Once Upon a Dream

by Megan Derr

  Shifting his attention to the man, Diggory found it hard not to stare. He was leaner than Diggory and taller, with tanned skin and bright gold hair that indicated a great deal of time spent outdoors. He had brilliant green eyes and a pale, tempting mouth that curved into a friendly smile. "Who is your friend, Freddie?"

  "His name is Diggory. He grew up where my wife did, came to see an old man and keep me company for a bit. Diggory, I make you known to His Royal Highness, Prince Adalwin von Brant."

  Diggory barely managed to school his reaction. The description he'd been given of his fiancé did not do him justice; it seemed woefully dry all of a sudden: tall, slender, blond hair, green eyes, pleasant demeanor. He supposed the Master Secretary of the Royal Offices could not have put 'extremely desirable' on the official papers.

  Recalling he was not, at present, royalty himself, Diggory dipped into a low bow. "An honor to make your acquaintance, Your Highness. Congratulations on your impending nuptials. Everyone is happily anticipating the wedding." He looked up and saw the way Adalwin's face momentarily clouded.

  "Thank you," Adalwin replied, the words polite but lacking the warmth he had thus far shown. "How are you finding our humble kingdom? You are lucky to know Freddie. He is a wonderful man. His wife healed many of my wounds when I frolicked about these woods like the idiot boy I was—and still am, I suppose." His mouth twitched, then settled into a half-smile.

  Rising to his full height, Diggory smiled in return. "It's beautiful, Your Highness. I think it will be impossible to leave. My home is not nearly so bright and pleasant."

  "Mistress Maya used to say the same thing, that her home was dreary and wet all the time and she was happy to have married a man who brought her into sunshine." He looked at Freddie, whose eyes had gone distant with memory, his smile bittersweet.

  "Maya did like the sun," Freddie said. "But enough about us, Highness. What brings you here today when you should be wooing your affianced?"

  Adalwin's face clouded again and he sighed. "I needed a break, and I wanted to give my favorite beauty here a run. Isn't he handsome?"

  "He's stunning," Diggory said, moving forward without thought to get a closer look, holding out his hand for the horse to investigate. When it seemed content, he petted it. "Farthing stock, if I had my guess."

  "Yes," Adalwin said, face filling with pleased surprise. "Do you work with horses?"

  Diggory opened his mouth to remind Adalwin of his private stables that they had spoken of again and again in the letters they had exchanged over the past few months ever since the engagement. Then he recalled himself sharply and said only, "Yes, Highness. I worked for Lord Helmsten for many years, maintaining and improving his stables."

  "He has a prize collection, I have heard. I am surprised he let you leave."

  "I fulfilled my obligations and he understood my desire for a sunnier land."

  Adalwin eyed him thoughtfully for a moment. "Are you still seeking a new prospect?"

  "Yes, Your Highness."

  "Well, you may present yourself at the palace. I have need of a new man to supervise my horses exclusively. If you show yourself well over a brief trial period the position is yours. You can discuss the details with the stable master. Tomorrow at first bell."

  Diggory bowed low. "Yes, Your Highness, and my deepest thanks for the opportunity. I promise I will show myself more than capable."

  "I will depend upon it," Adalwin replied. "Alas, now that I have been avoiding the palace for a couple of hours I fear I must return to the fray. A good day to you both, and I will see you again soon."

  "Farewell, Highness," Freddie said. When Adalwin was well out of sight he turned to Diggory, face alight with amusement. "I suggest you find a way to reclaim your fiancé, Highness. He deserves better than the bastard who has taken your place."

  Diggory nodded. "I've already gained entrance to the palace; I'll figure out the rest once I'm there. I cannot thank you enough for saving me and setting me on my way. You had no reason to help me as much as you have and I will find a way to repay the debt." He saw something cross Freddie's face, saw him start to speak and then hesitate. "What is it? You've only to name it."

  "My wife was a noble before she married me. She could have been a great sorceress, but she chose me and our little life here. When she left, her father refused to hand over her dowry or any of her belongings. I care about none of that, save a necklace of which she was fond and mourned the loss of all our lives. I would like to be able to return it to her."

  A memory stirred. "She was the Lady Starlowe. Her father was in quite the fury, but he was never a pleasant man. I will gain back the necklace for you, I vow it. For now, sir, I fear I must be off for there are things I must obtain before I journey to the palace tomorrow."

  "There's coin back home, tucked behind a loose brick above the fireplace, third one up right in the middle. Take what you need. I have every confidence you will someday soon repay it with ease."

  Diggory shook his hand, swore again he would repay all his debts, and with a parting pat to Winnie's head, departed.

  *~*~*

  Finding the stable master took a couple of hours, as the man was unsurprisingly quite busy and there was apparently a hunt occurring in the next few days for which the stables were preparing, but once Diggory found him, everything went quickly. He was escorted to Prince Adalwin's private stable after a hasty tour of those parts of the palace he would need, given an even briefer tour of the stables, quizzed ruthlessly all the while, and then left to his own devices.

  He'd just finished brushing the bay Adalwin had been riding the day before when he heard footsteps coming toward him, the only person to visit Adalwin's private stable since the stable master had shown Diggory around that morning. Diggory looked up from where he was stowing the brush and immediately dipped into a bow. "Your Highness."

  "Good afternoon. The stable master seemed pleased with you and the horses look happy to have so much attention paid to them," Adalwin said with a smile. "How do you like it?"

  "Finest stable I've ever seen, Your Highness," Diggory replied, meaning it—even his own was not as fine and he had hardly slouched on outfitting it. He had not been able to resist thoughts and ideas about where his own horses would go when they were eventually brought to his new home.

  That reminded him abruptly of his wedding present for Adalwin. He hoped Benoit had kept most of his things and not simply thrown them out. That, however, was a problem for much later.

  His current problem was gaining access to Benoit and his thugs to slit their traitorous throats. But he would not accomplish anything by shirking his duties on the first day; that would only draw attention he did not need—and however impatient he might be, his side was still healing. If he got into a tangle with Benoit or the others too soon, hitting his wound would cripple him enough they'd get an opportunity to do the job of murdering him correctly.

  So he tamped down on his ever-growing impatience and distracted himself with the pleasure of admiring his affianced, who had turned to croon at and pet his bay. When his father had proposed the marriage to him, Diggory had been willing, but otherwise indifferent. He was always happy to do his duty, and if the marriage helped his family and his kingdom, then all to the good. He had heard good things of Prince Adalwin and of his love of horses; certainly his fate could have been much worse (Prince Handel, or Princess Gwendolyn, for example).

  If nothing else, the change of environment and the opportunity for new things was worthwhile. Then the first letter had arrived and indifference had turned to curiosity. One letter led to another, until over the course of a few months they had managed quite a bit of correspondence between them. The letters never went beyond courtesies and friendly conversation, but curiosity had turned into anticipation. He had been certain they would become good friends, even comfortable lovers. He had not expected to be so taken. He was definitely eager to know his fiancé better—know him intimately.

  Adalwin turned from the horse to smi
le at him, expression slightly puzzled. "Is all well?"

  "Oh, yes, Highness, my apologies. My previous master was enamored of his horses, but more as a matter of business. Not to insult him for that, because he was always worthy of praise and admiration, but it's always good to a see a master who cares for the horses simply because they are horses, if you'll forgive me speaking out of turn."

  "You're not speaking out of turn," Adalwin replied, "though I confess you are remarkably bold and talkative for a servant. All to the good, though." He smiled again. "I do care for my horses, and my fiancé will be having his horses brought here shortly after we return from our wedding journey. We expect you to care for them just as much as we do, though I do not see a problem there." He started to say more, but the sound of the door creaking open drew their attention.

  At the same time, Diggory's wound gave a sharp throb of pain. He slipped around the horse, out of sight, but where he could still just see. He tensed as he heard a familiar voice call out, "There you are, my dear."

  Adalwin's expression tightened briefly before he smoothed it out and summoned a polite smile and turned to greet Benoit. "Here I am. Did you come all the way out here to find me? I did not think you'd be leaving the armory so soon; you need not have on my account. You were enjoying yourself."

  "I enjoy myself most when in your presence," Benoit replied. Diggory rolled his eyes. "I came to see if we might speak before supper since we'll likely not have a moment otherwise until much later tonight. Benoit drew close and rested a hand on Adalwin's shoulder.

  Shrugging it off and taking a small step back, Adalwin said, "If this is about the hunt, then I am not changing my mind. I do not care for hunting. You seemed to understand my reasons in our correspondence."

  "Of course, of course," Benoit said smoothly, but Diggory knew him well enough to know the pinched looked to his mouth said Benoit had not considered that Diggory and Adalwin might have exchanged letters. Of course he hadn't, the arrogant fool. Diggory held them dear, had read them several times over the past few months. He still had them, bound with ribbon and tucked amongst his books and papers—and Benoit had probably thrown all of them out without even a glance, though Diggory still had hope he'd kept it all. If Benoit had stopped to think at all he would have read through the letters to better his impersonation.

  An impersonation at which he was already failing miserably because Diggory did respect Adalwin's reasons for avoiding the hunt: he was not a man inclined toward violent sport, had hated it ever since he'd been a boy and been part of a hunt that had gone horrifically wrong. He was not much for fencing or boxing, either.

  He wondered if Benoit realized Adalwin was still well within his bounds to call the entire engagement off. Well, let the fool ruin his own chances. It would be easier to kill him, and then Diggory could repair all damages.

  Though it made him wonder just how far Benoit was planning to go to ensure his impersonation succeeded. Eventually Diggory's father and brothers would want to see him again, and they knew Benoit. Well, one problem at a time. He could not save his family while he was still struggling to save himself.

  Benoit and Adalwin continued to argue until Adalwin snapped at him to leave and Benoit stormed off. Adalwin sighed softly and turned back to the horse, resting his forehead against its side. Stepping around the horse, Diggory asked quietly, "Begging pardon for my impertinence, Highness, but are you all right?"

  "I'm fine, Diggory, thank you," Adalwin said quietly. "Nothing for you to trouble yourself over. I think I'll go for a ride later, though. Have this horse ready for about… half past eight, I think, yes."

  "Of course, Highness. Your wish is my command. Will you require company? Night rides are not wise for anyone to do alone."

  Adalwin hesitated, then shrugged. "We shall see." He nodded in farewell and departed.

  Diggory watched him go and sighed softly as the door closed behind him. He led the bay back into its freshly cleaned stall and got him settled. "Take care of him tonight," he told the horse. "Don't let him come to harm out there."

  The horse snorted at him, as if insulted he had to be told such a thing. Diggory smiled and went to start cleaning out the empty stalls to make them ready for his own horses.

  Dusk was falling when he finally finished for the day. He cleaned up at the pump behind the stable, then pulled on fresh clothes in the room at the far end of the stables that had been allotted to him. Shivering, longing to again be a spoiled prince who could command hot baths whenever he so desired, he headed for the back yard and slipped into the kitchens to find food.

  A harried looking woman who smelled like roasted lamb and rosemary, face red from working close to the fire, thrust a plate of food at him and with a look and pointed finger, ordered him to get out of the way. Prince or not, he knew when not to argue with a woman. Tucking himself into a corner, he settled on a barrel and wolfed down his meal, which was fresh bread and scraps of the afternoon meal that had been served to the castle nobility.

  He looked up at the sounds of arguing—and quickly ducked his head again, tugging down the brim of his cap before Elci saw him. As Elci continued to snipe at the cooks about something done wrong with his meal, Diggory finished his food in several quick bites, wiping his fingers clean on a rag he had brought for that very purpose. He looked up through his lashes, watching as Elci finally grew so disgusted he finally stormed off, calling the women nasty names in a language they wouldn't know because he was a coward. Diggory slipped from his barrel and went after him, pleased when Elci did not go back into the main part of the palace, but instead wound up in a walled garden area.

  Elci sat down on a marble bench and pulled out one of the long, thin black cigarettes he favored, muttering in his native tongue as he light it with a match. The smell of cloves and cured smoke-leaf overwhelmed the delicate scents of the garden, the end of the cigarette the only point of light as the last bits of sunlight faded away.

  Diggory slipped behind a cluster of tall, thick bushes. He pulled out the pocket watch he had purchased in town, a cheap, battered thing that was nothing like the thirty or so extravagant pieces he owned, though it served its purpose. He had a little over an hour before he had to be back to ready the horses for Adalwin's ride—two, because Diggory wasn't letting him go alone.

  He was just starting to think he'd wasted his time following Elci when his patience finally paid off and he heard the distinct sound of Poris' limp, a holdover from damage done to his leg by a snakebite. "So how's it going?" Elci asked.

  "Not well," Poris replied with a grunt. "Benoit is no prince, no matter how much he thinks he can manage it. He's arrogant enough, but spending time with royalty doesn't actually make him royalty. Still, he hasn't gotten arrested yet and no one has called off the wedding. If we can just struggle through the month and get the ring on his finger, there's not much that can be done at that point. The royal family back home will suffer their tragic accident and that will be that. Two kingdoms in the bag and maybe Benoit will finally simmer down."

  Elci grunted. "I just want my fucking money."

  "You'll get it after they're married. Come on, it's a little funny, you have to admit. That bastard was so busy with his woods and his horses that even his own mother couldn't really pick him out of a crowd. He made it too easy to replace him—he practically deserves it, he made it so easy."

  "I think it's stupid, but I don't turn down good money."

  Poris coughed for several seconds then said, "You won't get a single pence of it if you don't do your part. Have you got it yet?"

  "I'm meeting a man tonight who should be able to get it for me. I could have had it sooner, but you know I can't risk asking around the palace for such things." He finished his cigarette and dropped it on the ground, snuffing it out with his boot heel. "You ask me, he should be able to get it up for a man like that without problem. I sure could. I could keep it up for Prince Adalwin all night long."

  "You could keep it up for a dog. Shut up and do your job,"
Poris said, and Diggory heard him strike Elci.

  Elci hit him back and Diggory could just barely see him stand up. "I'm leaving around midnight to meet my source by that old church on the far edge of the city. I should be back a couple of hours after that, so make certain His Highness is still awake if he wants to hear immediately how it went. Otherwise, I'll speak to him at breakfast."

  "He'll want to know. It's going to be a problem if Prince Diggory can't fuck his new husband on their wedding night." He stood up and Diggory listened as his footsteps faded off. A few minutes later, grumbling under his breath, Elci followed him back into the palace. Diggory gave them a few minutes and then made his way back to the stable.

  So Benoit had a bedroom problem. Diggory wasn't certain how that was useful to him, but any knowledge at all gave him an advantage. Hopefully he would be back from riding in time to go after Elci, though he was not certain yet if he would simply follow him, or kill him.

  In the stable, he prepared the bay and a black mare that looked like she could use a good run. He was ready and waiting when Adalwin arrived, handsome in a black and gray riding outfit, but his face tight with worry he was clearly too tired to hide. "Good evening, Your Highness. Ready to ride?"

  Adalwin looked up and stared for a moment, then shook himself. "Yes, quite ready." He stopped, then laughed. "Am I to enjoy your company, then?"

  "It's not safe to go alone, Highness."

  "No, it's not," Adalwin conceded with a sigh. "Very well, then." He led the bay outside and then smoothly mounted. When they were both ready, he led the way from the palace and off into the woods with the ease of one who had done it a thousand times.

  They rode in silence for at least an hour, slipping in and out of the trees as the path meandered through and around the woods. Clearly it was a path meant for pleasure, not function. High above, the moon was almost but not quite full, the stars sharp, shining points all around it.