Chapter 6: Hide and Seek

"My king...this is going to be a problem." Corvus declared.

Ezran frowned, as he looked at himself in the mirror.

He was wearing black and gold dress clothes. A change from his usual, royal red and gold clothing.

"I don't think it looks that bad."

Corvus sighed, as Prince Callum walked into the room.

"Not that. That's fine. My king...your father's statue is being unveiled the day after you are meant to set off for Etheros. You would miss the ceremony."

Callum, who had just arrived, did a double take.

"Wait, what? It's already done?"

"Yes. The artist did both tremendous...and tremendously fast work. It is set to be unveiled tomorrow evening, in the courtyard." Corvus explained. "On a day as historic as this, the king, and..." he paused to look at Callum. "...the king's children should be present."

"What about the conference?" Ezran asked, straightening his buttons, and finding himself making a mess.

Callum came over, and leaned down to help him.

"Ez...this is the statue for dad. We should be there for this." He said softly.

Ezran sighed, looking down through the stain glass window.

"Yeah. But...wouldn't dad want us to be taking this seriously? This trip is really important, Callum."

"Yeah. He probably would." Callum agreed. "But this isn't necessarily about what he would've wanted. This is about...remembering him." He said, sitting back in a chair, having successfully buttoned Ezran's shirt. "Whether he would've wanted us to or not."

Ezran found himself looking at the mirror again. Expression downtrodden. His shoulders slumped.

"I miss him..." he said, looking away from his reflection.

"Hey." Callum said, getting down on one knee, to get level with the young king. "Look at me."

Ezran looked up to see some tears in the prince's eyes. They matched his own.

"I miss him too Ez. Every day." Callum said, pulling him into an embrace. "But he would be so proud of you. I'm so proud of you..." he said, hugging his little brother tightly.

Ezran pulled away suddenly.

"I can't...I'm the king now...kings can't cry." He said, looking up to reveal tears streaming down his face.

"King Ezran..." Corvus spoke, stepping towards him. "Your father cried many times, in these very chambers. And he was no less a king for doing it."

King Ezran nodded, not quite believing it, but feeling reassured by his loyal tracker's words.

"We should...probably stay for the unveiling."

"Yeah. We should." Callum agreed, putting a hand on his shoulder.

Ezran nodded.

"We'll move out right after." He said, a practiced air of determination in his voice. "Have the soldiers ready."

Corvus nodded. "I could lead them, if you wish..."

"No." Ezran said firmly, turning to look at him. "I need you to do something for me."

Corvus frowned, slightly surprised by the king not accepting his offer.

"Of course..."

"Keep an eye on Pryce while I'm gone. I don't know...something about him seemed...really wrong. He reminded me of Lord Viren, a lot...just make sure he doesn't try anything, okay?"

Corvus nodded. "Of course, my king." He said, with a bow.

"Wait, you really think he would do something? I mean, yeah he was a jerk but..." Callum began.

"He's a jerkface. And I know that isn't evil or anything but...the things he says about Rayla...he doesn't like elves. He doesn't want peace with Xadia. Just...keep an eye on him, okay?" He repeated to Corvus.

"Of course, my king. Is there...any particular thing you wish to do today?" Corvus asked, as the afternoon sun shined over Katolis.

Ezran sighed.

"No." He said. "Just...try to have some fun. I'm sure Prince Callum can help."

Callum frowned.

"Fun. F. U. N. Nope. Doesn't ring a bell." He said, staring at the stain glass windows.

"Come onnnnn." Ezran coaxed. "Let's go play hide and seek in the woods!"

"Ez, first off, are you bringing Bait?" Callum asked.

"Obviously."

"That makes it...REALLY EASY FOR ME TO FIND YOU!" Callum exclaimed, ripping open the branches of the bush, his face lighting up as the glow toad's brightness nearly blinded him.

He covered his eyes, then they widened.

As he realized he wasn't looking at King Ezran.

"Uh...hey." Rayla said, an innocent grin on her face, the grumpy looking glow toad in her grip.

The grin on her face widened.

"Oh it's perfect. That face." She said, pointing at the bewildered prince.

Callum continued to stare, truly mystified at the deception.

"Somebody call the royal painter, we need this face hangin up in the palace!" Rayla called, as Callum just slowly shook his head.

"But...Bait...Ez...you?!"

"That's right. Might I remind you, Prince Callum, that I serve the King of Katolis, and that his word is law? So if his word is hold up a glow toad in a bush in order to provide a distraction to the pursuing Prince, well...mah hands are tied." She said with a shrug.

"Wow. He's never thrown me for a loop like this." Callum admitted. "Clever kid."

"Always has been." Rayla replied, rolling out of the bush, still grinning. "Ye've got till sundown and you'll still never find him."

Callum turned to her, a grin slowly forming on his face.

"So where is he?" He asked.

"Oh please, Callum, I'm sworn to his service." She said mockingly. "I can't tell ye where he is."

"But Rayla..." Callum reached out, and passionately put his hand under the elf's chin, then leaned in.

And planted a very dramatic kiss on her lips.

"I love you." He said, overselling it as much as he could.

"I love you too Callum." Rayla replied her eyes gazing dreamily back at him. "And that was really a nice try. But no. I'm not tellin ya."

Callum's eyes locked with hers. Then darted from side to side.

"Blink twice if he's over there." He whispered, jerking his head toward another large section of brush.

Rayla blinked once. Then unleashed a flurry of blinks, much to the prince's annoyance. He threw his hands up in the air in half hearted frustration, and the elf began giggling.

From the ground, Bait let out a grumble.

"Where is he? Can you find him, Bait?" Callum asked, rolling the glow toad over, and rubbing his stomach.

"Good luck with that. He's hungry, he'll lead you to the nearest jelly tart, ya still won't find Ezran." Rayla teased, turning and walking through the underbrush, as a few snowflakes began to fall.

Callum felt a few land in his hair, then held out his hand, looking down at them as they melted in his hand.

"It's just about that time of year already, isn't it?" He asked, looking up at the sky, as it began to grey.

Winter had been coming. Eventually. For a long time. And now finally, it was here.

And predictably, his thoughts now drifted to his stepfather.

He looked down as the snowflakes began to accumulate on the grass.

"Give up yet?" Rayla called, her voice distant.

Callum shook off the thoughts, before turning to look back at her.

"Obviously not. I'm just gonna follow you." He said, standing up, and running after her. "You'll lead me to him."

"I will not!" Rayla replied, jumping up and grabbing a tree branch, swinging around it. "Ya can't keep up with me, Callum."

Callum got distracted again, turning and watching as snow began to fall in front of the castle.

Rayla jumped to a different tree, and hung upside down next to Callum, frowning as she noticed his distracted expression.

"Ya in there?" Rayla asked, tapping his head.

Callum sighed.

"Yeah. Just...yeah."

Rayla dropped down from the tree, a look of concern in her eyes.

"Hey." She said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "What's the matter?"

She immediately felt a twinge of regret at asking. Knowing she very well might be the cause.

Callum shook his head.

"Nothing. Nothing. Aren't you supposed to be running or something?"

"Callum..." Rayla said, looking worriedly into his eyes. "I can tell when you're not okay."

Callum bowed his head.

"A lots happened since last winter." He said, taking a deep breath, and letting it out. "Nothing's the same now." He looked up at her, and was momentarily worried that he'd offended her. "It's good, it's great the way it is now, it's just...not the same."

"No. It's okay, I know what you mean." Rayla said, running her hand along his face. "You miss him, don't you?"

Callum didn't have to reply. He looked down at the snow again.

"I don't have a family anymore. My mom, my stepdad, they're gone. Even Aunt Amaya is off in Xadia. Everything's changing so fast...now it's just me and Ez." Callum said, slumping his shoulders. "And you. And I'm about to lose you..."

"Cmon Callum, don't think like that." Rayla pleaded, preemptively wiping at his eye. There were no tears yet. "Please. I'm still here."

"I miss Zym too." Callum said, sitting down on the increasingly snowy grass. "Our little dragon gang's all broken up."

"Maybe I'll stop by on my way." Rayla said with a weak smile. "See how he's doin. Tell him ya said hi."

"He misses us." Ezran said, stepping out of the bush, and walking over, to sit next to his brother. "I can feel it."

Callum lazily tilted himself towards him, then jabbed him in the side.

"Found you."

"You guys weren't even trying. You get so distracted by each other now." Ezran grumbled.

"That's a good word for it." Rayla said with a chuckle.

Ezran paused, then turned to look at his brother.

"Is this that sandwich thing?"

"No. I mean...yeah kinda." Callum admitted.

"Sandwich?" Rayla asked.

"You don't know about sandwiches either?!" Ezran exclaimed, eyes wide. "Callum, she's old enough, tell her about sandwiches!"

"She knows about sandwiches." Callum replied, standing up, and looking at the castle.

"I thought I did. I know Xadian sandwiches. Are they different here?" Rayla asked innocently.

"Callum had a dream about a sandwich once!" Ezran exclaimed. "He was really really...excited about that sandwich. It must've been really good. Ugh, now I'm hungry."

Rayla arched an eyebrow.

"Oh really?" She asked, turning her gaze to a red faced Callum. "Whose sandwich was that?"

"Nobody's! I mean...mine! My sandwich, I made it myself, and it was...really good! And I was excited about it." Callum stammered.

The sun was sinking, as the winter brought the night sooner than usual.

"It's getting late. We should probably head back." Callum said, standing up. "We've got a long day tomorrow, Ez."

The trio made their way back toward the castle. Rayla allowed Ezran to get ahead of herself and Callum, then turned and nudged the prince in the side.

"Who was it made of? Claudia?" She asked, a knowing look in her eyes, eyebrow still raised.

"What? The sandwich? No! It was made of...bread..." Callum said frantically. Then he hung his head in shame. "And Claudia."

He received a playful jab to the ribs.

When he looked back to Rayla, his face red, he saw an understanding face looking back at him.

A smiling face.

"Hey. I love you, Callum." She said, firmly.

Callum felt the cold of the snow now whipping around him melt away as the warmth spread through his chest.

"I love you too, Rayla." He replied with a smile.