Page 81 of Badmouths & Bards

Fuck, he knew that, too. Punching his father’s emissary had been the wrong move—Ameriden knew that, he really did, but he hadn’t been thinking of the consequences of it in the moment. The second he had heard his birth name, something in Ameriden had truly panicked and before he knew it, he let his fist fly. It had been damn near instinctual, the urge to fight and escape. But once he made that move, Ameriden realized he couldn’t just slip into the night. Not with Casimine, Seira, and Tala still there. The princess had been an after thought if he were honest with himself.

“I wasn’t. I wasn’t thinking,” Ameriden admitted.

“No, you weren’t.”

Seira huffed and just like that, it was like someone had let all the hot air out of her. Now she looked as tired as Ameriden felt—fuck the way the whole room felt. Casimine was nearly asleep, eyes shut in momentary rest. The only reason Ameriden knew he wasn’t asleep, was the way his boot was lightly tapping against the floor.

“Look, I spoke with Kerith, and based on all the information and what he was able to conclude is that this was all a big accident,” Tala explained. “There was no way for us to know what that ring did unless we found a trusted enchanter to check it out and that wasn’t going to happen with me being tailed by some mystery assassins. You said your family can’t track you with magic, so the biggest mystery here is how your family knew where to send the ring?”

“It would have to be one of our fans,” Casimine’s heavy lidded gaze peered at Ameriden. “Nobody knows our schedule like them outside of Seira.”

“How would they know your schedule though?” Tala asked.

“We have a system with guilds, town criers, and local taverns. It’s basically a word of mouth through letters, but that’s how fans of bards stay in the loop.” Seira explained. “Once we secure a location and a time, I write up some letters and get them out as soon as possible.”

Tala frowned, crossing her arms below her chest, “Did you send any of these letters before you arrived in Eshorion?”

“I did,” Seira confirmed. “I sent out some letters the day I hired that arcanist to perform the teleportation spell for us.”

“That was on the Chroma Coast,” Casimine said. “We have a pretty large fan base there.”

“Right, they have a pretty large metropolitan area, too. It’s pretty diverse in terms of culture and population.” Tala frowned.

“What is it?” Ameriden asked.

“Well, just thinking if I were trying to find a unicorn in the middle of the ocean, I’d probably start in a city like that. The port alone connects to almost every continent in Ordia, so it would only be a matter of time before someone from the dynasty would come across some information about you. Not to mention Beryl is always a vacation hot spot. It’s literally got something for everyone,” Tala explained.

“You think someone just happened to figure it out?” Seira asked.

“I mean, yeah,” Tala shrugged. “Like I said, you weren’t exactly disguised when you left, Seira. Not to mention, if your fans can find you in the middle of nowhere in some shitty inn, it would make sense they could find you just as easy in the Chroma Coast. I think y’all underestimated how devoted these people are to you. I mean, think about it. All it would take was one super excited fan talking to the wrong person and you’re entire life story would be spilled.”

Tala had a point, not that Ameriden was surprised. No matter how often she liked to diminish her own intelligence, Ameriden had seen it. He had already thought she was amazing when they first met, but Tala had only grown more and more with every day that had past since the first. Water Mother knew she had held herself just fine against his parents’ warriors. Knowing versus seeing was what had gotten Ameriden’s adrenaline going when they had been back to back.

And make up sex, don’t forget about that.

“Either way, that secret’s out of the bag now,” Tala said. “I don’t think you’re going to be able to escape it now.”

“That’s a fair point.” Seira kissed her teeth. “Fuck, even if we survive whatever the king’s decision is, we’re still going to have to deal with all of this.”

“You changed our whole lives, Amer, congratulations,” Casimine half-teased between his fingers.

For the first time since the fight ended, Ameriden collapsed into his own hands and buried his face. The reality that every damn thing they had worked for—everything Casimine had worked for over the past decade or even more— was all up in the air. There was no going back to performing with their fans blissfully ignorant of Ameriden’s identity. No simple contracts for Seira to write up—no, now she would have to worry about political relations, and whether whatever kingdom they were performing in were on good terms with the dynasty. Now, Casimine’s role as a prince would be outmatched by his birth title, and Ameriden didn’t want to be the fucking prince— that’s why he ditched his birthright in the first place!

“I’m sorry,” Ameriden groaned into his hands. “I didn’t mean for this to happen and I can’t change it, and I’m sorry.”

The silence was worse than Seira’s unchecked rant, and Ameriden wanted nothing more than to bury his head in Dumpling’s tank. If he didn’t already have the ability to breathe underwater, Ameriden would have set to drowning himself if he could.

“I know.” Casimine laid a hand on his head. “And I’m still mad, but I think I’ll learn to accept it.”

“You shouldn’t have to,” he said, and frankly, Ameriden wasn’t sure he wanted Casimine to forgive him. “Casi, I’ve fucked up your dream.”

“You—” Casimine exhaled, tired and annoyed. Ameriden wasn’t prepared when Casimine took hold of his hair and yanked his face up to meet his. “You didn’t fuck up my dream, you thick blow-hard! You are my dream.”

Ameriden’s tongue felt too large for his mouth as he gaped at him. Casimine’s gaze moved toward their bodyguard and his stern expression turned soft.

“You’re my dream,” Casimine repeated. “Both of you are. And I don’t care who knows it or what they think of it.”

The confession also appeared to have the same effect on Tala, because her posture suddenly shifted the way a soldier would when facing down their captain. She was embarrassed, but there was something almost hopeful in her eyes.