-VII-

This was how things went: every night, for about a week, Bradshaw visited Ethan in his tower for an hour or two. This started the night after the feast.

There was much to discuss on that first night, but neither Bradshaw nor Ethan said much of anything to each other. Bradshaw thought a lot about how small Ethan’s quarters were. His life seemed far from regal. Bradshaw’s room back home was larger and more welcoming. Ethan had a tiny bed with a chest at the foot of it, a desk, and… that was it.

The next night, they spoke, but not about King Rowan. Ethan asked why Bradshaw had come. Bradshaw told Ethan that he had also lost his father, he thought that maybe they might be able to help each other. Help each other with what? Bradshaw didn’t have an answer for that.

On the third night, Bradshaw was sitting on the windowsill. Half-inside, half-outside, he let one leg dangle and perched the other one up.

“You were there that night, in the rafters?”

“I was. I had to sneak in, like I do now.”

Ethan sat up on his bed to face Bradshaw at the window. Bradshaw’s knee cut a wedge into the fullness of the moon. “…That morning, I was sick at breakfast and couldn’t finish my pancakes. My father had this rage inside of him. He smashed the pancakes in my face. It was so humiliating, and I was so angry. I wanted him to die. And I don’t miss him. I don’t miss him at all.”

Bradshaw had no idea how to respond to that. He did miss his father; he missed his father immensely.

“Tomorrow is my father’s funeral.” Bradshaw told Ethan on the fourth night.

“I wish I could attend.”

“It is not right that they keep you locked up in here.”

“It is for my own safety, while mother is away.”

“My sister is also leaving tomorrow to train in the mending arts at Bellmuth.” Bradshaw shook his head, not at Ethan, but at the city-sprawl visible from Ethan’s window. “It doesn’t seem fair to lose so much in one day.”

“Bradshaw?”

He turned his head back toward Ethan, he had never seen the prince look more intent.

“Promise me something.”

Bradshaw had mixed feelings concerning promises but agreed anyway.

“When you climb this tower tomorrow, I must tell you something, something that I have never had the courage to tell anybody. I won’t bring it up. And if you remind me about it, I will deny ever saying anything. Promise me, however, that you will persist. Promise me that tomorrow- not tonight- but tomorrow, you will not leave here until I have told you my secret.” 

“You have my word. Come tomorrow night, I shall play the inquisitor! There will be nothing I won’t do to acquire the information I seek!”

Bradshaw almost didn’t want to leave that night, but he needed to see his sister again before she left tomorrow morning. So, he bid Ethan farewell, climbed down the tower, and snuck out of Monarch’s Keep.