frequent emotional breakdowns. It was well into a third week that Lucian realized his punishment hadn’t ended yet. He continued going to his classes, thinking that perhaps he’d simply misheard Maeve. He was helped by a trip to town, which many in his age group had needed, to buy trousers. At least people weren’t laughing at his high-waters anymore. By the beginning of a fifth week of slippers and tears Lucian felt somewhat panicked. He was sure Maeve hadn’t said a month or a semester. He went up to Calista’s office to ask her about it. When he entered her office, she looked up from her desk and asked, “Lucian, can I help you with something?”
“I’m still wearing Moira’s shoes and crying all the time. I was only supposed to be punished for a fortnight.”
“Oh,” she said. “Maeve’s spell must have been more potent than she intended. That happens when they’re this close to the Change. Althea has said it will happen within the next six months. I hope it occurs during winter break while you boys are away.”
“But what are you going to do about my punishment? I’ve worn these slippers for over a fortnight and all that’s happened is they’ve gotten tighter and I’m an emotional wreck.”
“Lucian, as you well know, there is nothing I can do about your punishment. Think about the words Maeve used. Sometimes even though they set a time limit, there are other things that might preclude that. Did she say anything other than the two weeks?”
Trying to remember, he said, “Something about making wrong right and walking in Moira’s shoes.”
“Well, that certainly explains the slippers and the mood swings. Girls can be very difficult during this stage in their lives. That’s why I prefer working with boys,” Calista admitted. “You’ll have to make things right with Moira.”
“Great, then I’m going to be stuck in her shoes for eternity because she hates me and will never forgive me,” he muttered.
“Nonsense. You just need to ask her forgiveness.”
“I’ve sent her a letter apologizing every week. Sometimes I’ve sent two letters. Every letter I’ve sent to her has been sent back. She doesn’t want to hear that I’m sorry.”
“Try again,” Calista said. “Perhaps through this you’ve learned that words can cut far deeper than swords.”
Anger filled Lucian and he shouted, “Well this is your fault, so why don’t you fix it?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“I wouldn’t have said what I did if I hadn’t been worrying about my dad. I wouldn’t be worried about my dad if he wasn’t so sick, if I had known before Moira came. My dad is dying and it’s your fault,” he yelled, banging his fists on the table. “He’s giving up because nobody at this stupid school thought he was worthwhile. You let him marry my mom, but nobody knows his story. There’s no painting of him in the hallway. Nobody reenacts his quest. He’s not considered a Prince Charming even though he’s better than any prince ever. He’s going to die thinking he was just second best because of you. He’ll think my mom was disappointed in him because of you. It’s your fault!” He slumped back into his seat, shaking like a leaf in a thunderstorm.
For a long moment, the only sounds were Lucian’s sobbing and the soft pattering of raindrops against the window. “Lucian,” Calista said at length, “this is not my fault.”
“It is your fault,” he insisted between sobs. “You couldn’t let him be what he wanted. You couldn’t let him live his dream. You rejected him.”
“I’m not talking about your father, Lucian. You can’t blame anyone but yourself for what you said. You can’t blame me or your father or anyone else. You said those things, not me. The situation with your father is complicated. I’m not the only one responsible for that decision. There were many things to be considered. He didn’t go to our school.”
“You wouldn’t let him!” he cried.
“Let me finish,” she interrupted. “Yes, he managed to get through every obstacle, but at a price. One of our students was denied what should have been his.”
“He gave up! My dad had the courage to save her, not Maximillion. I know what happened, Phillipa told me.”
Calista considered him for a moment. “Lucian, I wish you would look at this from our perspective. It doesn’t look good when someone who is not from your school rescues the princess while your student flees. Right or not,” she continued before Lucian could interrupt her again, “it was not deemed appropriate to write the story. Your father is a wonderful man; deserving of every happiness life has to offer.”
“Then give this to him,” he begged. “Don’t let him die thinking he wasn’t good enough.”
Silence fell over the room. “You need to go back to your dormitory. Get your homework done and write to Moira. I don’t want any teachers saying that you haven’t completed your homework.” Calista paused before saying, “Your father would want you to do your best, especially in his condition.”
Lucian swiped at the tears on his face. “I’m sorry I yelled.”
“Under normal circumstances, I would have sent for one of the Sisters to deal with your behavior. A gentleman knows better, and I believe I can say quite confidently that you are indeed a gentleman. However, considering the stress you must be under and the heartache you are feeling, I’ll let it slide this time. However, do not expect to be able to speak so disrespectfully to me again.”
“I won’t. I am sorry.”
“You needn’t be,” she said. “You made some very valid points, even if not in the appropriate manner. Consider yourself forgiven and go do your homework.”
As Lucian left the office, Calista got out a piece of paper and began writing.
As the semester wound to a close, Lucian’s mother had written him to say that he and Allegra would not be coming home and that she expected each of them to be on their best behavior while in Lictthane. Allegra had written to him saying that she was sorry she’d ignored him and that she’d forgiven him for being so cruel.
There was also a spring schedule and supply list. Luckily he already had everything he needed, though he was sure that he would have to take a trip to the store to buy another new pair of trousers. The ones he’d bought recently had also become too small. Gelasia had measured him and said, “Well, you’re certainly catching up to everyone. You’re nearly five seven now.”
“Terrific! I only need to grow two more inches to be the same height as Moira,” he had said.
Gelasia had laughed, “Well, my dear, you’re assuming that she hasn’t grown again.”
This was met by a flood of tears and she had gently reassured Lucian that she was sure no matter what Moira’s height, she would still appreciate him as the charming prince that he was.
Moira also had written to him. He tore the letter open and was slightly disappointed to read:
Dear Lucian,
I forgive you. Please return my slippers; those are my favorite pair.
Moira
“Great,” he said aloud as the slippers disappeared off his feet and he felt a flood of normal emotions fill him. “She didn’t forgive me because she’s actually forgiven me. She just wanted her shoes back. Well, she can have them; they’re awful.”
“Talking to yourself again? Must be crazy,” Adrian teased.
“I just got the longest letter ever written,” Lucian replied, showing Adrian the missive.
“Yeah, well, Moira never did mince words. So are you going to send the slippers back?”
“I can’t; they disappeared after I read her letter. She probably already has them.”
“I hope so,” Adrian said as they walked to supper, “because if she doesn’t get those slippers back, you’ll be back where you started.”
At supper the boys sat with their friends, discussing the upcoming meeting with their princesses. “I hope you don’t blow it this time, Lucian,” Kaelen said in the tone he had picked up over the last few months. Most of the boys believed that it was because his growth had sky-rocketed in recent weeks. Kaelen was growing faster than any of them and had filled out consider
ably, his body taking on the look of a man. Between the trips to town for new clothes, teasing about his voice cracking, and all the other changes that came with growing, the boys believed he was becoming moody because of it.
“Kaelen,” George chided, “knock it off, would you? Lucian has apologized to Moira and set things right. Otherwise he’d still be a water fountain; no offense, Lucian.”
Lucian shrugged, “None taken. Anyway, I doubt I could make things any worse with her. I mean, I’ve hit rock bottom so the only way to go is up, right?”
“Yeah,” Jacobi agreed.
Finals left Lucian feeling tired and somewhat discouraged. Though he had done as Calista had told him after his outburst, he still felt he’d fallen behind. He was now desperately trying to reach where he thought he should have been all along. Shame filled him as he thought of what his father would have done if he’d heard that Lucian had decided to simply quit. The one class he really wanted to do well in was dragon fighting. Draconus had become more boorish than ever while Lucian had been punished. Now that he wouldn’t burst into a fit of tears, Lucian was sure he could beat him.
The boys entered the arena-like classroom at the end of the day. Vulcan reminded them that they were not to go for death strikes. “A dragon’s soft spot is at the base of the neck; however, you will thrust your point between his arm and body.”
“Please, like anyone will get that close,” Draconus drawled. “Well,