Family of Lies: Sebastian (5 page)

When the strangled noise died down, Kevin released him. He turned hurt eyes to Sebastian. “But I was nice to you.”

“I said blame Pratchett, not Kraven,” Sebastian said to Kevin.

Kevin shrugged. “They all look alike to me.”

“I hope you all rot in a dragon’s pit.” Pratchett grabbed his dish and stomped into the kitchen.

“D
EMETRIUS
,
WHY
are you smiling?” Sebastian found his brother in the sitting room, grinning with his legs propped on a stool.

“Sorry, but you forgot your place and conspired with the enemy.” Demetrius closed his eyes and hummed.

“Idiot,” Sebastian mumbled. He walked into the kitchen and found his mother looking at a picture of the monstrous cloaked man.

“What an unbecoming picture. How did this happen?” Lady Orwell held up the wanted poster.

“A villager’s vivid imagination?”

“And this one?” Lady Orwell showed him the accurate picture.

Sebastian raised his eyes to his mother’s equally peridot ones that gleamed with annoyance. He squeezed his hand into a fist and didn’t look away from the harsh gaze. “Father knows.” He watched her lips move as she chewed the inside of her mouth. “If you yell at me, Father will know and run away before you talk to him.” His mother’s eyes narrowed, but Sebastian knew it wasn’t enough. “And he knows who tried to assassinate the prince.”

“Oh, fuck me.” Lady Orwell turned around and ran out of the kitchen.

Sebastian stood, shocked because his mother rarely cursed. Seeing his chance for escape, he ran past his frowning brother. He banged on Ophelia’s door on the way to his own. When he burst into his room, Sebastian grabbed a pillow, yanked out the cushion, and hurried to his drawer. He stuffed the pillowcase with clothes and books. Ophelia stood at his door, blank eyes open in confusion. Sebastian squashed her in a hug. “I have to go. Father is going to tell Mother everything, and I love you.” He brushed past her, but she grabbed his arm.

“Father put wards on the front and back doors this morning.”

“Of course.” Sebastian hugged his sister again and went to his window. He unlatched it and sat his makeshift bag on the roof before climbing out. “Bye,” he said as he closed the window behind him. Halfway down the gutter, Sebastian’s boot stuck to the metal. “Son of a….” He pulled hard, but the house’s defenses had been activated. He clutched the gutter and lowered himself so his boot was at eye level. He braced himself with one hand and used the other to unlace it. Then, wrapping both arms around the gutter, he slipped his foot out. Finally free, Sebastian dropped to the ground and took off running.

“H
OW
DID
this happen, Sir Orwell?” the cobbler asked when Sebastian limped inside his shop.

“A clumsy mishap I’m too embarrassed to tell you about, kind sir. Do you have any shoes my size?” Sebastian had stubbed his toes on several rocks and didn’t want more injuries.

“You know, Sir Orwell, everyone’s feet are either too large or too small, but yours are perfect. I have a pair your size, don’t worry.” The cobbler went into the back of his shop, and Sebastian sighed, wishing the man had used another word to describe his feet.

S
OMEONE
IS
following me.
Again, Sebastian rounded a bend and saw the same brown-clothed man out of the corner of his eye. As he passed Renan’s gates into the once-prosperous woodcrafting town, Sebastian clutched his dagger and ducked behind a bush. The cloaked figure looked both ways and continued down the path Sebastian had been traveling. Once the stranger was out of sight, Sebastian turned back toward the gates. He stuck to the outer stream of people and searched every few minutes for his shadow. At first Sebastian saw no sign, but the familiar brown cloak reappeared.
Stupid Father just had to be right. If I’m killed, I will curse him and the prince.

He didn’t want to attract the City Watch, so Sebastian dived into the crowds. He turned down streets and alleys, making his way to abandoned woodworking shops. Another right and Sebastian pressed his back into a doorway. He raised his hand, and a vine peeking under the paved stones grew.
Stop him!
Sebastian thought sharply, sending it into the road to wait for the stranger. Light footsteps moved closer, and the vine tripped his pursuer. Sebastian stepped out of his hiding place and wrapped his arm around the man’s neck, pressing his knife into the stranger’s throat. “Why are you following me?”

“Why did you dump me in a tavern?”

Sebastian lowered his knife and spun the man around. Standing in front of him with dripping black hair was Prince Turren. He hastily looked around and then shoved the prince away from him. “Sorry, Your Highness, I took you for a brigand. Have a good night.” Sebastian sheathed his knife and glanced down the alley for any witnesses. No one appeared and Sebastian sighed.
This idiot hasn’t drawn attention to me yet.
He turned to go, but Turren rushed in front of him.

“Wait! I command you to wait! At least let me thank you.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Is His Highness ill?”

“Excuse me? You are Sebastian Orwell.” Prince Turren reached out for Sebastian’s elbow and slipped from his grasp. “Your cloak is weirder than I remembered.”

“As I said, you’re mistaken. I’ve heard of the Orwells, and you can find them in the king’s forest.” Sebastian bowed his head and feinted right, but Turren jumped in the way.

“I could bring you to the City Watch and have them order you to remove your hood.”

Fed up with Turren’s persistence, Sebastian shoved his palm into the royal’s nose. Prince Turren moved his head in time, but Sebastian now had enough room to flee. He sprinted out of the alley and kept running until Renan was just a shadow on the horizon.

S
EBASTIAN
TOOK
out his spyglass again and spotted the brown cloak.
I could cry. I could genuinely fucking cry.
False turns, unused hunting paths, and the prince was still on his trail. Sebastian gave up and built a small fire in the woods. He unwrapped a fish from spelled leaves that kept it fresh and skewered it for his supper. While it roasted, Sebastian dug in his bag for a plate and waited. Nothing stirred in the trees until only a skeleton remained of his dinner.

Turren stood on the opposite side of the flames and licked his lips. “Would it be too much to—”

“Yes,” Sebastian answered without looking at him.

“I only wanted to know if you had more.” Prince Turren sat down on the grass across from Sebastian. “It should be okay for me to sit.”

Sebastian pulled a blanket out of his bag. “It’s your inheritance.”

“You don’t treat me like it is.”

“You’ll get my false respect when your father dies and you become king.”

Turren frowned. “Can we not talk about my father dying? That’s just bad luck.”

“Of course you’re the superstitious kind,” Sebastian said. “I’m going to sleep. Stay on your side of the fire.”

“Why did you save me?”

“I didn’t.”

Turren grunted disbelievingly.

“Maybe your cloaked savior didn’t like the thought of someone innocent dying.”

“Maybe he’s a kind person.”

Sebastian snorted. “Go to sleep and don’t snore.”

“W
HAT
DO
you mean my son is gone?” King Harris demanded.

“He snuck away, Your Majesty. He left a message saying he had to take care of a debt,” Lord Pasley said.

“Captain Pembrost!” King Harris shouted.

“Has also disappeared. When I told him about the prince, he grinned and said, ‘I’ll catch two rabbits.’”

“He better know where Turren is headed. Send out a squad to track both of them.” King Harris shook his head. “How long can my son stay on his feet with poison in his system?”

Lord Pasley shrugged. “A day or two comfortably if he doesn’t push himself.”

King Harris sighed. “The odds of him not pushing himself are very low.”

S
EBASTIAN
GLANCED
across the dead fire at an empty space.
Maybe the stubborn prince has taken the hint.
Soft snores behind his ear killed his hope. Sebastian rolled over and Turren slept peacefully, closer than where he had retired for the night. Sebastian drummed his fingers on his blanket.
I wish you would stop putting me in awkward positions.
Discarding his impulse to close the prince’s nostrils, Sebastian carefully stood and searched for his bag. He spotted it on Turren’s other side, its opening clutched in the frustrating man’s fingers.
It would serve him right if I dumped my water skin on his face.
Instead, Sebastian bent down and gently pulled on the pillowcase. Turren’s hand dragged across the dirt, and his fingers finally opened. Sebastian lifted up the bag, and then a throat cleared.

“All you had to do was ask.”

Sebastian frowned at the now-awake prince. “I shouldn’t have to ask for my things.”

Turren stretched and yawned. “It was a precaution if you tried leaving before I woke up.”

“How could I leave a charmer like you behind?” Sebastian snatched his bag and started walking.

“Where are we going?”

“I’m going to see my brother,” Sebastian said.

“The eldest Orwell? It’s been years since I’ve seen him. He chased Pratchett and me for hours.” Turren smiled. “I was a brat then, but they were pleasant memories.”

“You’re still a brat,” Sebastian said under his breath.

“True, but I make better decisions.”

Sebastian stopped and turned around. “You’re gallivanting after a man you haven’t seen since childhood. You travel with no guards after a recent assassination attempt. Explain to me how you are not making bad decisions.”

Turren straightened his shoulders. “My goal when I arrived home was to seek you out. I have now been in your company for a day. I’m approaching my goals quicker than expected, so I’m quite happy with my decisions.”

Sebastian crossed his arms. “What goals?”

“It’s in my best interest not to reveal them yet,” the prince said.

“How powerful is your magic?”

Turren blinked. “That was a quick change of subject.”

“Your attackers probably caught you off guard, but you’re aware of the danger now and can protect yourself better than before, correct?” Sebastian asked.

“I will not be easy prey again. I still don’t understand what point you’re making.”

“There was no point.” Sebastian faced the road again and began walking briskly.

Turren grabbed Sebastian’s shoulder. “What are you up to?”

Sebastian glared at the hand that shouldn’t be latching on to him. “I see. You take after your mother.” He brushed it off and continued walking. “You have your motives, and I have mine.”

C
APTAIN
,
YOU
’
RE
testing my cousin’s patience.

Captain Pembrost held his amulet while drinking with his other hand.
I’m on the prince’s trail.
From the looks of it, he’s fine and traveling in the company of another man
, he thought to the wizard.

You think it’s our cloaked rescuer
, the court wizard sent back.

I don’t believe he’s guilty of the attack, but he probably knows something. Why else would he run?

Your vagueness makes me want to curse you.

I’m sorry, Frederick, but the man I suspect is the son of an irritating lord. I need solid proof before I make any accusations. Give my regards to our king and don’t contact me for a while.
Captain Pembrost released his amulet and glanced at the group of trackers pretending to be wheat merchants.
And if I can’t catch the rescuer, maybe I can catch the assassins trying for another shot.

L
ORD
P
ASLEY
sighed as his cousin glared at him. “He’s on Turren’s trail, and he has a plan.”

King Harris leaned back and massaged his temples. “Why can’t the people closest to me act like they obey my orders?”

Lord Pasley cleared his throat.

“Fine, you’re obedient, but that’s only because you don’t have my job.”

Lord Pasley shrugged. “I admit that not being the heir makes me far more cooperative than your average wizard.”

“Bastard, you’re supposed to deny it and say you’re my loyal servant.” King Harris sighed. “None of you do what you’re supposed to.”

“Queen Anne?”

“She broke off contact hours ago. I have no idea where she is.”

Lord Pasley frowned. “I wonder if she thought the same thing as Pembrost.”

“Which would be nice if either one of them decided to share their thoughts with me!” King Harris slammed his fist on his armrest. “Where is the squad you sent after Pembrost?”

“Close enough to know he’s outside of Bruwen, but far enough away that they won’t lose sight of the captain. I think.”

King Harris waved him away.

S
EBASTIAN
CALCULATED
the distance to the nearest City Watch post and wondered how close he could abandon the prince next to it. He remembered the prince’s wounds and knew he had little energy from multiple healings.
If my timing is just right, Turren would have to give up following me right at the City Watch’s building.
Happy with his new plan, Sebastian glanced back at the eager puppy huffing along behind him.

Turren smiled. “You don’t have to worry about me, I’m fine,” he claimed with sweat dripping from his brow.

“Whatever you say, Your Highness.” Sebastian shook his head and walked faster.

“I’
M
FEELING
a bit… tired,” Turren huffed out an hour later. “Do you mind if we rest for a while?”