Samson had not expected a summons from Elias so quickly. It had only been a week and a half, and he had been asked to join him in Kremal. Leaving from Asria, the trip only took a day, but it felt as though the hours stretched on for years. He had paced every inch of his cabin by the time they arrived in the port, and his hands trembled. There on the invitation of the prince, Her Majesty would not stop him from stepping foot on land. Tentatively, Samson allowed himself to relax as he exited the ship. He was home.

It had not felt like coming home when his only task was to return Elias and see Her Majesty. It had felt like walking directly into a trap. However, as he moved through the port and the city streets, reveling in the smells of the street vendors and the sight of people going about their day, there was a warmth in his chest. The day was unseasonably bright and blue, and it was difficult to find much harm in allowing himself to enjoy the comfort of the sunlight above.

A piece of his mind, somewhere deep in the back, was worried that this was some strange false hope. Some shred of him still worried that, despite Elias’s summons, this would be some sort of trap, a way of luring him into a false sense of security– nothing had gone wrong while in the one place he was never meant to return to? Surely, there must be some catch, some trick to it all. That didn’t make sense. The worry was irrational. The letter he’d received was penned in Elias’s handwriting, with his seal. He was actively performing an investigation in His Highness’s service. That this would be anything but in relation to that was ridiculous.

And yet, as he approached the gates to the palace, he expected to be stopped. When he held the letter in his hand, he expected a guard to seize him. Instead he was given a nod and waved through. He was home.

The dull gray halls of the palace had always been stifling, but they had once also been a comfort. Walking through them when meeting Her Majesty had felt like wandering the halls of a prison. Moving directly to Elias’s rooms, the warmth of the light wasn’t eye-straining and oppressive. It was just that– warm.

Samson’s knuckles barely touched the door when it opened. A pair of wide, blue eyes looked back at him and Samson nodded. Right. Even if he didn’t see Her Majesty, it was impossible to avoid every trace of her. “Elias, your suitor awaits,” he called, a frown on his lips.

Samson blinked.

“Martin, go. Samson, please come in.” The man’s voice was distant, but his words were clear enough.

As Samson entered, those cold eyes watched him, glaring as they passed. As the door shut, he could have sworn that he felt them through the wood. He swallowed, turning.

Elias sat in a plush chair, a book in his hand, the perfect picture of both grace and boredom. His hair was pinned back, his eyes were dark like the night sky, endless and shining.

Samson approached, kneeling. “Your Highness.”

“Mm, so formal. Cute,” Elias said, shaking his head. “Rise. You really don’t need to do all that for me.”

He stood, finding himself feeling a bit awkward. Following formalities gave him something to do, told him where he needed to stand and how to behave. Back in this place, it was difficult to figure out how exactly to carry himself. On the ship, it was easier. That was his home. He had been given a strict goal and he was in control of the situation. Here, the easiest place to be was in some predetermined position before Elias.

“Sit,” Elias said, gesturing to the chair beside him. “I have a request to ask of you.”

Samson took the seat he was offered and swallowed the lump in his throat. There was no reason to be so nervous. He had spent enough time with Elias just weeks ago. Regardless of where it had been and how different it had felt, this was the same. “Anything.”

“My wedding is in a few days. I’m traveling to Yadan and will be leaving behind almost everything. I do not know my way around the palace. I do not know what officials I can trust.” Elias paused. Footsteps moved just outside the door, and the knock didn’t seem to surprise him. “Martin, I said to go.”

The door opened and Martin sighed. “Your dog.”

A large black dog, thin and silky, walked slowly into the room. His steps were slow and light with age, and he sighed. Was that the very same– No. It had been ten years. The door shut and Elias pat his lap. “Baron, come.” He glanced toward Samson. “My apologies, he’s a bit grumpy with strangers. He always has been, but with old age and all,” he said, shaking his head.

The dog moved toward Samson, and he extended a hand, offering it. He didn’t expect any sort of warmth. Baron had been bad with strangers when he was small, and being as old as time itself certainly couldn’t have helped. But the dog leaned in, long snout pressing against his hand.

Elias raised a brow. “Well aren’t you lucky. He likes you.” The faintest smile rested on his lips. “As I was saying before, I need an escort. A bodyguard, if you will. If you’re willing, you’re the best person I can think of for the job. It would only be a week. You would stay here until we leave, and then stay with me at all times until after the wedding. Paid, of course.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Samson didn’t need any more details than that. To stay at Elias’s side and keep him safe had been his only wish for so long. The idea of finally being able to do it, that Elias would want that, and want that from him specifically, made his heart pound inside his chest. He didn’t say anything else, not wanting to do something wrong to make him change his mind. If he reacted too strongly, if he was overly eager, it would come off as overbearing, or worse, as if he might have some underlying intentions.

“Very good. You’ll stay here until we leave in two days. You’re free to go where you wish, and I’ll have a room prepared for you in my wing.” Elias leaned back. “I have no plans in that time. If you require anything, all you need to do is find me.”

Samson removed his hand from Baron’s head, nodding. “Thank you, Your Highness. If I am being honest, this comes as some surprise.”

Elias raised a brow. “Did you think I would hold a grudge over a simple kidnapping? I’ll admit I wasn’t pleased, but I understand why you did it. Besides, you…” He slowed, mulling over his words. “You proved quite quickly that you would let no harm come to me. That sort of loyalty is hard to come by.”

Samson frowned at that. “I am sorry that that’s been the case.” He pat Baron’s head, the old dog sighing as he closed his eyes. “You deserve much more than it seems you’ve been given.”

Elias shook his head, standing. He dropped the book on a coffee table and stretched. “I appreciate the sentiment. But with the kingdom’s opinion of me, I’m sure I’ve gotten what the people have deemed me deserving of.”

Samson wanted to argue. He wanted to claim that the people were fools, that they would never know exactly what they were talking about when it came to him. But how would he know anything more than they did? To Elias, he was just some pirate who hardly knew him. And, honestly, that wasn’t entirely untrue. He had known Elias once. But he hadn’t been there in the time when he was most needed. Elias had changed. He hardly knew this version of him, the man he’d grown into.

“Did you find anything in Asria?” Elias asked.

It was a good change of subject. Something safe. “The perpetrator was Kremali, an immigrant from Verand. You’re familiar with Karim Albasha?”

Elias nodded. “Don’t tell me he’s involved. We haven’t had problems with him since…” Elias trailed off. “You two are friends, are you not?”

That was one word for it. “The man had his jewels on his body. Karim tells me he isn’t involved.”

“Do you believe him?” Elias didn’t sound incredulous. Samson had expected him to be angry at him over even the idea of placing trust in someone who seemed so blatantly guilty.

“I do. I know his reputation, but I also know he would not do something without reason.”

Elias paused his pacing, his eyes dragging over Samson’s body, assessing him. “Alright. If you trust him, then I will trust him. You know him better than I imagine most people do.” He crossed his arms over his chest, leaning against the side of a bookshelf and letting his eyes fall shut. “So it’s still a mystery then.”

Samson bowed his head. “My apologies. Natalia is investigating his ship and I will return to my work when you no longer need me here.” He had failed. Even traveling to two countries, he had been unable to solve the problem.

“Don’t worry about it,” Elias said, waving him off. “All the more reason to have you here with me now.”

“Do you not have a personal guard?” Samson asked, tilting his head. He had before, a woman who would stand by him when he was out of the palace to ward off any attackers or admirers who were simply too rowdy and who would keep outside every door when the prince wanted to be alone. There had not been one in the carriage that his crew had taken Elias from, but he had assumed that this was by some strange mistake and act of chance.

Elias laughed, shaking his head. “You really think that my mother would expend the resources to have someone on top of me all the time? My dear captain, you should know that I am expendable. There will be palace guards around at all times, but I do not trust that they will protect me in an emergency.”

“You are not expendable, Your Highness.”

Elias raised a brow, finally returning to his seat. He rested his head on his hand, propping it up as he met Samson’s eyes. His expression was difficult to parse. He didn’t look upset, but the smile on his lips was too like a pained grimace to read as anything positive. “You remind me so much of him sometimes.”

Samson swallowed. “My apologies, Your Highness.”

Elias shook his head. “It’s not a problem.” The tension in his smile eased. “I’ll admit it’s nice to remember how it used to be. It was really nice before he left.” Elias let out a soft sigh, looking over Samson once again. Samson couldn’t help but feel as if he was being taken careful stock of, Elias’s eyes analyzing him for any similarities he could find. He could only hope he had changed enough since then that the man wouldn’t convince himself there was some way they could be one and the same. “Everything has been changing so quickly. An assassination attempt, a kidnapping, a marriage. It’s so different from back then.” Elias pulled his gaze away, turning his attention to the dog resting his head on Samson’s knee. He reached forward, rubbing behind his ears. “Maybe this will be better.”