King and Lionheart [Dreamnotfound AU]

Chapter 18: Do I have to do?

We're going to be moving fast now

Dream paced his room. The showdown with the King hadn't gone as bad as it could have, but now he was effectively stuck for the time being.

It would be a challenge to sneak a letter out of his father's castle, but Dream had already delayed "Prince Clay's" reply for far too long. How long was it since George's last letter to him? At least two weeks, maybe three...

Even more of a problem was what to say.

George had asked directly about the soldiers at his border, and Dream had no good answer for that.

The prince was certain that it was King Viridian who sent the assassins after George, and that was why he was so infuriated to find out they'd failed. Sapnap had known.

But Sapnap had known about Dream too, somehow. Was it pure guesswork, or did it learn that from King Viridian too?

Dream's anxiety skyrocketed not knowing just how much his father knew. The king could hide it easily; he was adept at waiting until the right moment to strike.

Maybe he knew exactly where Dream had been all that time and was just waiting to test his loyalty. Now George was testing his loyalty too.

Everything was a bloody test.

If I told George about Father sending Sapnap, that'd be flat-out betraying my family. I know Techno would call bullshit on anything like that because he'd say either I want George to start a fight with Father or I'm a traitor to my family and could betray George just as easily.

That's no good.

I don't have any proof anyway; they were right about Father denying it if accused. He definitely would.

But I can't say I don't know anything. That's too impossible to believe. Yes, my father keeps me away from big decisions, but it would sound like I'm lying to George. They wouldn't trust that.

Urrrggg what can I say, what can I saaaayyyyy?

What do I know?

Father feels like attacking them outright, that's definitely bad news. Maybe if I shape it into a warning, that's good enough. I'm not completely betraying my family, but George still gets heads-up and hopefully can stay safe.

Please let him be safe.

Finally decided, Dream penned a short letter including a warning and the Viridian seal before hiding it in another plain envelope.

Under no circumstances could Dream let it fall into his father's hands now. He tucked it into his tunic and set out to employ a6d's help.

Once that was safely taken care of, Dream plotted how to tell George the Green Thief had to stay away longer than a week. He couldn't write another letter or it would give away his handwriting.

He had little time to think about it in those days under his father's eyes and pushing through required lessons and more and more combat training.

He was exhausted on the carriage ride back to the summer castle, but at least he was free for the time being.

A6d caught him sneaking out; he hadn't bothered with the Dream cloak and mask this time, opting for his black one and comfortable clothes the same colour.

His advisor saw him before he put the mask on. "What are you doing?"

"Don't worry, I'm not going far, I just have to cross the border and back."