Duty

Chapter 86 For better or for worse

It was a long walk for a child, but if she had asked to prepare the carriage, word would have gotten to the king and Vara wasn't sure he would allow this venture even if she knew it would do Lucius some good to escape the palace for a while. Like she had told the boy, it was better to ask for forgiveness later.

So now, huddled in thick winter clothes and with a large black dog trailing them, they were on their way to Dalós.

It had been a long time since Vara had been home. She wondered how Ethan and Euniece were doing, and if the lake had frozen over already.

Next to her, Lucius was still quiet, but he walked a little straighter and he was looking around curiously, trying to be unobtrusive. Some of the tension seemed to have left him. Vara wondered if the boy had ever even been outside the palace walls.

Probably not.

A small blanket of snow covered the village of Dalós. Smoke circled from the chimneys and not many people were out in the cold.

Tytus gave a happy bark and immediately sped off to chase some chickens. The poor creatures were startled in all directions.

Vara laughed softly before whistling the dog back. She looked at Lucius. "He's allowed to walk around freely, but he can't chase the animals. Make sure to keep him in check, okay? He's your dog."

Lucius looked at her a little stunned, but then he gave a firm nod. "Tytus! Come!" he called.

Vara smiled when the dog circled back and rejoined the boy's side. She walked over to the house where Euniece and Ethan lived and knocked on the door.

When it opened, the delicious smell of a home-cooked stew wafted towards her and her stomach growled.

"Vara!" Euniece said surprised, and she hugged her friend tightly, "what are you doing here? I heard about lady Ariane. Shouldn't you still be at the palace? I mean, it's great to see you. It's been so long."

Vara bit back a laugh. Euniece hadn't changed a thing. "We escaped," she said.

Eunice blinked. "We?" She looked behind Vara and then lowered her eyes to meet the height of the small boy that had appeared at Vara's side. Eunice turned back to Vara confused. "Uhm..."

Vara smiled. "This is prince Lucius. Lucius, meet my dear friend Eunice. Aren't you going to let us in? It's freezing cold."

"Yes, of course," Eunice said startled, and she stepped aside for them to enter, blinking surprised when a large black dog wiggled past them and settled in front of the fire.

"Where's Ethan?" Vara asked.

"He's helping the neighbors with their storage room," Eunice answered. She looked at Lucius again. "Does Cyrus know you kidnapped his son?"

Vara leaned over in a conspiring way. "That's why it's called 'an escape'." She winked at her friend. "I wanted to show him the lake. Has it frozen over yet?"

Euniece shook her head. "Not yet. If the cold let's on, perhaps in a week or so. Are you hungry?" She poured two bowls of stew and placed them on the table with some bread. "I can give the bones to the dog," she stated, "he'll like them."

Lucius nodded hesitantly. "Sure." He wasn't sure how to act here. He was a prince, but no one here bowed to him like they did in the palace. It was odd, but in a way also refreshing. He picked up a spoon and started eating. It tasted delicious. He hadn't realized how hungry he was.

Eunice turned to Vara. "How is Iason? Did he not come with you?"

Vara sighed and looked at her friend sadly. "He is fighting at the border. I don't know when he will return. Every day I'm afraid a messenger will visit my house and inform me of his death."