apart of my guard. I would not blame you for it, but these actions are necessary. They have heard my pleas, I begged them."

"The crowd will take you if they find you. A riot will start in the streets. The Court is already taking evacuative measures to the palace."

"Then tell them I will meet them there" Arlo replied, his gaze locking with the guard.

The guard starred into his eyes, the skin around the King's eyes was decorated with blots of brown like his father over white skin. He is irrational, how could any of what he said be true? He has his father's paranoia...

"Do you need protection, Sire?"

"That is kind of you, but I know well enough of myself. Please, make sure the Court is escorted home, and I will take the apprentice with me, personally." He did not let himself betray his disappointment, his sorrow at the riots. They must only see the gentle willow blowing in me, not a raging storm. This man may be my last hope of restoring this kingdom.

The stranger craned his head at Arlo, "I'm not your jester, I've seen pirates do more fair matches than you."

"I understand your suspicions of my respect to you, and this kingdom. But I wanted to hear you speak more, in the hopes that both of us can make a louder voice to the court."

"Your Grace—"

"Please call me Arlo." He winced at the thought, his intentions laid on too heavily. The stranger nodded as if he seen the error. He knows it.

"How old are you? You look as old as your father now."

"I'm nineteen. But we do not have a great amount of time to discuss this. I can only promise you the integrity of my heart and soul."

"You are young for someone claiming to promise all their soul. Very." The stranger pressed and rolled his fingers as if coddling a cigarette between them, surveying the boy. He was two feet taller and close to a giant, a thin tree without leaves.

"In this world, there is very little left to lose now. Suppose what is your name?"

"Wish I knew, but you can call me Jaye."

"Why is that?"

"I lost my memories over the sea a long time ago." Jaye uttered into the dark, rolling up a sleeve and flashing his arm. "I have no memories of these scars, only this new life of my travels. There is no other place I can work, with the economy how it is."

"I see. Do you understand why I chose you?"

"For my looks? I won't tell anyone, I promise." Jaye winked.

Arlo suppressed a laugh, "Oh, no. But you look like you have seen much, know much. I need an ally, do you understand?"

Jaye lip curled, and his hand flicked to the road beyond: "You ask for loyalty, what for? Are you too arrogant to see how they will follow you?"

"Everything is depending on this. This kingdom may depend on whether you hear my words."

"I have seen boys like us on ships, many of them killed." Jaye began, "Do you know why the others lived? Because they understood defence, they were crafty, and planned. They broke a few rules to do just that. I know you are in difficult circumstances, and you cannot be the piece that falls out of place. With any credit in this hole, you are trying to do this without causing a lost of the integrity of the Kingdom."

"So, you understand, then, what I am sacrificing for."

"Don't get ahead of yourself, Sire." Jaye snapped, "My kiln is near empty, the Tree Witch has no new information of where she is, and I only keep one loaf for both my mentor and me. Do you know of what it is like to sleep hungry?"

Yes, I do. Arlo thought, his stomach twisting at the thought of those days. I gave my food to the servants many nights.

"Then if you know so much, why is that you are talking to me, and rid yourself of the Court?"

"If I were to rid myself of them, do you understand there would be no government? No loyalty, either, to support them with. How could any of us expect to rebuild, when not a king could?"

Jaye nodded to himself, thinking his father taught him well, if not for his blindness to the real issues...

"I will not force you into this role, but rather, I will give you anything you ask of me. We are in a dire situation, and much is clear you understand."

"I want to speak."

Arlo eyes widened slightly, "Did they not allow you to speak?" He wondered if among the mess, he had not been allowed, or pushed to the back. "I apologize deeply—"

"No, there are deeper matters here."

Arlo paused, searching the mans gaze. His face was etched as if from sun-tanned pine trees, "I know of your concerns. You must understand I cannot marry the Princess of the East, for the reasons I have already stated. If we were, do you understand the lost of your unique craftsman's ship, the depletion of the unique economy?"

I have no place to talk of the economy, with how it is. Jaye considered, releasing a sigh.

Jaye's expression shifted in the shade, enough to stir the faintest drift of dust from the alleyway. The wooded supports of the homes on each side shifted in the wind as if to declare their unease.

"If the Courts demand action, I may in return." Arlo's words struggled through his throat like thorns, "But they refuse to hear the alternatives."

"I know, I found that suspicious." Jaye added, "They talk of nothing except the concerns of their homeland behind their guards and the walls."

Arlo's breath eased out his nose, his feet shifting abruptly in the dirt, "Your information is safe with me, whatever you may know. I promise you, this information above all will be acted by me personally."

"No, not that easily. Many men lose their ships like this, I don't want to be that kind of man. Tell me, if anything of your short, silver gilded attitude, weaker than my swords—Why should I follow you now, aside from your soul?"

Arlo studied the man, I have none, except... "You know of deeper issues, more than most people will see, of blood and otherwise. You want to create most of all, a better place beyond just yourself in a world that does not allow it. Give me time and voice, and I can promise you we can make something of it."

Jaye hesitated, his eyes locking with Arlo's. The two held gazes as Jaye replied, "I am happy to meet a royal who knows just as I do what the world does to a person. You have the look."

"What look?"

"A look of someone who has seen the worse of someone but looks to still bandage their wounds. I will come with you, on the condition that both of us will only work for the people. I do not want to inherit this kingdom, nor any other."

I suppose I could agree with him, if I were in his position, Arlo considered. I wonder how satisfied he is with this life.

"After all, your reputation cannot be soiled now. If I disagreed, you understand the risk to your reputation?"

Arlo scoffed, lifted his chin as if to frame his face by using the alleyway, smiled a little: "I doubt that should be of high concerns now."

"Then take your lead" Jaye chirped,the sounds of the crowd fading as they walked deeper into the alley, away fromthe noise. We can come to agreement now then.
Jaye suppressed a shudder between his spine as he straightened, eased back like a man in a throne as he walked, thought: Someone is going to kill him if I don't come with him.

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