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Julien swiped at his forehead. “As fun as this has been, I have a full schedule today. I’ll see you all this time tomorrow again.” He gave them each a salute, then shouldered his weapons as he headed toward Winstead Palace.
Captain Merrick and Iyrinder remained where they were, staring at Farrendel. Waiting for him to make the first move to walk back to Buckmore Cottage since they were his guards.
Farrendel cleared his throat and faced Captain Merrick. “Would it be possible for me to go into Aldon today?”
“Of course.” Captain Merrick sheathed his sword, then reached for the revolver he had set aside when they began their practice fight. “That’s why I’m here. So that you can safely move about at your pleasure. Where would you like to go, Your Highness?”
Perhaps having guards was not so bad after all. Farrendel shifted. “I would like to visit Lance Marion’s workshop.”
Even though Farrendel had been in Aldon for a month, he had not yet ventured outside the palace grounds. Essie, of course, had been going about Aldon nearly every day for the past two weeks, which was how Lance had figured out that she and Farrendel were back in Escarland. Ever since, Lance had sent multiple messages a day, asking Farrendel to come to the workshop whenever he had time.
“That could be arranged. Do you want fanfare or would you rather travel incognito?” Captain Merrick studied Farrendel, then glanced at Iyrinder.
“The less fanfare, the better.” Farrendel suppressed a shudder. The last time he and Essie had visited Aldon Market and Lance Marion’s workshop, a large crowd had gathered, someone shot at Farrendel, and things had come very close to turning ugly. He did not want a repeat of that experience.
“Incognito it is, then. Meet me at the guardhouse after you’ve washed up and are ready to leave. I’ll have a disguise for you.” Captain Merrick turned to Iyrinder. “I suppose you need to come too?”
“I am under strict orders from my king never to let his brother out of my sight whenever he steps foot outside of Buckmore Cottage.” Iyrinder gripped the hilt of his sword, probably wishing he had his bow ready to hand as that was his preferred weapon.
“I will figure out something for you as well.” Captain Merrick frowned, as if a disguise for Iyrinder would be tougher.
Then again, Iyrinder did not have an Escarlish haircut like Farrendel did. Farrendel resisted the urge to touch his shortened hair. That was a good thing about wearing his hair short. He could pass more easily among the Escarlish people.
As Farrendel strolled back to Buckmore Cottage, the cold breeze cut through his light clothes. With his sweat drying on his skin, he would start shivering if he did not get inside soon with the early winter weather cutting through him. The sky was clouded over, threatening to rain, perhaps even sleet, before long.
When Farrendel entered Buckmore Cottage, he found that Essie had already left for her engagement at the orphan’s home or hospital. He was not sure which one it was that day.
After a shower, he made his way to the gatehouse, where he found Captain Merrick and Iyrinder already there. Miss Merrick was also there, talking with Iyrinder.
Iyrinder wore brown Escarlish trousers and a baggy off-white shirt, both of which looked like they were inferior quality compared to the fancy Escarlish party clothes Farrendel had worn before. Miss Merrick was in the process of tying back Iyrinder’s chestnut hair at the base of his neck.
“Prince Farrendel, good. I think these should fit you relatively well.” Captain Merrick held out a stack of Escarlish clothes, including brown trousers and a not-quite-white shirt of some rough material Farrendel had never worn before.
Farrendel located the water closet. Not an ideal place to change, especially since this one was not as clean as he would prefer, but it would do.
When he was dressed in the Escarlish clothes, he exited the water closet while keeping a tight grip on the waist of the trousers. They were so large on him that if he let go, his trousers would be down at his knees. The shirt billowed around him, even though he had tucked it into the trousers as was customary in Escarland. The sleeves would have been the right length, but the shoulder seams drooped halfway down his upper arms since he did not have the shoulder breadth of the person for whom this shirt was designed.
He looked much how Essie had when she had borrowed his clothes on the day they married, except that she had managed to look adorable while he was just pathetic.
Thankfully, Miss Merrick had left, and only Iyrinder and Captain Merrick remained in the guardhouse to see how ridiculous he looked.
“You look like a gangly youth trying on his father’s clothes.” Captain Merrick shook his head. “Hopefully people will assume I’m your older brother rather than your father. I’m not that old.”
“If you were an elf, you would be old enough to be my father.” Farrendel shrugged, causing one of his sleeves to droop even more off his shoulder.
“Your generations must get interesting.” Captain Merrick held up what looked like a rope and a Y-shaped belt. “Here, tie this rope to tighten the waist, then these suspenders will keep your trousers from falling down.”
Suspenders? Farrendel took the items with one hand, not daring to release his trousers even for a moment. That was when he noticed Iyrinder had a rope tied around the waistband of his trousers. The suspenders were buttoned to the trousers with one strap in the back that branched into two straps going over his shoulders.
Farrendel held it up. “Do these suspenders help carry weapons?”
“Nope. They just hold your trousers up. Since I’m assuming you don’t want to end up with your trousers around your ankles in front of half of Aldon, that’s a pretty important job all on its own.” Captain Merrick stepped forward, holding his palms up. “Would you let me assist in getting them on? The back can be tricky.”
Farrendel let Captain Merrick help him get the suspenders attached. They kept the trousers where they were supposed to be, while the rope tightened some of the bagginess.
He could not take his swords, but he hid a knife in his boot and a dagger along his back where it was covered by the wool coat Captain Merrick handed him.
Iyrinder took a coat and put it on over his hair, flipping up the collar as Captain Merrick instructed. When Iyrinder put on a slouch cap that Captain Merrick held out, the tips of his ears and his long hair were covered. As long as no one looked too closely to notice his elven skin tone and features, he would blend right in.
