the tall tales
When Konstantin was five years old their father told them they would be going to live at the palace. "You are to be the closest companion of our new Crown Prince," he intoned, kneeling before his child with a hand on Konstantin's shoulder. "It is a noble tradition, Konstantin. You will serve him well."
They were removed from their childhood home and placed inside stone walls with cold hearths and solemn guards. They were isolated for the first week, as the Crown Prince was immersed in testing with his tutors and he could not be bothered with introductions. Konstantin explored the castle in the interim, discovered empty rooms and a long stretch of beach that kissed the stones of the west wing floor. They learned the texture of the air that blew off the ocean in wistful breaths and the rub of salt in their hair.
When they finally met the Crown Prince they did not immediately know him for who he was. Konstantin stood with their bare feet in the water and became gradually aware of a child that stood beside them. He said lowly, "The water changes color in the mornings."
Konstantin blinked and looked sidelong at the boy. "Truly?"
The child grinned. There was something familiar in the line of his jaw, a bone structure Konstantin would later realize the Prince shared with his father. "Truly," he said, nodding. He was quiet for a moment and then said lightly, "You should join me in the morning."
Konstantin smiled at him. They were of a similar height, though the boy was topped with a shock of blue hair rather than Konstantin's grey. "Okay," they said finally. "I'm Konstantin."
"I know," the boy replied kindly, and when he disappeared indoors it was between the shadows of two armed guards.
-----
When Konstantin heard the gun go off they did not know immediately that they had been shot. There was only: an impact in their thigh, their femur vibrating against their hip, a sensation of heat. Distantly they felt the weight of Bartholomew's hand at their waist and heard shouting, the susurrus of noise coalescing into a man yelling "Lay down the gun!"
Konstantin reached for Bartholomew's hand and told him to run. They urged Bartholomew through the castle's open doors and into the protective ring of guards that waited for their monarch, the bite of gunshots snapping at their heels. The doors came shut with a great groan and Konstantin sat down when the lock clicked, their leg awash with a sudden searing agony. Hearing faded; they watched Bartholomew as he crouched beside them, his hands fluttering over their wound like nervous insects, shouting something at them. Their eyes swept shut with a breath.
When Konstantin woke they lay in a hospital bed and Bartholomew sat in a chair to their right. He had Konstantin's pendent in his hands, running the coin restlessly over his fingers. He jumped when he caught Konstantin watching him. "They had to take it off for the MRI," he said, turning the necklace over in his hand.
Konstantin nodded. They coughed once and said, "Are you safe?"
Bartholomew rolled his eyes with a reluctant laugh. The line was from a lullaby Konstantin had sang to him when Bartholomew had been a child and unable to sleep for want of his father. He said, "Only because you took a bullet for me." Konstantin gave him a patient smile and Bartholomew sung with a smile, "I'm in that warm place."
They were removed from their childhood home and placed inside stone walls with cold hearths and solemn guards. They were isolated for the first week, as the Crown Prince was immersed in testing with his tutors and he could not be bothered with introductions. Konstantin explored the castle in the interim, discovered empty rooms and a long stretch of beach that kissed the stones of the west wing floor. They learned the texture of the air that blew off the ocean in wistful breaths and the rub of salt in their hair.
When they finally met the Crown Prince they did not immediately know him for who he was. Konstantin stood with their bare feet in the water and became gradually aware of a child that stood beside them. He said lowly, "The water changes color in the mornings."
Konstantin blinked and looked sidelong at the boy. "Truly?"
The child grinned. There was something familiar in the line of his jaw, a bone structure Konstantin would later realize the Prince shared with his father. "Truly," he said, nodding. He was quiet for a moment and then said lightly, "You should join me in the morning."
Konstantin smiled at him. They were of a similar height, though the boy was topped with a shock of blue hair rather than Konstantin's grey. "Okay," they said finally. "I'm Konstantin."
"I know," the boy replied kindly, and when he disappeared indoors it was between the shadows of two armed guards.
-----
When Konstantin heard the gun go off they did not know immediately that they had been shot. There was only: an impact in their thigh, their femur vibrating against their hip, a sensation of heat. Distantly they felt the weight of Bartholomew's hand at their waist and heard shouting, the susurrus of noise coalescing into a man yelling "Lay down the gun!"
Konstantin reached for Bartholomew's hand and told him to run. They urged Bartholomew through the castle's open doors and into the protective ring of guards that waited for their monarch, the bite of gunshots snapping at their heels. The doors came shut with a great groan and Konstantin sat down when the lock clicked, their leg awash with a sudden searing agony. Hearing faded; they watched Bartholomew as he crouched beside them, his hands fluttering over their wound like nervous insects, shouting something at them. Their eyes swept shut with a breath.
When Konstantin woke they lay in a hospital bed and Bartholomew sat in a chair to their right. He had Konstantin's pendent in his hands, running the coin restlessly over his fingers. He jumped when he caught Konstantin watching him. "They had to take it off for the MRI," he said, turning the necklace over in his hand.
Konstantin nodded. They coughed once and said, "Are you safe?"
Bartholomew rolled his eyes with a reluctant laugh. The line was from a lullaby Konstantin had sang to him when Bartholomew had been a child and unable to sleep for want of his father. He said, "Only because you took a bullet for me." Konstantin gave him a patient smile and Bartholomew sung with a smile, "I'm in that warm place."