A Prince's Pride

*Milo*

I've been to several funerals in my life: my grandparents', my parents', and even one for King Theodore. But none of them felt as surreal as attending my own. Now, disguised as a Ur'ali man named Ti'mon, I stand among a group of soldiers, watching as Aaron holds the animated doll enchanted to look like me. It's a strange feeling, seeing someone else hold a replica of myself. The onyx ring on my finger, which has been helping to maintain the illusion, feels uncomfortably hot. The magic in it must be working hard to shift my aura and keep up the disguise. But despite the discomfort, I know that I must stay focused. The fate of my kingdom depends on my success in this mission.

By far the worst part is the look on Exavier’s face. Aaron’s is twisted in anguish, but I know it’s false. The look on Exavier’s face, like he’s lost a friend, like he’s failed in his sworn duty, is real. We couldn’t risk anyone else knowing about our plans. In fact, I think too many people know. Elaine, Piper, Aaron, Prince Krayden, and me. 

I wish I could have hidden as one of the Midoorian people, but we just don’t know what spies Phoebe might still retain within our ranks. We’re fairly certain we’ve weeded out any who were loyal to the Red Hand, but there’s always a chance. 

Aaron puts on a show of grabbing my hand and kissing it gently. 

“How do they expect us to stand against the witch,” says a Ur’ali woman to my right in Ur’alian, “if one of their emperors can be killed by her in the dead of night?”

Ti’mon doesn’t travel with any of the Ur’ali soldiers under Prince Krayden’s command, so I don’t have to worry about saying something he wouldn’t.

“I’ve heard rumors that she’s extremely powerful,” I say back in Ur’alian, “but they’ve defeated her before. They have the Goddess’s blessing.”

I’m pushing my luck with that one. Ur’ali culture states that the Ur’ali have the highest of blessings from the Goddess Earth. By casting the Midoorians in with them, I’m going to stand out, but that’s exactly what we want. Technically speaking, Midoor and the Ur’ali are allies, but there are some Ur’ali who think they can take care of Phoebe themselves. They believe asking for our help goes against their beliefs. Even still, they won’t disobey their Mother. If I seem like I’m siding with the Midoorians, I’ll be with my own group. I’ll be next to Aaron.

“Surely you’re joking,” she says. 

“They have stood against the witch in three of the lands on this face of the Goddess Earth,” I say, making sure to use their sayings instead of “continents” and “countries”.

She sticks her tongue out, her teeth gently pressed into the flesh, and blows out air — their version of a scoff — then turns away from me. She won’t speak to me again. Hopefully, she’ll spread the word that I’m on the Midoorians side. I had considered putting myself on the Ur’ali side and trying to gain some information, but they’re our allies. I won’t spy on them.

When the casket is closed, I expect Aaron to make a eulogy, but he seems overcome with emotion. He places a hand on the casket and walks away, heading straight for our tent with Oswald closely behind him.

Exavier steps up on a crate and looks over the crowd.

“Emperor Aaron is unable to give a eulogy on behalf of Emperor Milo,” he says, his voice shaky. “My name is Exavier Cromwell. I am…was…the sworn protector of Milo. I haven’t been serving him long, only the last few months in fact. But I saw Milo’s goodness, his righteousness, his cleverness. The first time he was given the mantle of ruling Midoor, he was unsure of himself and his decisions. I watched him as he grew into his own. He would have been a great emperor, but his time was cut far too short.”

“How did it happen?” the Ur’ali woman to my right shouts out. “I think we have a right to know!” The rest of the Ur’ali and some of the Midoorians nodded in agreement.

“He sacrificed himself for you,” says Exavier, looking directly at the woman. Her face shifts into one of shocked disbelief, but she hides her features almost immediately. “We’ve lost good men and women to the witch, Phoebe. Milo and Aaron didn’t want to lose any more, if it could be avoided. They ventured into the woods last night to find her and were betrayed by Piper, who killed Emperor Milo.”

I glance at Da’mal, who stands a few people down in the row in front of me. She smiles almost triumphantly, her concerns over Piper seemingly justified. She never trusted Piper. It’s she who speaks next.

“Piper, you say? The one you trusted? If you don’t know who can and can’t be trusted, why should we trust you?”

“Hold you tongue, Da’mal,” says Prince Krayden in Ur’alian. Da’mal bows her head and Prince Krayden continues in English. “We are at a funeral, for the Goddess’s sake. We are here to escort Emperor Milo back to her garden. I will not have you disrespect the Goddess in this manner. Furthermore, our Mother ordered us to be here. To help the Midoorians. If she trusts them, so should you.”

After that, the funeral passes without much incident. Each Ur’ali approaches my casket and touches it with their hand, whispering to the Goddess Earth, asking her to accept me into her garden. The casket will remain here for anyone else who wishes to pray.

*Aaron*

I was supposed to stand before the crowd and give a eulogy, talking about how much Milo meant to me and how much I’ll miss him, but I just couldn’t. Not with him standing in the crowd. Not when the words feel hollow. If I can’t make them feel real in my head, how can I make them feel real coming out of my mouth.

I don’t protest Oswald when he enters my tent or when he joins me on my cot. I know Milo is alive, I could see him in the crowd. But this plan of ours — of Phoebe’s — means I don’t have him by my side right now and that’s just as bad.

“Are you alright?” asks Oswald, then he checks himself. “Of course you aren’t, that was a stupid thing to say.”

“No, it wasn’t. You’re just checking in on me. I appreciate it.”

“If I may make a suggestion, Your Majesty, perhaps you should return to Midoor and send your army here. If she was able to get to Milo—”

“She got to Milo because of Piper,” I say, cutting him off. “She tricked us. When we find Phoebe, Piper dies too.” My heart twists in my chest at those words. Of course, we won’t really kill Piper, but he can’t know that. Not yet.

“Sire, I didn’t want to bother you with this in the wake of Milo’s death, but it was Piper who protected the Great Palace by magic. What if they are on their way there now? With Phoebe’s abilities, they could be there now.”

“I don’t think they are,” I say. “Phoebe has something to finish in the Southern Tribes. I don’t think she’ll leave until she’s finished.”

“Perhaps not, but maybe you should. You are still the King of Midoor, Your Majesty. The people will need their king if they storm the city.”

“Riley is more than capable of handling things back home. You don’t really think I’d leave, pass up a chance to go after the woman who murdered my husband?”

“No, sire, of course not. As always, I just fear for your safety.”

“Put your mind at ease, Sir Oswald. I can take care of myself. And I won’t rest until I’ve found Phoebe and Piper.”

A shout cries out from the funeral party. Oswald and I run out and see what’s caused the alarm immediately. Jellyfish creatures, the size of small dogs, are rushing toward the mourners. The tops of their heads are split, with long black teeth, snarling and foaming at the mouths, the foam the color of blood.

“Here we go again,” I say, unsheathing my sword and rushing toward the horde.

*Piper*

When Piper wakes up the next morning, she finds her sister downstairs in the dining room, finishing up a breakfast.

“You didn’t make anything for me?” asks Piper.

“Of course I did, sister. There’s bacon and eggs in the oven, keeping warm. I have a fresh loaf of bread on the counter. Cut yourself as much as you want and toast it. If you want more, there’s more food in the fridge.”

“Are you going somewhere?” asks Piper, noticing Phoebe wearing a fur-lined traveling cloak.

“I’m going to the Lower Reach for few hours. Wait for me here.”

“Like I could go anywhere if I wanted to.”

Phoebe gives her sister a questioning look, her brow furrowed.

“You are not a prisoner here, sister,” she says, “you can come and go as you please. Just don’t break the enchantments protecting us. We don’t want the emperors to find us, after all.” 

Phoebe stands and incants, waving her hand at the plate and cup on the table. They float into the kitchen and Piper hears them settle into the sink. Then, she pulls a transportation phial from the bag around her waist.

“Can I have a couple of those?” asks Piper. “I might need a speedy getaway.”

“Of course,” Phoebe replies, walking over to her sister. She pulls out five phials and drops them in her hand. “Just think about where you want to go and throw it on the ground. Just remember: anything and anyone covered by the smoke will be transported, so long as it’s covered entirely. I’ll teach you how to make them in a day or so.”

“Thank you. Why are you going to the Lower Reach anyway?”

“Our benefactor is there. He wants to meet with me.”

“Who is he?” Piper asks, wondering if her sister will answer.

“I told you, sister, I can’t tell you yet. It’s not me holding back. He isn’t ready for you to know. He isn’t convinced of your loyalty yet. I have to get going. Here—” she reaches into her pouch again and draws out a small, circular mirror then holds it out to Phoebe, “—I’ve enchanted these so we can talk to one another.”

Piper takes it and looks at it for a moment before tucking it into her pocket. Phoebe hugs her sister, squeezing tightly, then steps back and throws a phial at her feet. It shatters and Phoebe disappears in a swirl of purple smoke.

Looking at the phials in her hand, Piper adds get Phoebe to teach me how to make these to her to-do list. These would be invaluable to Aaron and Milo.

Before she does anything else, Piper eats her breakfast and, in a fit of good naturedness, washes the dishes, then heads straight up to the attic. She pauses at the attic door, wondering if it’s locked, but the door swings open at her touch. 

As she steps inside, she once again feels as though she’s been transported through time. She feels like a child again, following her mother, Prudence, into the small room. It’s mostly as she remembers, except for the several new shelves full of books. Perusing them, she sees they’re all devoted to dark magic. Other shelves contain potion ingredients she recognizes that are used for dark magic as well, but many other ingredients she doesn’t recognize at all.

In the center of the room, she finds their family’s Book of Shadows. Milo hasn’t progressed to the point where he needs to make one, but starting a Book of Shadows or maintaining a family’s Book is a rite of passage for all practitioners. They contain the magical knowledge of one’s bloodline. For the Dylan family, this Book of Shadows is several hundred years old, spanning dozens of generations.

She reaches out for the Book, knowing the potion used to inhibit Queen Elaine’s abilities would be inside, but her hand passes right through the green cover, emblazoned with a triquetra. She tries again, but finds she can’t touch the book, though her hand touches the pedestal.

“It’s enchanted so nobody but Phoebe can touch it,” Piper says to herself, feeling stung. Not only does she need to get into this Book to help Queen Elaine, this book belongs to her too, to her whole family, though that only includes her and Piper now. 

Deciding to search for other clues, Piper begins looking at the prepared potions set on shelves and tables. There are at least two hundred bottles strewn around the attic in a multitude of colors. If Phoebe uses an organization system, Piper has no idea what it is. There are a few she recognizes by the way the light passes through the glass, such as shrinking potions, potions to induce sleep, and an invisibility potion, but many of them are unknown to her, and a few look like poison.

She instead turns to the books on the shelves, pulling them off at random. They contain rituals for curses, items of dark magic, and potions to harm enemies, but none that describe similar effects to what Queen Elaine is experiencing and none of them seem to explain why Phoebe would be attacking and abducting the bodies of warriors.

Putting the books back on the shelf, she looks to the only book that has the answers: the Book of Shadows. She crosses back to it and holds her hands out above it.

With her eyes closed, she incants, and reaches down blindly to touch the Book, but her hand meets the wooden pedestal instead. She tries again and again and again, but is unable to effect it. Is it even the real Book? Could it just be a projection?

Piper crosses to a shelf containing run-of-the-mill potion ingredients and starts to mix herbs in a mortar before crushing them with a pestle. Then she adds a drop of her blood, holds her hand out over the mixture, and incants. The mixture glows, then turns to light which floats up out of the mortar and flies through the air before circling the Book.

This proves it’s the real Book of Shadows, but she still can’t touch it. Getting frustrated, Piper kicks the pedestal over. The Book falls to the ground with a heavy thud, opening to a random page, one Piper doesn’t recognize. She reaches down to pick it up, but of course, her hand passes right through it. Instead, she examines the page. 

As she reads, her breath catches in her throat. Surely, surely, this isn’t what she thinks it is. Surely, her sister wouldn’t have been foolish enough to invoke this kind of magic. 

Piper looks up when she hears footsteps on the stairs and sees Phoebe enter the attic.

“I thought I’d find you up here,” she says, not at all worried. Then, she notices the page the Book is open to.

“Please tell me you didn’t, sister,” says Piper. “Please tell me you aren’t working with a—”

“My plans are very great, sister. I needed to recruit the most powerful being I could think of.”

Piper stands, leveling a hard look at Phoebe.

“But one of them? How did you even accomplish this? How are you even still alive? Has it taken your—?”

“No,” says Phoebe, “and he won’t. He’s asked for payment and I’m going to give it to him.”

“What kind of payment? What kind of payment could one of them want from you?”

“I told you, I can’t tell you everything yet.” Phoebe incanted and returned the pedestal and the Book to its usual spot.

“Let me read the Book. Why can’t I touch it? It’s mine too, you know.”

“Calm yourself, sister. The Book contains my plans and other information you’re not ready for.”

“Fine, but either way. You can’t seriously be considering working with a—”

The next thing Piper knew, she was standing in the foyer with Phoebe. 

“What…what happened?” asks Piper.

“What’s the last thing you remember?” asks Phoebe, looking at her sister as though she expects her to be sick, her eyes wide with worry.

“I bent down to look at the Book. It fell open to a page about… Why can’t I remember?”

“You found out who my benefactor is. I had to summon him and he…he erased your memories.”

Piper stares at her sister for several long moments before letting out a derisive laugh. “Don’t be ridiculous. There’s no magic that can erase memories.”

“Technically, no,” says Phoebe delicately. “But there is ancient magic that can suppress them. They’ll return eventually.”

“Don’t you trust me, sister?” asks Piper. 

Phoebe steps forward and grabs Pipers hand in both of hers.

“Of course I do, Piper, but he doesn’t. Not yet.”

Piper pulls her hand from Phoebe’s and steps back.

“Who could you be working with that could suppress memories? I thought that kind of magic was impossible.”

This scared Piper, far more than she’d like to admit. Magic cannot create life, create love, or affect memories. These are the three, immutable laws of magic. If this benefactor of Phoebe’s is powerful enough to suppress her memories, what else can he do? And what happened during her missing time? Does he know she’s not really aligned with her sister? Does he?

*Aaron*

“What are you doing here?” I ask Milo, disguised at Ti’mon, as he enters my tent.

“I apologize for the intrusion, Your Majesty,” he says. “I was sent by Prince Krayden to deliver information for your ears only.” He glances at Oswald. “May I speak with you alone?”

“Of course,” I say, nodding to Oswald. “Go get some rest. Send Exavier to watch over the tent.”

“Of course, sire,” says Oswald as he leaves the tent, glaring at Milo as though he’s worried to leave his emperor with him.

Milo’s funeral was hours ago and night has begun to fall. I suspect Oswald is afraid I’ll end up dying, too, because he hasn’t left my side.

Milo steps toward me and wraps his arms around me.

“Did you actually come with a message from Krayden?” I ask.

I can hear the smile his Milo’s voice as he answers. “No.”

He turns his face up to me and tries to kiss me, but I pull away. 

“I can’t kiss Ti’mon,” I say. 

With a sly grin, Milo pulls of the ring and transforms back to himself.

“We don’t have long,” he says, then kisses me, his hand snaking down my front and right into my pants.

“Milo, we can’t. We—” I begin, but then the blood rushes from one head to the other and I suddenly can’t think of what I was going to say. Milo begins stroking my cock inside my pants and a gasp escapes my throat, finding home in his mouth as our tongues dance with one another.

Milo roughly turns me around and bends me over the bed, then pulls my pants down. I feel his hands spread my cheeks apart and have to bite my lip to keep a moan from escaping me as his tongue finds my hole and worms its way inside. I pillow lifts from the top of the bed and flies into my face. Milo must have magicked it to me, though I’m impressed he didn’t have to look up from what he was doing. I bury my face in it to suppress my moans.

I wish we had time to stay here and bask in this bliss forever but I know we don’t, and so does Milo. So he stands and I hear him spit into his hand. A moment later, I’m glad I have my face pressed into a pillow. When Milo’s cock slides into me, a shuddering, bone-shaking moan escapes me. 

He works fast, sliding in and out of me, his swollen head rubbing against my prostate as I melt into the bed. I almost shout when I feel my cock being worked. At first, I think it’s his hand, but both of them are gripping my waist. The hot, tight, slippery feeling on my cock is so good, it feels like magic. That’s when I realize Milo is using magic to jerk me off. 

It’s like nothing I’ve ever felt before. Like I’ve slipped into the most perfect hole and it’s milking me dry. I’ve never been able to last long and in the confines of Milo’s magic, I feel the orgasm build like a crescendo in an orchestra until my body is floating on a cloud. I come crashing down as the gate explodes. I can feel the muscles in my ass convulse on Milo’s cock and he groans before he explodes inside me. I feel his cum shoot deep inside me, filling me up like a balloon. 

“Your Majesty, are you—”

I lift my face up from the pillow and turn back to see Exavier in the mouth of the tent, his mouth hanging wide. He’s looking at Milo’s face, seemingly unaware of what he just walked in on, as though seeing Milo alive has drowned out everything else. 

“Exavier, I can explain,” Milo says, stepping away from me, his cock sliding out of my ass. Exavier looks right down at it and his face goes red. He turns to leave, but Milo snaps his fingers and the flaps of the tent seal shut.

“Don’t move!” I order in a raised whisper.

“Is he the real Milo? What’s going on?” asks Exavier.

“Just stay there,” says Milo. “We’ll get dressed and we’ll explain everything to you.”