King and Lionheart [Dreamnotfound AU]

Chapter 5: Royalty My Age

Dream suspected someone was tailing him. The question was who, and what to do about it. They were experienced, and would've gone unnoticed if he wasn't trained for such things. He decided to spend the night in an inn in a small village on the way to Duresh, instead of his regular hideout in the woods.

Spirit was a little confused at the change in routine, but happily accepted apples and a warm shed. Dream left his green cloak with the horse in an effort to be less recognizable. He had to keep the mask on, of course, but masks weren't too uncommon. Some people wore them to hide deformities, and some just enjoyed the feeling of anonymity. Dream made a mental note to get a new mask for blending in.

He didn't sleep that night, clutching his knives in case of attack. None came and the morning was rough, but he prepared to keep travelling. He was resilient enough to deal with sleep deprivation.

He left the inn at a fast pace, discreetly changing direction to the winter palace. He was certain someone was following him now, and he wasn't supposed to know the prince was at the summer palace. Mulling it over last night led him to believe it was George's spies, no one else had as much motive to watch and not attack him. He smiled to himself. He had time to plan and certainly enough skill to outwit them.

After lingering around the winter palace long enough to pretend overhearing the prince's real location, Dream set off for the summer castle at last. It was strange to keep up the guise in his own country again, it reminded him of when he first used it to escape the stifling palace. He'd come far since then.

He snuck in a window at the summer palace and headed deeper inside, hiding his mask and cloak along the way. Finally he found A6d.

"When did you-"

"Shut up, I need you for something, quick." Dream pulled him into a safer space to talk. "Please tell me there's a servant here who could pass as me."

"Maybe." A6d frowned. "What are you up to?"

Dream explained about the spies and his plan.

"Stars, where do you get these ideas?" A6d rubbed his temples like a tired old man.

"I'm just brilliant." Dream chewed his lip. "It's a little risky to stay in here for the night but I think we can cover for it. I'll have to bring Spirit all the way in next time, and the guards and everyone will see me come in my disguise, but I guess it doesn't matter, maybe we can fool them too."

"It's your mom in you, she had wild ideas, but didn't bring nearly as much trouble on herself."

Dream warmed inside. "Thanks."

A6d sighed.

"See you in a few days, I'll leave the letter on my desk, have him write a fake one there but make sure you post the real one, and go out with him in the carriage every few days, not near trees. And be careful, I don't think they'll do anything but watch, but we can't have you getting hurt," Dream teased.

"You too, little prince," A6d said softly.

Dream got the paper and ink without going in sight of the windows and climbed to the rafters of a little-used tower to read George's letter to him.

Prince Clay Viridian,

Mending the divide between kingdoms is quite a large job for a few letters. Still, I thank you for replying, it's not often I get to converse with royalty my age.

What is Duresh like? Due to the circumstances, I've never been there.

King George Caelur

Dream smirked. Clever. If King Viridian read this he'd dismiss George as grasping desperately for friends or something childish like that. But Dream recognized Geroge's honesty for what it was, and the loneliness made him ache because he felt the same thing.

Dear King George,

I understand. I have no siblings, and I've never met another prince or princess before. It can be difficult here. I'm glad for our new epistolary relationship.

Duresh is dull. Everyone knows of our military, but no one travels to enjoy the scenery. Inland is dry and rocky, but I like the sea. I'm at the summer palace now, thank your mysterious letter deliverer for finding me here and returning my crown. I could only pretend I'd lost it for so long.

What is your kingdom like? I've heard it's lush with meadows, but I've never been there.

Sincerely,

Prince Clay

Dream looked it over. A little longer than he'd meant perhaps, but hopefully it'd encourage George to be less stingy with his words. It was hard not to say 'trust me, I'd never betray you to my father,' but that was too much.

As an afterthought he scribbled:

You may keep the kerchief, I have many.

He stole a handkerchief with a painstakingly embroidered Viridian crest and snuck out the same window in his disguise. He watched from a tall tree as a boy with similar hair colour and build sat at his desk and wrote a fake letter in front of the window, then, satisfied, Dream retrieved Spirit and made for George's palace.

// 854 words