Sofie sneaks out (Patreon)

Sofie laced her boots, fastened her cloak and stole out the door of her quarters. She navigated the narrow, steep cobblestone streets by moonlight and kept to the alcove of shadows, just in case one of the apprentices or priests found themselves sleepless and staring out the window. She knew all recesses and back alleys where one might slip through the cracks, but she faced no issue as she slunk along the walls no more out of place than the moon’s beams.

It was a balmy night, the overwhelming heat of the day rendered clement by the dark and the crisp, briny breeze that came from the sea. The island had quieted too, the incessant, relentless drone of cicadas giving way to the softest of sounds: the gentle swaying of foliage, the distant crash of waves, and the light, brisk patter of her boots.

There was movement in the shadows. Someone was waiting for her at the awning of the great passageway ahead.

Sofie smiled, slid her hand into Lucia’s and pressed her lips against hers. “Have you been waiting long?”

“You’re right on time.”

Not everyone was on time, though. As Sofie and Lucia made their way down the sloped passageway – arching high and proud to stand as entrance and exit from the fortress wall of the Temple – nothing but the night greeted them. They walked down the stone pier to the boats stationed there, all empty and dark, and scoured for one in particular. The unassuming, sea-weathered dinghy waited tied to the furthermost left, as Emilia had promised.

At first glance, the boat looked as desolate as the others. Then something stirred within, and a figure rose from the swarm of shadows, crowned with black hair cut out from the night itself.

“Well hello,” Emilia, her closest friend in the world, smiled up from the bottom of the dinghy.

Two more emerged: Silas, messy-haired and timid, pipping out a “hi” akin a chirp, and Julian, cheery and ready for their adventure. All three had taken shelter in the shallow belly of the boat, crammed and shrouded by the shadows Emilia had manipulated to deepen and engulf them. It was perhaps too much of a precaution, though they didn’t want to risk some stern priest ruining their fun.

They were all set to go, except they were still missing one person.

Predictably, it was her brother who was late.

“Are we sure he didn’t fall asleep?” Emilia asked as Sofie slipped on the bench next to her. “Should someone go fetch him?”

Sofie shrugged, a playful smile tugging at her lips. “If he doesn’t show up soon, I say we go and let him swim to the shore.”

Emilia chuckled and summoned the shadow to envelop them again.

The sea lulled the little ship on its gentle waves. It rippled on around them, set alight with a diamantine glimmer where the moonbeams touched it, dark and unfathomable everywhere else. It stretched on towards the shore of Ituscia with its hills raising like a giant looming in the distance; a couple lights blinked at them from the beach.

When Rafael finally arrived, he did so as if sauntering in at a party. He had a predilection for dramatic entrances, and a love for being seen and admired. He took his time climbing down the steps and walking up the pier, giving a carefree wave as greeting.

Both Julian and Silas jumped up to offer their help. Rafael took both proffered hands, angling a sweet smile to each.

“What took you so long?” Sofie asked, tone flinty.

“I had to get ready,” Rafael said, in that glibly and annoying manner. He settled on the bench next to Silas, who immediately nestled into his side. “Style takes time,” he added, running his fingers along the golden cuffs on his braid.

Indeed, he had styled himself rather thoroughly. Her eyes had grown accustomed enough with the darkness – and even if they hadn’t, she could still have seen the way his lids and cheeks glistened with gold, and noticed the fancy garments that peeked underneath the plain cloak.

“I too styled myself, and I didn’t take so long,” Sofie argued. Well, it did take long, but she was mindful enough to start early on her preparations. She’d traced purple under her eyes, drawing the line far beyond their outer corners, ending in a thick wing-like shape. It was a process that took time and attention. “Besides, you don’t look quite inconspicuous, do you?”

Rafael studied her with a critical eye. A wicked smile flickered over his lips as he reached forward and pulled aside her cloak to reveal the skirt: light violet, embroidered with white lace like climbing flowers.

“Neither do you.”

She snatched the cloak out of his hands with one quick, firm flick. Still, her voice was light. “At least I don’t glisten like a beacon.”

“Shut up.”

“Because you have no defense.”

“Because I’m the prince.”

Sofie smirked. “Yet I’m older.” By mere minutes, but it was a fact she was glad she could dangle over his head.

“Both of you shut up,” Emilia smoothly intervened, “before we’re found out.”

Julian untied the boat and pushed it off the pier, then sat down to row. Out of them, he had the most experience and heartiness for it. On many occasions he’d set out towards the shore to fetch trinkets and treats the adepts had forgotten to request with the usual ship that came and went, earning himself a long string of favors to collect.

As the dinghy slowly drifted, Sofie cast her gaze to the island they were leaving behind. Eschia stood dormant at the heart of the cove, cradled by Ituscia. And well protected it was. In the distance, on each side of the awning of the bay, where arms of land stretched but did not meet  – the gape giving way to the vastness of the sea – stood sentry mighty towers. Sofie could only see them vaguely silhouetted against the sky, watching for anyone coming from the outside world. A handful of young apprentices and two crown heirs sneaking out to the village were no threat.

Eschia was the largest and one of oldest cloisters dedicated to the Twins’ faiths – melded together on the island for adepts of both fae to come and study and practice. Previously, Sofie and Rafael had only visited during one of those pompous parading the royal family was wont to embark on, to be shown around on stage while the Council of Nobles took care of everything behind curtains. Thinly-veiled curtains, to be honest. Anyone with a brain at court knew who really ruled.

For a year now, however, the royal twins had been living on Eschia, and had yet another year of residency ahead of them. For the two of them, this extraordinary apprenticeship, as it had been called, had less to do with faith than it had with optics. The heirs and the Gods worshipped across Ituscia were both twins, which meant each of them were pushed since childhood to seek patronage under one of the fae. The decision of the apprenticeship had been taken, by formal accounts, to honor the Gods; in reality, it was to show the strength of the bond between Crown and Temples. To Sofie, it simply solidified their roles as dolls to tout, as prizes to flaunt. It was extraordinary since there was no expectation to learn, as any other adept would at a Temple. For all the Council of Nobles cared, this was a vacation for them. After all, there never was much expected from the royal twins.

Yet Sofie yearned for more.

Still, political plots aside, Sofie loved it on Eschia. It offered a good respite, and plenty of time to attend to her own academic interests. The Temple housed quite the impressive library.

Besides, it wasn’t as if the twins learned nothing of the Gods’ magic. They’d been praying to their respective idol since they were young children, and had come to have a rudimentary grasp on magic – limited, and mostly for show. Rafael had been taught how to play with light, a party trick he employed to entertain guests. Sofie learned how to blend amongst shadows. Practical, though she had little interest in merely lurking in the dark. She was set to be in the light – to be truly seen and heard.

As the distance between them and the rocky shore of Eschia grew, Sofie decided to kindle the conversation: “I heard Duke Salvatore has arrived in town.”

“And I believe a dinner invitation will come promptly, too?” Rafael said.

“Doubtlessly.”

“Oh, how marvelous it must be,” Lucia cooed, “Attending fancy dinners and balls and banquets.”

They were marvelous: sumptuous affairs where you could always count on delicious food and excellent wine. The guests themselves – well, that was an other matter entirely. There was plenty of pleasant company to be had. People with charming personalities and witty remarks, guests with good humor and terrific dancing moves. It wasn’t all gild; even if they kept the veneer of it, you could still see through the cracks, especially once alcohol got involved.

Parties at court where exciting, yet could be dangerous terrain to tread. It was part of the thrill of it. One needed to be careful with their speech and how they carried themselves. One night at a feast, and you could end up with friends or enemies.

“It’s fun,” Sofie agreed. She took the girl’s hands in hers and held her gaze with a sweet, long smile. “I should take you to a fancy dinner at that fancy restaurant in town. It’ll be so much more fun that dinner with some boring duke.”

Lucia giggled in response.

Chatter continued, shifting between royal parties to priestly studies. Silas, student of the Sun, spoke of  a practical test he was afraid to fail, while Julian reassured him with the benevolent loftiness of one in the upper year. Emilia talked eagerly about her task of walking in the shadows, tonight offering good practice.

“We’re going so slow,” Rafael complained, spearing through a lull in the conversation. They’d covered half the distance to the shore, but that was not enough for this Royal Crown. “If he had a Solomoni sorcerer,” he continued, clicking his fingers in a burst of sudden inspiration.

Sofie cut in to correct him: “Solomon.” They’d met a couple of the sorcerers – Lothian, faring from the Continent and journeying to Ituscia.

“Same thing, same thing,” he waved his hand dismissively. “If we had one, we’d be there in an instant.”

Sofie was quick to pop his ambitious vision.“And the wind would flay us alive.”

“I was speaking metaphorically.”

“I wasn’t,” she retorted without skipping a beat.

Julian joined in, huffing as he turned the oars in the murky water. “How about you row for a change, Raf? If I’m not quick enough for you.”

“Oh no, I know you love it so much,” Rafael chuckled, the sound silvery. “I hope I didn’t offend.” And to truly make sure, he leaned in and placed a kiss on Julian’s cheek.

That melted away any disagreement.

Until a new one arose. As they were nearing the beach, Lucia asked a crucial question whose answer should have been obvious: “Which tavern do we go to?”

“Not that last one,” Rafael immediately said, in that definitive, imperative tone he often employed in courtly matters.

Sofie had to agree with him. It had been a safe choice, in terms of not getting recognized. They came in cloaked, yet no one spared them a second glance. The tables and floor had been sticky with various substances, though – might have been booze, might have been blood, and perhaps others she refused to think about – and the drunk crowd had a penchant for getting rowdy. Still, Sofie had gleaned interesting tidbits from a couple intoxicated patrons at the neighboring table; they harbored understandable discontent at the state of their employment, wrapped up in many a creative expletive.

“If we don’t want to be caught, we should still stick to the taverns near the docks,” Sofie said.

“Or we could just take a walk on the beach,” Silas piped in, head tilted back to gaze up at the sky. “The night is so beautiful.”

They all craned their heads as if on command. Beautiful was an understatement for the expense that reigned over them. Overwhelming in its vastness, bewitching with its dark canvas of twinkling stars and gauzy, mysterious swirls of deep purple. Such a mighty beauty could be humbling.

Sofie found it inspiring.

“We could,” she whispered, sounding almost reverential.

With that, it was decided. Julian and Silas were to buy them flasks of wine and ale – the alcohol was still an essential part of their plan – while the others waited on a shadowy strip of beach.

Not as adventurous an outing as she had anticipated; but as she lay on the cool sand, Lucia’s legs intertwined with her, looking up at the sky, she couldn’t complain.