Spindle Wood (COMPLETED)

Chapter 46

Pat was out and about and bored. There'd been nothing to do in the house so he'd made the excuse of going somewhere and left quickly.

He'd really had nowhere to go. It was just one of those days where nothing felt important enough. Everything was boring.

And so, Pat was bored.

It wasn't like it was a particularly boring day. It was, in fact, the height of summer. Which was Pat's favourite season. The sun smiling down out of a sky as clear and as blue as a little boat pool should've made Pat smile too. The wind blowing little puffs through the leaves should've made him giggle, should've put a spring in his step. But... nothing.

"I wish Logan was here." Pat realised. "He'd make the day more fun."

In fact, ever since he'd found out he was... emotionally involved in Logan, he hadn't been able to think a different thing. Even when he was trudging through his work or helping his Papa paint toys, a smudge of blue paint on his nose, Logan was never fully gone. He was always there. And it bothered Pat.

Without even thinking about it, Pat hopped over the river. It was an easy jump, you just had to know where the narrow banks were.

He didn't even realise he'd broken Papa's rule.

Pat whistled a tune through his teeth. He glanced up at a bird song and shoved his hands in his pockets. It was kind of nice out here...

"I don't care! I'm not going!"

Pat jumped at the voice. It was Logan but he sounded... angry. Really damn angry.

Pat pushed himself up into a tree and shimmied along, trying to find a good vantage point. He managed to stick his foot in a Y-shape between two branches and from there he could look down on Logan and another boy. Pat recognised him at Logan's older brother.

"Logan, you have to-"

"I'm not going! They won't have found him and I'm not going until they really do." Logan crossed his arms and leaned against Pat's tree.

Logan's brother rolled his eyes, hands on hips. "Logan, you're being unreasonable."

"That's easy for you to say, you get to marry whoever you want." Logan snapped moodily. "I have to be passed around for trade. Oh, go marry this boy, oh, go be friends with this noble, oh, go set a good example in this country, I'm sick of it all!" He yelled so loud that a few birds took flight in surprise.

"This could be different. This could be him!"

"You've never believed in the story." Logan muttered. "Why try believe it now?" He pushed a hand into his hair and sighed, grabbing at the roots.

"You can't stay here-"

"Try me." Logan interrupted. The two brothers glared at each other.

"This is about that boy you've been seeing, isn't it?" Logan's brother said slowly.

"What? No."

Pat felt his heart skip a beat. Were they talking about him? Why?

"I haven't been meeting any boy." Logan continued.

"Who've you been meeting then?" His brother asked. "A girl? Whoever it is, it needs to stop."

"Oh, I'm glad you've arrived at that decision." Logan said sarcastically, bobbing his head to his words. "Seeing as I haven't been meeting anyone, it should be easy to break off."

"Then where do you go every week?" His brother snarled. Logan didn't answer.

"Fine." Logan's brother said after a beat of silence. "Fine. Stay here if you want. I'm going to Stephan's castle and telling them what a baby they're marrying their son off to."

Logan's brother climbed back onto his horse and rode off. Logan shouted after him, "Their son doesn't exist!"

He was gone and Logan was alone in the forest, Pat hovering above him. Logan pushed at the air in annoyance, turning away.

"He's an idiot." He muttered. "Total ignoramus." He opened a little satchel strapped to his saddle. "Pay no attention to him, Sampson. Maybe I should do the same..." He pulled out a scroll of paper, tied with a blue ribbon. "What does he know about me? What does he know about anyone?"

Well, not exactly where I wanted to go but we're getting there.
Bye,
Blaize