Page 91 of The Frog Prince

“Some were too young, others old enough that they deserved to spend the rest of their lives in peace,” he said. “None of them deserved such a fate.”

He turned to stare into the flames, nightmarish faces taunting him, cursing him. He wanted to beg them for mercy, to get on his knees and plead and supplicate, to pay restitution even though it would never be enough.

“Alwin?” Otto called. It sounded like he’d been calling for some time.

Alwin ripped his eyes away from the flames and shook his head.

“Are you all right?” Otto asked, shuffling closer on his knees until he was in front of him.

“Once she was satisfied with his despair, she punished the prince,” Alwin said instead of answering. “A pitiable end.”

“You were there for it all?” Otto asked softly as the silence drifted between them for a time.

Alwin closed his eyes. “Yes.”

“It’s a terrible fate. I’m sorry.”

“The prince was a fool. He deserves no compassion,” Alwin said harshly.

“He didn’t deserve what happened to him,” Otto argued. “Of course he deserves compassion.”

“He got his people killed. Buried them far from home and their families with nobody to pay respects. He should have known that angering a powerful witch wouldn’t end well, yet he still did so.”

“So he should have given in to her desires no matter his own?”

“If that would have kept them safe, anything is worth suffering.”

“The blame lies squarely with the witch. Those with power shouldn’t wield it to selfishly get what they want. He was just in his refusal, her actions thereafter are her own and nothing to do with him,” Otto said firmly.

Alwin wished he could believe it.

Otto gathered his hand into his, and Alwin was too weak and lovesick to pull away.

“I think the prince would be happy to know his belongings fell into your hands. I can think of no one better to take up his mantle,” Otto whispered.

“We are nothing alike.”

“The mourning tales speak of someone smart. Someone with goodness and kindness, who cared for his people. I think you are exactly alike.”

The words gutted Alwin, and his eyes stung, still cursed not to be able to release the tears. He let out a sob anyway, screaming in his head,It’s me, it’s me!

Otto gathered him in his arms, cradling him close, not knowing the source of his pain but trying to relieve it all the same. Healing him with his compassion.

Alwin sank into it and allowed himself to mourn in front of another for the first time until he felt cleansed of it.

Fifteen

Otto

“So, anything in particular you’d like to do today?” Alwin asked as they sat on the stairs leading into the ruins, eating their meager breakfast of mushrooms and berries.

The frogs had been so proud to present it, and Otto absolutely refused to let Alwin bargain more precious items in exchange for more.

Otto’s breeches sat low on his hips, and he had his cape on but his shirt unbuttoned. He had taken to wearing very little around Alwin, as much as the weather and nearby fires would permit, desperately hoping he could coax him into doing the same.

Alwin was stubbornly shy about Otto seeing any more than he had already shown him, even at night in their lilypad bed. Otto was trying to be respectful of it, which was incredibly hard because Alwin was…well…Alwin, and Otto wanted him.

All the time.