For as long as Prince Alastair can remember, his father - King Morticai, has always told him not to swim in the ocean. "The merfolk who live there are extremely dangerous. If they were to catch you alone, they would not hesitate to drag you under th...
Alastair was beginning to worry. Adrian had not yet returned. Granted it had only been several minutes, but he could not help feeling paranoid. With the building conflict between the merfolk and Avalon, his father had increased patrols along the shoreline. If they discovered Varian, surely the fate awaiting him inside the castle would be one worse than death.
So where was Adrian?
He almost wished he hadn't asked himself. A moment later, his ears picked up on the sound of footsteps. Varian raised his head, and in that moment, Alastair knew what he had to do.
"You need to go," he said to Varian. "I don't know what the soldiers will do if they find you here - this may be your only chance to escape."
Varian nodded. Alastair stood up, and began running along the shore, following the path his brother had taken. He heard a splash from behind, and glanced back just in time to see Varian's tail fin vanish beneath the waves.
Good. At least one person was out of harm's way.
Now, up ahead, he could see Adrian talking to three soldiers. At the sound of his footsteps, Adrian turned around and walked over to him, smiling.
"You see? It's as I told you, he doesn't wander far."
"Be that as it may, sir, there is a strict curfew in place. As such, we've been asked to bring you back to the castle. King's orders."
"Let's not keep him waiting then!" said Adrian brightly.
As the soldiers led them away, Adrian gripped Alastair's arm, lips barely moving as he whispered in his ear.
"Did he get away?"
The soldiers weren't looking. Alastair looked sideways at his brother and nodded silently.
"Good," whispered Adrian. "Gods only know what Father would have done otherwise."
"Is there a problem, sir?"
It was one of the guards asking. Adrian smiled. "No, not at all. Just letting my brother know we shouldn't be out at this hour."
The guard still looked suspicious. Adrian and Alastair thought it best to remain silent as they made their way back to the castle.
.....
When they arrived, they had only been standing in the entry hall for a moment before their father came striding towards them. As he drew nearer, Alastair took a small step backward, unconsciously trying to distance himself from his father.
King Mortdecai was a tall, imposing figure, with deep brown eyes and hair that was almost crimson red. His skin was fair, with no marks save for a scar above his left eyebrow. He wore a smile as he approached his sons, but to Alistair there was no warmth in it. Since the passing of the queen, Alisia, his father had barely given him a moment's thought. Even now, as he stood before them, he paid little mind to his youngest son. Instead, he spoke to Adrian.
"So, you both have returned. Excellent."
"Yes, sir. We found them down by the shore."
"And what were you doing there?"
The question was directed at Adrian, but Mortdecai's attention was now focused on his youngest son. With those amber eyes now on him, Alastair felt as if his father were staring straight through him.
"We were just walking."
Mortdecai stared at him for a moment longer before speaking. "I see." He turned to Adrian. "The hour draws late. I suggest the two of you get some rest."
"Yes Father."
Glad to be dismissed, Alastair and Adrian quickly walked away. Alastair didn't look back.
He could still feel his father's eyes burning into his back.
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