Chapter Four

Freddy

Present…

"Your wife has no friends."

Shea's statement accompanied the sound of his footsteps crunching over the gravel of the narrow path that ran along the length of the stone wall separating the palace grounds from the world outside. He had changed into clothes more suitable for traveling and carried a canvas bag slung over one shoulder.

Freddy pushed off the wall he had been leaning against as he waited. "She has a husband now, which is arguably better than a friend."

"Not if her husband is just as clueless about her whereabouts as her nonexistent friends."

"What makes you say she doesn't have friends? Lizzie can be quite delightful if she chooses."

Shea huffed and dropped his bag to the ground, rubbing at a spot on his right shoulder. "Well, apparently she has been choosing quite often not to be. I knew after last night that the male population of guests would likely be harboring ill feelings, but it seems that she is universally disliked by all of Alfred's guests. According to them, she's snooty and cold and altogether too blunt to be polite. I get the feeling that it's only Nedra's position as one of the trade leaders of Eukarya that things haven't escalated to the point of war in some cases."

"Surely it can't be that bad."

"She compared Prince Jacques' face to a dumpling."

Freddy snorted, not bothering to hide his amusement. "She's only saying what the rest of us are thinking. That spoiled brat had it coming."

Shea lifted a reprimanding eyebrow. "The reason the rest of us don't say what we're thinking is exactly because we're trying to avoid causing offense at a national level." His face turned suddenly solemn, and his visible eye took on a distant look. "War isn't something to take lightly. An insult at a gathering like this is far less satisfying when it leads to the loss of human life."

"You're quite the downer this morning." Freddy blew out a long breath. "I just can't think of Lizzie as being the kind of person to willingly create conflict. She's always been too empathetic for that."

"Empathetic? Are we even talking about the same person?"

"When we were younger," he amended. "Of the two of us, she was the one who would jump in to diffuse tense situations because she hated seeing anyone feel scared or upset. After seeing him in his own home, I can imagine living with Alfred as a father would do that to a person."

"Well, she may have been that way as a child, but she certainly isn't now." Shea crossed his arms and looked at him closely. "I know this is hard to hear, but I worry that your memories and loyalty to who Lizzie once was have blinded you to the reality of who she is now. People change, Fred."

Freddy shrugged, keeping a smile on his face and doggedly pushing past the ache in his chest. No matter how hard he tried to ignore the pain of Lizzie's cold dismissal or tell himself it didn't matter, he couldn't deny that he missed her.

And the fact that he loved her made it hurt all the more.

"They do." He kept his voice light. "But never without a reason. And until I can figure out why Lizzie suddenly went cold, I'm not giving up on her."

Shea said nothing for a moment, studying him with a quiet, thoughtful air. He nodded slowly. "Alright. I'll support you. But as your friend and as a commander, I need you to know that there is no shame in retreating from a fight, especially in one that will only end in permanent damage."

Freddy grinned. "Can't retreat; we're married now."

"Fred."

Shea was not amused, and Freddy immediately lost his grin, tempering his expression. "I know, I know. But I really believe that there's a deeper answer to all of this."

"And you can drop the facade. You don't have to be happy all the time."

His nose wrinkled. "Why on earth do I keep choosing friends who are such sticks in the mud? First Hadrian, and now you. You certainly don't pull any punches."

"Sometimes the truth hurts. Any good soldier will tell you that a little pain from an offensive strike is much better than fighting through a siege."

"I'm going to just smile and pretend that I understood that metaphor. And for your information, I happen to like smiling and I want others to be able to smile too, so I choose to be happy. There's always a silver lining somewhere, you know?" Freddy gestured between them. "Like this whole situation, for example. When else would we get the chance to travel together? Not to mention the fact that now you have a legitimate excuse for not returning home right away."

"I might not ever return if we can't figure out where this bride of yours went."

Freddy reached down and retrieved his own bag and the lute he had acquired for his disguise. "Oh, that's not a problem. A little birdie told me that she was heading north to Anura."

Shea scrubbed a hand down his face. "And you didn't think about leading with that information?"

"How could I? You marched over here and declared my wife was friendless, which of course left me no course of action but to defend her honor."

"You trust this little birdie to give you good information?"

"It was Lizzie's lady-in-waiting, Audrey, so yes. She said that Lizzie was so disgusted by the idea of marrying a complete stranger that she went straight to her room, gathered a few things, and left on a horse before dawn."

"And this lady-in-waiting just sat back and did nothing to stop her?"

"Audrey has known Lizzie her whole life and was therefore just as upset as Lizzie was with the whole idea, if not more so." Freddy narrowed his eyes. "I rather got the impression that she was hoping Lizzie would marry you ."

"What can I say? It's the eyepatch—makes me look brooding and mysterious."

Freddy snorted. "You look like a fastidious pirate. But anyway, once Audrey realized who I was, she was more than happy to reveal Lizzie's plans."

"Why Anura? I was under the impression that the relationship between Anura and Nedra was rather strained since the incident with Prince Dorian." Shea shouldered his bag, and they began walking along the perimeter of the wall towards a small, rarely used gate. "It seems strange that she would choose that as her destination when she could be sure of a much warmer welcome in Kysta."

"Thankfully, Dorian is a decent fellow and has never held what Belinda did against Lizzie."

They reached the wooden gate, weathered and covered with green moss. Freddy looked up and down the wall for any sign of approaching guards, then slipped a large brass key out of his pocket. He wiggled it back and forth. "Compliments of Audrey."

The lock took a little bit of convincing, but after a few moments the key turned, and he was able to swing the door open as the hinges groaned in protest. They ducked through the low opening, stepping out into tall grass and thick trees. The ground sloped downwards a few meters ahead to the banks of a rushing river.

Shea pulled the gate shut behind them. "Remind me again why we're sneaking out of the castle like vagrants?"

"Because Malakai Fidelis is a wandering minstrel and not a prince." Freddy pushed his way through the dense undergrowth as he made his way to the river bank. "He is a vagrant. But if you would prefer to go back and ride on your fancy horse all the way to Anura, I wouldn't blame you."

He stumbled forward a few steps as Shea gave him a friendly shove between the shoulder blades in retaliation. "And leave you to your own devices? You're not soft by any means, Fred, but I don't think I trust you to walk to Anura on your own without getting swindled into giving all your money away to the first beggar you see with sad eyes. Someone has to look out for you."

A sudden rush of gratitude, warm and comforting, filled Freddy's chest. He looked over his shoulder, meeting his friend's eye. "Thank you, Shea."

Shea lifted an eyebrow. "For becoming a vagrant with you? Don't worry; you can pay me back by being the one to explain to my uncle the reason behind my extended leave of absence."

"You mean the fact that you're afraid of the delicate princess who will become your bride?"

Freddy sidestepped another attempted shove with a laugh. He sobered. "But I mean it, Shea. Thank you—for coming with me, for helping me last night, and for sending that letter in the first place."

Shea's shoulders pulled upwards in an uncomfortable shrug. "You don't have to thank me. We're friends; of course I was going to warn you that your fiancée's father was essentially trying to auction her off to the highest bidder."

"You could have sent the letter and left it at that. I don't know that even Hadrian would have been willing to come all the way to Nedra in order to help me get into the Nedran palace unnoticed, and he's like a brother to me."

"He would have, only he's horrible at anything resembling lies or subterfuge. I was—am—happy to be of assistance." Shea dropped his shoulders and his footsteps slowed as his voice took on a more contemplative tone. "War taught me many things, not the least of which is that friendships are too important to be taken for granted. I know that you would do the same for me, if our positions were reversed. Now stop being so serious. It's making me nervous."

"I thought you wanted me to be more serious." Freddy turned his head to face forward again as the ground began to grow soft and uneven by the river's edge.

"I changed my mind."

Shea's words were nearly drowned out by the rushing river. The Serpens was nearly five meters at its deepest point, and the waters flowed swift and cold. The opposite bank was a thin strip of brown 50 meters away and lined with the same thick foliage that Freddy and Shea had worked through. Though the Serpens cut through the center of Nedra for most of its journey, it curved as it traveled north, eventually forming a natural border with Anura.

"I certainly hope you're not planning on swimming." Shea came to stand beside Freddy's shoulder as he looked out across the river.

"Of course not. It would be a shame to leave my wife a widow before she had a chance to learn she was married." Freddy bent down and grabbed a rock, then watched with satisfaction as it skipped three times over the surface before disappearing. He brushed his hands together to clean them. "Audrey said that there was a place about a mile upriver where we could hire a barge."

"The lady-in-waiting was truly a treasure trove of information." Shea adjusted his bag and matched Freddy's steps as he turned to walk along the river's edge. "I'm assuming we're taking the river rather than the road in hopes of making up for her head start?"

"Exactly." Freddy breathed deeply, reaching for humor to keep the nerves at bay. "There's no better way to start a marriage than intercepting a runaway bride."

A small barge moored to a short, wide dock came into sight just as the sky began to drizzle. Beside it, far enough up the bank to be out of danger when the river swelled, stood a cozy wooden structure with green shutters over the windows. Freddy gestured with his chin as he spoke.

"Hopefully he'll be willing to give us a ride. Remember, my name is Malakai as long as we're in Nedra."

"Is the alias really necessary?"

"It's not an alias." Freddy grinned as he waited a beat. "It's my altar ego."

Shea sighed deeply. "I suppose, given our impending visit to Dorian, I should have expected you would adopt his brand of humor."

"You have to admit; it was pretty clever."

"Was it, though?"

"I bet it could have made even Lizzie laugh." The worn path to the building climbed up a shallow embankment before leveling out. The weather had shifted from a light drizzle to a steady rain, dotting the hard-packed earth with dark spots. Freddy shrugged out of his jacket and wrapped the heavy fabric around his lute in an attempt to protect the instrument. "But the point is, I don't need word getting back to Alfred that Prince Frederick of Kysta was booking river cruises without stopping to say hello. He would most likely take it as an offense, and I would prefer to keep Nedra from becoming enemy territory."

A shadow, so brief that he nearly missed it, passed over Shea's face. "I understand."

They crossed the last remaining steps to the front of the building, and Freddy knocked sharply on the door. Shuffling sounds on the other side slowly grew louder, until the door swung inward with a creak, revealing an elderly gentleman with white, wispy hair and whiskers. His skin was wrinkled and tan from the sun, and despite his age, he boasted a hale, hearty frame and strong shoulders. His simple clothing, though clean, was nearly as patched and frayed as Freddy's own, and his stockings were visible through holes in the toes of his boots.

"Whaddya want?" he barked, narrowing his sharp, dark eyes at them.

Freddy moved forward half a step. "We need a ride down the river. I was told that you could help us."

The man leaned his head out the door, peering over their shoulders at the rain. He pulled his head back in with a shake. "Not a good day for it."

Freddy put on his most engaging smile. "I understand it will be an inconvenience. My friend here—" He reached back and pulled Shea forward. "—is willing to pay you extra."

Shea's brow quirked in curious amusement, but he played along. "Of course. Just tell us how much."

Hesitation played over the man's face as he considered their offer. "I dunno. The Serpens' bound to get feisty on a day like today, ‘specially as we go downriver."

Freddy straightened his shoulders. "Look, mister…what is your name?"

"Rupert."

"Rupert, I know the day is not a pleasant one for traveling, and I'm sure you would rather be inside in front of a cozy fire rather than ferrying two strangers down the river, but I'm trying to reach the woman I love before it's too late."

"Hmph." Rupert crossed his arms. "If she loved you, I doubt she'd want you spendin' the day in the rain and catchin' your death of a cold."

"But I love her, so it's worth it."

"Maybe for you, but not for me." Rupert stepped back and started to close the door.

Freddy's desperate hand shot out to keep the door from shutting. "Please. We'll pay you double. I'll even give you my boots."

Rupert's eyes gleamed with a sudden interest as he looked down at Freddy's feet and back to his face. "I'll go to Ackens, but not a lick farther."

A sigh of relief escaped him. "That's fine."

"And it will cost you 20 silvers."

It was an exorbitant price, but Freddy didn't hesitate. "Done."

"And the boots?"

Freddy leaned over and began untying the laces. He slipped them off, grimacing as the wet ground soaked through his socks, and handed them to Rupert. "Here."

The old man grabbed them and held them greedily to his chest. "Let me get my coat." He stepped back and slammed the door in their faces, leaving both men standing in the rain that had now become a downpour. Thunder rumbled in the distance.

"I assume you have a way of paying for all this?" Shea asked easily. "Or shall I write a letter to the Kystan treasury?"

"Hold this." Freddy shoved his lute into his friend's hands and dug in his bag until he found the small sack of coins hidden in the bottom. He carefully counted out the agreed upon fare.

"You know," Shea observed. "At this point, it would have been cheaper just to rent a carriage."

He shook his head. "It would have taken longer. There's not a straight road from the palace to the border, and with the weather there's the risk of the roads becoming impassable. Alfred has a mind for economy and trade outside his country, but he spends little time thinking about maintaining and improving his own infrastructure if it doesn't coincide with a profitable trade route." He handed the coins to Shea in exchange for his instrument. "You better be the one to pay him. I doubt he would believe that I came by the money honestly."

"You mean because you look like a starving beggar now? I can't believe you gave him your boots."

"What can I say? I'm a man in love."

"You're a man who's going to have cold feet."

Freddy looked at him with the straightest face he could manage. "Then I guess I'll match Lizzie, won't I?"

The silence stretched between them for a moment before both men erupted into laughter. Rupert returned at that moment, dressed in a woolen coat that fell to his knees and a floppy hat. He looked back and forth between the two of them as if they were crazed before thrusting his old, damaged boots at Freddy's chest.

"Here," he said roughly as he marched past. "You'll want somethin' on your feet at least."

Freddy grinned warmly at the old man's back. "Thank you, Rupert." He shoved his wet feet into the boots, which were just small enough that he was thankful for the holes in the toes, and hurried down the path after the boatman. "By the way, my name is Malakai, and this is Shea."

Rupert just grunted in response. He spun around once they reached the dock. "The money?"

Shea held out the silver coins, and Freddy watched in amusement as Rupert counted them carefully twice, apparently unbothered by the rain when there was money to be exchanged. The water flowed in steady streams off the old man's hat, making it appear as if he were behind a miniature waterfall. Once he was satisfied, he pocketed the silver and worked quickly to undo the ropes that moored the barge to the dock.

"Get on," he gestured.

Freddy and Shea followed his direction, climbing onto the flat, wooden surface. The small vessel was about three meters long, and just wide enough that Freddy could lay down comfortably across. A low railing wrapped around the edges, presumably to help keep cargo in place, and the only seat was a tall perch at the back for the driver to rest. Freddy set his belongings down on the deck and leaned against the railing, nearly pitching over when the barge started moving with a sudden lurch.

"Sorry about that; my mistake." The tone in Rupert's voice said that he was neither sorry, nor was it a mistake.

Freddy just chuckled as he lowered himself to the deck in a more stable position. By this point, his shirt was soaked through and sticking to his skin, and water streamed over the hair that was plastered to his forehead before dripping off the end of his nose. The uncomfortable feeling of wet socks was nearly enough to drive him mad, but still he smiled.

I'm coming, Lizzie.