Theodore descended the stairs and stepped into the chill of the city dungeon. It was a vast complex of iron hidden beneath the capital’s cobblestone streets. The entrance was bare, occupied by a few metal stools. This was the colder face of the government he served.

“Hello?” Theodore said, approaching the office window.

The silhouette of a clerk moved, obscured behind a pane of barred and tinted glass. Theodore waved to try and get their attention.

“Knight Detective Whitechain sent for me,” he said. 

There was some indiscernible muffled speaking. He or she seemed irritated.

“What?” Theodore said.

There was harsher muffled speaking. Theodore craned his ear to hear but it was no good.

“It’s about an interrogation,” Theodore said.

No reaction.

“Name of the inmate is Oboe. Last name…” Did Oboe have a last name? He knew gnomes did. Why hadn’t he ever thought to ask? “Unknown.”

The clerk walked away. Theodore waited, and waited, and began to suspect he had been abandoned. He squinted into the tinted glass and was startled by a loud, buzzing click. A vault door groaned open to reveal Conrad Whitechain.

“Ah! Theodore. There you are.” He grabbed his hand to shake. “Thank you for agreeing to assist. Everything is in order. The suspect is ready to be questioned.”

Theodore followed, the iron door thundering shut behind them. Somewhere deep in the complex a person was screaming and yelling at the top of their lungs. The voice echoed down the cramped corridors of the prison.

Conrad smirked at Theodore’s unease. “The inmates are rowdy in the morning.”

They passed rows of unoccupied cells. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this place,” Theodore said. “It’s so… alienating.”

“Justice demands a price,” Conrad said. “We cannot coddle criminals. An enemy of order is a threat to society and they will be treated as such.”

Theodore might’ve agreed a few days ago. He wondered if he was destined to occupy one of these cells. “Have you learned anything?” He hoped he did not sound as anxious as he felt.

“Very little,” Conrad said. “She freely admits to the crime but refuses to tell us how to find the prince.”

“Have you had to use… force?” Theodore said.

“Torture is forbidden by the treaties, and I find it shameful, but I suspect the king will lift the ban if things turn desperate enough.”

Theodore worried. “We don’t need it. She seemed sweet tempered.”

“Don’t be fooled by an innocent façade,” Conrad said. “Keep in mind what she did. You cannot know anyone’s true character until they have been tested by danger and temptation. That’s something your father taught me.”

 This again. Theodore ground his teeth. “I believe you learned more from him than I ever did.”

Conrad chuckled. “Well, maybe I just had the ears to listen.” He looked up at the overhead lights and his eyes filled with memory. “I failed Advanced Knight Training my first time through. Came close to quitting. I was weaker than the other cadets. That was a fact.” He gave Theodore a vulnerable look. “Sir Grayweather encouraged me to keep trying. Said he had a son like me. Saw the same potential in both of us. Now I see that for myself.”

Theodore let out a snort. “My father was a stubborn fool. I’m not cut out for this sort of work. It was a mistake for them to make me Ranger Deputy.”

“Yet here we are.” Conrad opened his arms. “Every report I’ve heard says you’ve done better in the job than any deputy in decades. I see him in you. This suits you, whether you want to admit it or not.”

Theodore held his tongue. He loathed to be compared to his father, but there was no point in arguing. The detective could believe whatever he wanted so long as it helped him save Oboe. If Theodore couldn’t escape his father’s shadow, he might as well use it to his advantage.

“I suppose you’re right,” Theodore said.

Conrad grinned. “Of course I am.” He said as he unlocked the way forward.

Oboe wondered how many hundreds of years had passed since she was first sealed away. There was no way to see the sun or the passage of seasons from inside her dim, dank cell. Every moment she spent contemplating her mistakes felt like an eternity. She kept wishing a rat or spider would come by so she could have someone to talk to. Any distraction from her guilt and loneliness would be wonderful.

She sighed, lying face down on the grimy floor. She told herself not to cry.

The gears and clockwork of her cell door spun to life. Was this real? She tried to rise on shaky legs, but her chains kept her from standing. They were alive with magic, draining her brute strength and stopping her from transforming. She watched as a familiar face stepped through the doorway.

“Theo!!”

Another human followed him inside and sealed the door behind them. It was the mean little knight that arrested her. Conrad was his name? He gave Theo a funny look.

“She seems to be familiar with you.”

Theo’s eyes darted between Oboe and Conrad. “I’ve worked with her in the past.”

“I see. So, she has a record.”

Theo clenched a hand in that way he did when he was scared. “She’s never caused trouble before. She’s been an asset to the community.”

Those words would’ve warmed Oboe’s heart if it weren’t sick with guilt.

The knight searched a pocket inside his coat. “A perfect record doesn’t mean much once it’s broken. Integrity is what makes a citizen.” He produced a vial from his belt. Something bright was trapped inside. He popped the cork and a will o’ wisp escaped, darting to the ceiling. It beamed a blinding light in Oboe’s eyes. “We’ll see how much she has.”

“Faun,” the knight intoned. He was obscured by the light. “Your trial is tomorrow. Enchantment of the royal family is a grave crime, punishable by death. I don’t want that for you. It took a great deal of character to come forward, more than I see in most fey. My offer still stands. Tell us how to find the prince and I can bargain for a stay of execution.”

“I don’t know!” she said, looking away. “He flew away!”

Theo’s face peeked through the light. “You need to remember. The direction he flew in, a land mark, something. Please Oboe. You need to give us something to narrow the search. They are going to kill you unless you help us find the Prince.”

Oboe was confused. Why was Theo helping them? “Percy doesn’t want to come back!” She said. “Theo, you can’t make him! You promised!”

The knight turned. “What does she mean by that?”

“I don’t know,” Theo said. Oboe realized her mistake.

“I’m the one who broke the law,” she said. “You’re not going to punish him just cause I’m bad!”

“That’s not what’s going to happen,” Theo said. “He just needs to go back to his duties, then everything can be okay.”

Oboe felt betrayed. This isn’t what Theo promised to do. “No! It’s not okay!” She pulled against her chains, growing angry. “He’ll be sad if he comes back! I won’t help you! I’d rather die!!”

Conrad whistled and the will o’ wisp returned to its bottle. “You seem to think you’re doing something good by helping the prince escape. Let me give you a reality check.”

The knight fit a chainmail glove over his right hand. Reaching into a coat pocket, he produced a small ivory box. He opened it with care. Inside there was a crystal egg with a dream burning bright inside.

“What is that?” Theodore said.

“A nightmare,” Conrad said, holding the egg up with his armored hand. “More than that, I suppose. Normally, a fairy dream can be experienced only once before it fades to nothing. This one is different. It belonged to Counselor Goldsun the fourth. It is one-hundred and ten years old.”

Theodore did the math. “That means it’s as old as the Redsea Revolt.”

“Exactly,” Conrad said. He spun the egg on its cup and box lit up. A whirlwind howled out of it, and the jail filled with ghosts. Oboe twisted on the floor, startled, as the cell was transformed into an echo of the royal palace. A war room filled with men in strange but fine clothes, speaking in muffled whispers.

Theodore reached out, fascinated. His hand passed through them. “Illusions.”

“Magic projections,” Conrad said. “This dream is a living memory of what happened the last time an heir disappeared.”

The door burst inward. Soldiers poured into the room like smoke. Their shields bore the sigil of a red tidal wave. The ghosts panicked, trying to flee. Oboe yelped as she watched a sword carve through, spraying blood colored ash into the air.

The scene gave way to fire. The city streets of the capital, burning gold in the black night. Wails and screams sounded in the distance, while smoky knights stormed the streets and cut through militiamen, women and children. Their bodies slumped to the ground beside Oboe.

“I don’t like this,” she said. “Why are you making me look at this?!”

“The king was dead,” Conrad said. “The heir was gone. For six months Laien was consumed by civil war. The throne was empty, and the ambitious fought for control.”

The vision shifted. Bodies swung from gallows erected in the scorched streets. Carts heavy with the dead were hauled away on creaking wheels, while phantoms in ragged clothes hammered and laid bricks to rebuild.

“The Stonewall Militia restored order,” Conrad said. “But only after many died in the fighting.” The Knight Detective stopped the egg from spinning with a finger. The projections shrank back into the dream, and they stood again in the dungeon. “Counselor Goldsun was haunted by this nightmare for decades, until he paid to have it surgically removed. But that didn’t change the reality of what happened.” Conrad took off his hat. “Oboe, I don’t want to risk this happening again. Help us find the prince so it doesn’t.”

Oboe was quiet. She stared at him with pursed lips, her eyes fierce. “A bunch of humans fought a long time ago. You want Percy to come back so they don’t fight again. That’s not fair. It’s not Percy’s fault if humans fight! Percy doesn’t want to be king!”

“Oboe, wait,” Theodore said. She was being hasty. “The Knight Detective has a point. A lot of people could get hurt. We should consider what’s best for everyone. Please, you need to help us find the prince.”

“No!” Oboe kicked against her chains. “This is stupid! Percy deserves to live free! Don’t you think that, Theo?! Why are you helping this guy??”

Theodore tightened his fingers. The gallows were still fresh in his mind. “If you don’t help, you’re going to be executed!”

“I don’t care!” Oboe said. “Percy is my friend! You can’t just take his happiness away! It’s not right! Humans can figure it out without him!”

Conrad growled. “If you are so intent on dying then be our guest! We will find the prince, with or without you.” He turned to Theodore. “Let’s go. There’s no reasoning with this beast.”

 Theodore lingered as Conrad opened the cell door. Oboe looked away, her face stiff and angry. She was right, but so was Conrad. He tried to find the right words to convince her, to save her. She didn’t deserve to die. It wasn’t fair.

“Come on!” Conrad said.

Theodore was blinded by harsh daylight as he emerged from the dungeon with Conrad.

“What are you going to do with her now?” Theodore asked.

Conrad massaged his wrists. “She’s given us no choice. If she won’t budge then her case will go to trial. It will be a waste of time, though. Illegal enchantment on royalty? Refusing to help us locate the victim? There isn’t a Justice serving in the court who would settle for less than a death sentence.”

No. There had to be another option. Theodore wracked his memory for loopholes.

“There’s no evidence she’s done anything. We still haven’t found the boy. The spell can be undone.”

Conrad gave him a skeptical look. “She’s given a full confession, Grayweather. There’s no room for argument. The heir could be dead for all we know and she’s all we have to blame.”

Theodore wanted to say that he was the one to blame. Oboe warned him this might happen and he chose to ignore her. This was his fault.

“She doesn’t deserve this. She would never hurt anyone. The prince must have forced her.” Those were the words he settled on.

“Perhaps you’ve been living among wild creatures for too long,” Conrad said. “Do not forget the purpose of your role. The Ranger Deputy is meant to placate and keep the creature population under control. I understand you have history with this fairy but don’t let that blind you. They aren’t human. A creature can be your friend, but tempt them with enough and they show you how wild they really are.”

Theodore felt a spark of anger but said nothing. He was already too close to playing his hand. Conrad studied his face. His silence must have given something away.

“Forgive me,” Conrad said. “I don’t mean to imply you are naïve. You are good at your job and perhaps that means caring more for magic creatures than is normally wise. I’m grateful for everything you’ve done and am counting on your continued support.”

Something clicked in Theodore’s mind. “You asked the king to task me with helping.”

Conrad nodded. “I’d like you to head the search party with me.” He looked away. “I think we’d work well together.”

Theodore hesitated. “No.” The prince would flee if confronted by a party of armed knights. What Theodore needed was to talk to the him one on one. That was his best shot at persuading him.

“I work better alone. I will do an independent search.”

The Knight Detective raised an eyebrow. “I don’t see the benefit of that. My team will be far more effective if we have access to your expertise.”

“No. I can’t.” Theodore struggled to find a more concrete excuse. “I’m going to do this my way.”

Conrad looked hurt. “I suppose I can’t force you.” He reached into his coat and retrieved the tracking device he had used in the valley. “Then take this. I’ve had more aura trackers made up from hair samples. It should help, but only if you can find where he has been recently. If you can manage that, it will conjure a visualization of the direction he went.”

Theodore took the device with some relief. It was handheld with protruding antennae and a complicated array of switches and buttons. “Thank you.” Perhaps there was hope after all.

“Good luck,” Conrad said. “We’ll both need it.”

Theodore adjusted the dials and levers on Conrad’s tracking tool. It buzzed and crackled in a way that was as inscrutable as it was unhelpful. Perhaps so much time had passed that there was no trace left, or perhaps Theodore had no idea how the contraption worked.

He made useless circles through the same groves and trails. How much time was left? He jabbed at the buttons and worried about Oboe. This was the only tool he had to locate the prince and it hadn’t told him a damned thing. Theodore threw the device onto the ground and buried his face in his hands.

“Hey mister. You dropped this.”

Theodore looked up to see a shadow child: a short, smiling silhouette made of a wispy ink thick smoke. He was holding up the tracking tool. Theodore sighed and took it.

“Thank you.”

The little ghast leaned forward, staring at Theodore’s badge. “You’re the Ranger Deputy, right?”

Theodore tensed. “Er, yes but-“

The shadow child zipped into the air, floating over the treetops.

“HEY EVERYONE!” He yelled as loud as he could. “I FOUND HIM! HE’S OVER HERE!”

The ground shook. A stampede of creatures flooded into the clearing from every direction. Fairies, ghasts and ferals of all shapes and sizes tore through the foliage and climbed over each other to surround Theodore while all talking at the same time.

“There you are!” “Where have you been??” “I don’t know how to file my taxes!” “Can you help me gather food for winter?” “I need to report a crime!” “Are you going to do something about all these knights roaming around?” “My kids won’t listen to me!” “Help!!” “What’s going on? Why is everyone so excited?”

Theodore splayed his arms. “Stop! Stop! STOP!”

The crowd, to his surprise, went quiet. They stared, giving them their full attention. It took Theodore a moment to gather himself.

“I’m sorry. I can’t help any of you right now. I’m in the middle of a crisis.”

The creatures exchanged a murmur of concern.

“What kind of crisis?” A fox said.

“Do you need help?” A gargoyle said.

Theodore was taken off guard. “You want to help me?”

“Why wouldn’t we help you?” A troll said.

“You’re the first Deputy who’s helped us do things at all!” A goose said.

A pooka hopped forward. “The old ones just yelled a lot and put creatures in jail. You actually care about making things better. It’s like you’re one of us.”

Pip the magpie swooped down to perch on his shoulder. “There’s a crisis, yeah? Only fair we help too.”

“What’s going on??” A skeleton grabbed Theodore by the shoulders and shook him. “Are you in trouble? Is there something we can do??”

This was not what Theodore expected. The creatures looked so anxious to help him. He didn’t know what to say.

“…I need to find someone.” He wasn’t sure how much was safe to share. “It’s on King’s orders.”

The troll let out a low whistle. “Ooo. King’s orders. That’s the biggest of the humans.”

“If I don’t find this person, my assistant Oboe will be executed,” Theodore said.

“We’ll help you look!” There was a murmur of agreement. “Yeah!!” “That way it’s fair.”

“Don’t any of you dare help!”

Fern Hardroot barged her way through the crowd, pushing and shoving. The creatures backed away to let her through.

“That faun is not worth saving!” She said. “Let the humans execute her! She’s wicked and always has been!”

A sylph tried to hush her. “Fern! Don’t! We aren’t supposed to talk about that with the humans!”

“Shut up!” She said. “He needs to hear this!”

Theodore wrinkled his brow. “What are you talking about?”

She smirked. “This isn’t the first time that little assistant of yours has gone wicked. She was banished from the Fairy Circle years ago for the same crime: transforming a human!”

The crowd went silent.

“Is that true?” Theodore asked them.

The fairies present, gnomes, and pooka and sylph, all looked nervous. A wood nymph decided to speak up.

“The Fair Lady shows mercy sometimes. Rather than turn a wicked fey over to humans to be killed, we are made to keep the secret so The Lady can assign a gentler punishment.”

“That doeling is supposed to be shunned,” Fern said. “That is her penance. Instead, she wormed her way into your employ and forced us to acknowledge her. Now she has struck again! I saw it with my own eyes. A twice wicked fairy should not be saved! Let the humans kill her!”

 This was a lot for Theodore to take in, yet it rang true. It explained Oboe’s guilt. “Wait. You saw it? You saw her transform a human the other day?”

“Yes, that’s right! I can testify to her sins!”

“Then you can help!” Theodore said. “Where did the prince go? Can you help me find him? Please!”

Fern’s smug grin puckered into a sneer. “Are you listening to me?! Do you mean to play favorites, Deputy?” She jabbed Theodore in the chest. “Just this week you forced me to undo an enchantment that I needed to live! Now you want my help to spare a criminal!”

Theodore winced. She was right. He meant to skirt the law to save someone he cared about.

The troll stepped in and pushed Fern back. “Back off,” he said. “The Deputy knows what he’s doing.”

Fern glared. “And what makes you so sure?”

“I was a Red Cap.” He folded his arms. “Didn’t think I had a choice: Law said I was wicked. Couldn’t get work. Humans wanted me dead.” He put a hand on Theodore’s head. “Then this guy comes along. Gives me a chance. Undid me being wicked. Got me a work visa and everything.”

“Then he’s a fool who likes trusting scum,” Fern said. “Human justice is a sham! Bending the rules whenever they like! I hate it!”

“Laws ain’t perfect and neither are we,” the skeleton said. “Sometimes you need a head filled with good sense of anything. This human’s been good to us. I know I can trust him!”

The creatures cheered and jostled Theodore lovingly. He didn’t know what to say. The resentment he felt toward his job melted. The creatures appreciated him in a way that made the weird direction of his life feel worthwhile.

Fern spat. “You’re all fools! Trusting a human, as if he knew more than our Fair Lady? You make me sick.”

A gnome in mouse furs marched out from under the troll. “Forget the crone!” He said. “I saw what happened too! Let me help!”

“You did?” Theodore bent down. “Where? Can you show me?”

The gnome motioned for Theodore to follow and scampered off. The whole menagerie of creatures went with Theodore, leaving Fern behind to shout and shriek.

“Traitors! Worms! Vile little weeds!” She stomped her feet. “I will have justice! Proper justice! Blood and teeth! Wait and see! I’ll tell the Fair Lady of this! Do you hear me?!”

Theodore tried to keep up as the gnome cut across trails, bounding on all fours until they arrived at a stony clearing. The gnome hoped onto his feet and marched circles around a pile of clothes Theodore recognized: It was the prince’s silk doublet.

“Happened right here,” The gnome said. “Boy poofed into a bird. A hay colored hawk with a red tail. Didn’t stay long, though.”

“Did you see where he went?” Theodore said.

The gnome gestured in a vague Northerly direction. “Flew off thatta way.”

“Oh. Is that who you’re looking for?” Pip said, swooping down to perch in the antlers of a white deer. “I think I met that guy. Had a lot of questions about how to be a bird. I figured he was just forgetful. Happens to the best of us.”

“You saw him?!” Theodore could not believe his luck. “Can you find him again?”

“Maybe,” Pip said. “He couldn’t have gotten far. It was past the downs in the Upside Hills.”

That was on the outskirts of the Whirlwood. If the prince made a break for the border, there might be no finding him.

“I need to get there as soon as possible,” he said. “Can you guide me?”

“Sure!” Pip said. “You found my eggs, did my wife and I a solid. But I’m not waiting around for your stubby little groundling legs to follow me.” He took flight. “SHELLY!”

“Shelly?”

The sky darkened. Something huge moved overhead. Before Theodore had a chance to wonder, a giant pair of talons clamped around him. A huge Roc bird, the size of house, lifted him off the ground with several thundering wing flaps.

“This is my wife, Shelly!” Pip said. “Introduce yourself, Shelly.”

The roc let out a guttural, earth shaking scream that made Theodore fear for his life.

“Shelly says hello.”

“Charmed!” Theodore said, trying not to faint.

“Good, great.” Pip climbed higher into the air.” We’re all properly introduced! Let’s go. Darling, you follow me okay?”

Shelly let loose with another world-ending shriek, which somehow failed to deafen Theodore. He was given no time to recover. Shelly yanked him skyward. The ground disappeared, swallowed by the woodland canopy as he was lifted high and higher into the air. Theodore discovered entirely new ways to scream. It was all he could do to hang on.

The craggy peaks of the Upside Hills mountain range came into view around the time Theodore became acrophobic. Shelly pumped her wings to slow herself. She dumped Theodore onto a cloud-kissed plateau and fluttered to find a perch. Theodore clung to the ground in a crumpled heap and pip landed on top of him.

“Okay, yeah. It was around this place I saw him last. Probably.” Pip gave Theodore a gentle peck to get his attention. “Provided nothing ate him.”

The Ranger Deputy unfolded himself to stand on shaky knees and shook away the vertigo. Conrad’s tracking device fell from his belt and lip up.

“What’s this…?” Theodore said, picking it back off the ground.

He flipped a switch and antennae began oscillating. It let out a loud ping. A ping had to be a good thing, right? A few more button presses and a faint orange aura appeared, hanging in the air and trailing down the mountain slopes. It was tracking the prince.

“Mother of magic,” he said. “I think I have a chance now.”

Theodore stalked after the aura trail, dropping and climbing along descending ledges. The air was thin and smelled of clay and fresh rain. Far below, a waterfall poured into the valley to form the mouth of the river Wander. The Upside Hills offered a view of the whole valley. From here, he could see the city and the Whirlwood side by side. The capital was so small and dense compared to the sprawl of wilderness that seemed to swallow it.

It took some productive hours of hiking and scaling to zero in on Perceval’s location. Then, without warning, the tool shut itself off. Theodore panicked, smashing the buttons and dials to try and activate it again.

He looked up to see a stunted tree struggling to grow out of a rocky cliffside. Among the branches there was a gold-yellow hawk, swearing as it tried to knit sticks and twigs into a nest.

“Devil damn it!” He spat out a limp sprig. “How do they do this without hands?!”

Theodore approached. “Good afternoon, your grace.”

The hawk froze. He shot a glance back, stiffened, and tried to play it casual. He cleared his throat.

“CAW. Erm. CAAAAW.”

“Very convincing,” Theodore said.

“Go away,” he said. “You have mistaken me for someone who is not a bird.”

Theodore waved the aura tracker. “I know it’s you, Percy.”

Sighing, the prince lowered his head. “What do you want?”

“You flew off.” Theodore said. “The plan was we’d help you escape, hands intact. Instead, you talked my partner into casting an illegal enchantment on you.”

“Sorry.” He broke eye contact. “…You took a big risk helping me. I didn’t like putting you both in danger. I didn’t like waiting around to get caught. All I wanted was a new life. A free life. One where I don’t have to worry about anyone, and nobody has to worry about me.”

Theodore folded his arms. “And how is this new life treating you?”

“Fine!” The prince said too quickly. “It’s been great! Perfect! It’s…” He sagged. “Well. Hunting is a lot harder than you’d think. Prey is real fast, and half of it can talk. So, I’ve been having trouble. It’s okay, though! I found… there was some carrion.” He paused. “That was an experience.”

Theodore looked over the pitiful excuse for a nest. “Are you expecting eggs? Should I tell the king he’s going to be a grandfather?”

“What? No!” Perceval knocked the mess out of the tree with his beak, sending it tumbling down the cliff. “I just… I thought if I’m committing to this bird thing, I should learn it, alright? Give me a break. Oboe gave me this chance. I asked for it. I want to take it seriously.”

He didn’t know. Theodore supposed there was no way he could’ve known what happened after he left. “Percy.” Theodore steeled himself. “Oboe’s in trouble. Conrad captured her. She’s being held in the dungeons for enchanting you.”

His pupils shrank to pins. “What?”

“You need to come back,” Theodore said. “You need to give her a royal pardon before she stands trial.”

Perceval fell quiet. The wind howled.

“But…” His beak hung open. “I can’t go back. If I go back, they’ll will never let me go again. Father will tighten the leash, triple the guard. I won’t be able to piss without three sets of eyes on me.” He shuttered, his feathers ruffling. “They’ll crown me. And then I’ll be trapped for the rest of my life.”

Theodore’s throat was dry. He remembered his father planning what knight order he would join. He remembered how helpless he felt, forced into lessons day after day to learn to become something he didn’t want to be. He knew exactly how the prince felt, and he hated that he needed to tell him to do anything but fly away.

“Percy,” Theodore said. “She committed a crime for you. If you don’t come back, they’re going to kill her.”

“I…” The prince stared out into the endless horizon. “But… I’m free. I’m finally free. I’ve wanted this so long, but…”

A black shape swooped between them, beating its feathered wings to light onto a branch beside Perceval. “Forgive the wait, your grace.” She said. Theodore’s eyes widened as he recognized the honeyed voice of Whisper. “I was taking care of some unfinished business.”

The raven tilted an eye toward Theodore. “I see you have a visitor.”

“Yes.” Perceval stood straighter. “Whisper, this is Theo. He’s the Ranger Deputy. Theo, this is Whisper. She’s the friend I told you about. She helped me escape the castle.”

“We’ve met.” Theodore grit his teeth. “You need to stay away from her! Whisper is part of a conspiracy to seize control of the throne!”

“I know,” the prince said.

Theodore did a double take. “What?”

Whisper chuckled. “My friends are interested in the kingdom, and this young man is not. This arrangement is beneficial for everyone.”

“That’s not true!” Theodore said. “Percy, if you leave, there’s going be bloodshed! Just like the Redsea Revolt! People are going to get hurt, not just Oboe!”

“There will be no need of violence if things proceed as planned.” Whisper leaned closer to the prince. “Are you certain you trust this man? This morning I saw him at the palace. The king has told him to find you. I asked him to give up this quest, yet here he stands.”

Perceval fanned his tail feathers. “Is that true?”

“I…” Theodore felt the situation slipping away from him. “Yes. The king ordered me to find you, but that’s not why I’m here. Oboe is going to die unless you help her!”

“There it is,” Whisper said. “With that in mind, child, I have news. The knight Detective has gotten wind of your location. He is leading a team up the mountain as we speak.”

“What??” Perceval said, the tree branch bobbing under him. “How?! We’re in the middle of nowhere!”

“Were I to guess…” Whisper stared at Theodore. “I would say someone told them where to look.”

“Theo, did you do this?!” Perceval said.

“No!” Theodore wanted to strangle Whisper. “I came alone! I just want to talk!”

The prince’s gaze wavered. Theodore couldn’t tell whether Perceval believed him. He opened his wings. “We need to leave!”

“Wait!” Theodore said. “What about Oboe?! You can’t go! They’ll execute her!”

Perceval froze.

“What is it you are proposing this young man do?” Whisper said. “Return home to his father, penitent? Serve out his time as king, miserable for the rest of his days? For what? To save the life of a silly little faun? What nonsense.”

“But… She’s my friend,” Perceval said.

“Child, how long have you known this ‘Oboe’?” Whisper craned her neck. “A few days? Is her happiness worth trading for your own? Surely she knew the risks. It would be better not to squander her sacrifice.”

“You pushed her to enchant you!” Theodore said. “She was in tears! She didn’t want to, and you forced her!”

“I…”

Whisper’s voice was acid. “If she didn’t want to, then she wouldn’t have. That is not his responsibility.”

“Stop!” The prince spread his wings wide. “Just stop! I need to think!”

“There isn’t time,” Whisper said. “With every word this man shames you. Manipulates you. His pet is in danger, so he’s turned against you. He admitted as much himself. He’s brought your father’s thugs to cage you.”

The lump of anger in Theodore’s throat turned to fear. “Percy.” He tried to look the prince in the eyes, but his were locked on the sky. Theodore needed the right words. “I get it. I know why you want to run. I’ve been there. I am there. I never wanted this job. I never wanted to be a knight. But it’s about more than just me. It’s hard, but what I do matters to the creatures. I have a responsibility to do right by them. Just like you. Doing that feels right. And…” The creatures of the Whirlwood filled his mind. He remembered their gratitude and his heart warmed in a way that surprised him. “That’s enough for me.”

The prince was still.

“So… what?” He said. “I go home? Work hard? Be a good king? Hope I start to care?”

Theodore hung his head. “If it’s not enough for you, then do it for Oboe. Please.” He tightened his fist. “I don’t want to lose her.”

“Enough!” Whisper said. “They’re here! Look!”

The prince’s head swiveled. In the distance, a team of hooded knights were scaling the mountain path. Perceval bristled.

“You must choose, child,” Whisper said, launching herself into the air. “They are here to take you. Come with me and live free, or be chained like this wretch. I will wait no longer!”

He looked at Theodore, the pain clear in his face. “I’m sorry,” he said, and followed the raven past the edge of the cliff.

“No!” Theodore said. “You can’t!” He wrenched the dials on the aura tracker, and sparked a new magical trail which ribboned through the air after the prince. He chased after them as close as the cliffs allowed.

The pursuit did not go unnoticed. Whisper dove into him, transforming in midair into a nanny goat. With one crushing headbutt to the chest, she knocked Theodore off his feet and sent aura tracker tumbling out of his hand.

“Y-you’re a fairy…!” Theodore said with a wheeze.

“Grab it!” Whisper yelled into the sky. The prince swooped down to snatch the machine, and dropped it past the edge of the cliff. It fell, spinning like a pinwheel until it smashed against rocks far below. Whisper leaned over Theodore, with the smuggest face a goat could manage.

“You made the wrong call, Grayweather.”

She snapped back into a raven’s form. Theodore stumbled, trying to get back on his feet, and watched, helpless, as Whisper and the prince flew beyond his reach. The prince looked back just once. Theodore collapsed onto his knees. A wail escaped his lips and ugly tears streamed down his face.

A knight does not snivel. That’s what father told him. Theodore thought it was strange how small things like that stuck with him most. He told himself he didn’t give a damn what his father thought, but when the tears welled up he found himself choking them back in shame.

His plan failed. Perceval was gone. The tracker was broken. Oboe’s trial was tomorrow. She was going to die because he was an idiot and chose to help the prince.

Theodore wrenched the tears from his eyes. This wasn’t over yet. He made a mistake thinking he could talk Perceval into returning. There was still a chance. If he found Shelly he could give chase. He’d lost a lot of ground, but the Knight Detective had his own aura tracker. Conrad had the manpower to force the prince to come home.

He ran back the way he came, shouting, hoping the roc was still nearby. “Shelly!!” He hurried along the narrow ledges and outcroppings. “Shelly! Where are you?!” He winded himself shouting. It had been too long and he had wandered too far. Theodore raced as the sky melted into a smoldering orange sunset. The search party was nearby. All he needed was to make sense of the winding trails and meet up with them.

Hurrying in that general direction, Theodore spotted an aura projection spring up from the Earth ahead of him. He moved to follow it, only for the trail to stretch out and come to a halt at his heart. Theodore heard the crunch of marching boots. Conrad Whitechain and a team of armed scouts rounded the corner. The Knights of the Hunt, dressed in camouflage.

“Conrad?” Theodore said. “Thank the Mother! How did you think to come here?”

The Knight Detective watched Theodore with one eye from beneath the brim of his hat. “I’ve been tracking you.” He clicked off the device, and the aura projection faded.

“What? Why?” It did not matter. “Never mind. Listen, the prince should be nearby! I need your help!”

The scouts drew their swords. Theodore stepped back, only to find a steep drop behind him. Conrad gestured for his men to wait.

“Deputy, there are some things bothering me about our time together.”

Theodore felt a sudden, suffocating dread. “What are you talking about?”

“I did not think much about it when you found the culprit so quickly, but I was troubled to learn how… familiar you were with her. A coincidence, I thought, if it had ended there.”

Theodore said nothing.

“My men found Perceval’s cloak in your office. It was drenched in his aura. Suddenly that long, fruitless night wandering the Whirl makes sense.” Conrad adjusted his gloves. “Now I find you out on the farthest edge of the valley after refusing to join the search party.”

“W-what are you saying, Conrad?”

The Knight Detective’s stare pierced through him.

“You’ve been harboring the prince.”

 The scouts advanced on Theodore, blades in hand.

“Seize him,” Conrad ordered. “With minimal maiming, if possible.”

“This is ridiculous!” Theodore shouted, backing away along the ridge. It was a long way down if he fell. “The prince is out here! You need only look!”

“That may be the case.” Conrad followed his men at a stroll as they spread out and leapt between ledges to corner Theodore. “This would be an excellent place to stash him here while we wasted our time in the Whirlwood. Do not worry, we will find him yet.”

“You have no proof!” Theodore said, stalling.

“I do and worse. We have a witness.”

“What?!”

“A feral raven. They saw you making deals with Feymire spies.”

“That’s a lie!” Theodore said, as if it made a difference.

“You’ve nowhere to go, Grayweather!” A scout said. “Surrender!”

Theodore tried to run before they closed in on him, but there was too many of them. His hands were twisted behind his back.

“Out of tricks, Deputy?” Conrad said. “I expected more from you.”

Theodore wished he had something more, anything. He felt the sting of his tears return. How could he possibly save Oboe now, let alone himself?

Then it hit him. He did not have to do both. There was one last risky gambit he could play.

“You’ve caught me, detective,” he said. “There’s no use pretending anymore.”

Conrad looked at him with surprise. “Then… you admit it?”

“I was offered power in exchange for making sure the prince did not return.” This much was true. “I… blackmailed the faun to enchant the prince, to sabotage the crown.” All he needed was to shift the blame. Maybe then Oboe had a chance to get out of this alive. If Whisper was going to make up a story, he might as well use it. “I abused my authority as Ranger Deputy to threaten her family. That’s why she wouldn’t help you. She couldn’t.”

Contempt flared across Conrad’s face. “Why, Grayweather? You are the son of a national hero! Why would you turn against your country?!”

Theodore tried to think of a reason, and held back a bitter laugh.

“I told you: I hated my father.”

Waiting was the worst part.

Theodore’s wrists chafed in his shackles, fettered hand and foot to the dungeon floor. It was dark, humid, and there was nothing to distract him but the distant sound of cell doors slamming and the muffled shouts of prisoners. Every minute stretched on for an eternity. All he could do was worry, and wonder whether he had made the right choice. If Oboe’s trial proceeded as scheduled then his plan was worthless. He was counting on the Knight Detective having the integrity to postpone Oboe’s trial in favor of his own.

It was a relief to hear the door strain against its hinges. Conrad entered with a company of jailers.

“Hello,” Theodore said. His throat was parched, making it hard to speak. “Any luck finding the prince?”

Conrad’s glare told him there was not. The jailers moved to flank Theodore on either side.

“You are accused of breaking King’s Law,” Conrad said. “You will stand before a Justice of Laien for charges of grand treason, interference with royal investigation, conspiracy to usurp, and blackmail of citizen creatures. Rise and face the Mother’s Judgment.”

Theodore stood up and staggered under the weight of his chains. The jailers seized him. They unhooked from the floor but leashed to both of them. Conrad marched them out of the dungeons and into the streets, in plain view for anyone to see. Theodore clattered with every step as they passed under the shadow of the ancient courthouse. Theodore gazed up at its towering ramparts and parapets with an awe reserved for the guilty. The sight brought back memories of his elementary history lessons.

Before there was a King of Laien, before the first house was built, there was the courthouse. During the war against the Devil King, the human tribes banded together to construct a fortress to endure the coming of the ghast hordes. Stone was quarried from the Whirlwood to erect massive walls, which were used to shelter civilians from the battle.

 When the hero Laien defeated the Devil King, with the aid of the fairy queen and the rebel ghasts, there came a need to negotiate the peace treaties. The fortress was converted into court of law so that all creatures might co-exist. Human refugees assembled homesteads near the court until a city took shape.

Many chambers of the court were bricked up, annexed, or renovated, but what remained was still a structure meant to endure the end of the world. It was a monument to order and the foundation of Theodore’s country. His stomach curled into knots. It was an institution he admired. Today was the first time he had ever crossed into its hallowed halls, and it was a day he meant to proclaim himself its enemy.

The doors opened. Theodore was led down into Arbitration Pit number two. Knight Bailiffs stood at the cardinal exits, and jurors watched from a row of balconies above. The Justice stood at the front. A dignified elder woman in two toned black and white robes. She wielded hooped rods of silver and iron, one in each hand. It all felt so surreal to Theodore. It was not until he noticed Oboe that he felt awake.

“Theo?!” She descended the judgment bench, draped in iron chains twice the size of Theodore’s. “You’re locked up!! What’s going on?! Why are you here??”

“You don’t need to worry any longer,” Conrad said. “We have this man under control.”

Theodore smiled, and was wrenched towards the judgment bench. Oboe resisted as Knight Bailiffs tried to pull her away.

“I told them I did it! I turned Percy into a bird! They’re gonna punish me like they’re supposed to! You shouldn’t be here! You’re not supposed to be in trouble!”

The Justice banged her rods. “The fairy will be silent in the court! She has been dismissed!”

“No! I’m mad!!” Oboe yelled back. “Theo!! Tell me what’s going on!”

“I thought I could get away with it,” Theodore said, hoping to sound villainous. “Looks like you and your family will be okay after all.”

“What??” She scrunched her face, confused. “Theo!! What are you talking about?!”

The Justice rose from her seat. “Bailiffs!”

Oboe’s chains hummed with magic. A painful spark surged through the iron and made her cry out. “No!” She said, and fought to take a few halting steps before slumping to the floor. Theodore watched as the Bailiffs dragged her away, hoping that it would be the last time they would hurt her.

The Justice shook her head at the scene. “The Ranger Deputy will now present himself to the court.”

Theodore took one shaky step after another to climb into the judgment bench. All eyes were on him. It was in that moment he faltered. He knew what he needed to do and he knew that it meant his death. There was no other choice but he was still afraid. There was still so much more he wanted out of life, so much he wanted to learn.

He thought of Oboe again. That was enough. He took one last deep, ragged breath and felt his fear harden into stone cold certainty.

“I’m guilty.”