Spindle Wood (COMPLETED)

Chapter 20

"So... if you're a prince," Pat reasoned, "does that mean you're the prince of me?" He scooped a stick off the forest floor and set about snapping little twigs and leaves off it.

"Well, not technically." Logan said. "Because... well, firstly, you aren't a subject of Aristal - that's my kingdom. And secondly, it's not really my kingdom."

Pat looked up from the stick, glasses sliding down his nose. "Oh?"

"When my father abdicates from the throne, my brother will become king, not me." Logan explained. "He's the first born, the oldest. He gets everything. And I get saddled with being married off to another prince."

"Really?" Pat asked. "Who?"

"No one knows." Logan said. "Supposedly, he disappeared the night after his christening." He shook his head. "I think it's all a lot of nonsense but Oscar swears he was there. But then again, he's always liked playing tricks on me." He sighed and shook his head again. "I find it all desperately dull, if I'm honest."

"I don't know, I find it quite exciting." Pat said, swishing the stick through the air.

"How so?"

"Well, you know..." Pat trailed off, pushing his glasses up his nose. "A runaway prince, lost betrothed-"

"I wouldn't exactly say I'm 'lost'." Logan protested.

"It all sounds rather like a fairy-tale to me." Pat said over Logan's words. "It has all the elements."

"I suppose," Logan said, turning the idea over in his mind, "but the prince wasn't old enough to run away when he disappeared."

"Oh? Oh." Pat's shoulder's slumped slightly. "How old was he?"

"I don't even think he was a year old." Logan said. "Just a little baby."

"Oh..." Pat trailed the stick along some of the trees beside him. "Maybe he was kidnapped?"

Logan shook his head. "They would've found him by now, I suspect." He sighed and shrugged. "Who knows, it might all be a great surprise." He said with little to no conviction.

"Yeah, who knows." Pat said, nudging him and smiling.

Logan smiled a little. "Why do you believe in this more than me?" He asked, a laugh at the back of his voice.

"Because I, dear friend, live alone in the woods with my two dads and my uncle." Pat explained dramatically. "I'll believe anything."

Logan laughed. Pat grinned and poked him in the shoulder with the stick. "Hey, watch out." Logan said, still smiling, as he pushed the stick away. "This is fine stuff. My dad would absolutely murder me if I got this dirty." He brushed down his sleeve fastidiously. Pat laughed and rolled his eyes.

"It's not that bad, look." He pulled Logan's sleeve slightly, smoothing out the wrinkles. "There, see? No harm down."

"Yes, right..." Logan ran a hand through his hair. "Anyway, you know almost everything about me but what about you?" He asked. "What's your story?"

"Well, um," Pat pushed his glasses up his nose, "I live in a cottage in a clearing. Um, my Dada's a woodcutter and my Papa's a seamstress. He makes clothes and toys and all sorts. Whenever he makes wooden toys like yo-yos or spinning tops, he lets me paint them. Uh... my Uncle Remus stays home with me all day, he does odd jobs round the house. Mainly, he looks after me." Pat shrugged. "That's really it, I guess."

"Interesting." Logan said, nodding his head and tucking his hands behind his back. Pat scoffed, not unkindly.

"It's really not." He said. "It's not like... living in a palace or anything."

"Yes but that's what I do every day." Logan said. "I find it very boring, not knowing where the library is all the time." Pat snickered. "It's petty, I know. I just hope whoever I end up marrying isn't as... decadent as my dad."

Pat laughed, grinning. He rested the stick on his shoulders. "Are you going to keep that?" Logan asked.

"Yep." Pat said. "Don't see no reason I can't. Anyway-"

"Sorry to interrupt," Logan said, checking his pocket watch, "but could we possibly save the 'anyway' for another meeting? I need to get home."

Pat looked at Logan, eyes wide, smiling softly. "But there's going to be a next time?" He asked excitedly.

"Yes, of course." Logan said, turning on his heel to find his way back to Sampson. "I enjoy your company."

"Okay, um, how about next week?" Pat asked. "Same time?"

Logan smiled. "I'll certainly try my best."

Pat bit his lip, grinning. "Great." He said, practically fizzing with excitement. "I'll see you then."

I actually enjoyed writing this chapter... I think I need to go to the doctor.
Bye,
Blaize