Chapter Ten
They wandered together through the forest. Bran held his hand the entire time, their fingers laced. They kept a slow but steady pace. Caspian couldn’t detect a particular path, but he had confidence in Bran, who was sure of the way.
They passed by places so beautiful or so unusual or both that Caspian would've remembered had he seen them before. They passed a tree split straight in half, each side draping and warped like string cheese, a bog that bubbled slowly, thick, green bubbles breaking the surface and exploding wetly, and several times they passed flowers unlike any Caspian had ever seen before.
They passed beneath the mighty branches of a towering tree, and suddenly they weren’t in the forest anymore. Caspian blinked. He looked over his shoulder and saw the same great tree, but the woodland beyond it was gone. He saw rocky terrain instead. A good thirty feet out the rock gave way to grass. Plains stretched ahead, the horizon dotted by forests and other nameless structures that Caspian couldn’t quite make out.
Caspian said nothing. In a way, he was afraid to speak. The feeling that he was a long way from home gripped him tight, and it made him feel like he could be impossibly lost if he so much as put a toe out of line.
There was a comforting, familiar scent on the breeze, almost like rain.
Bran squeezed his hand. “We continue forward.”
Caspian turned to look in front of him. In the near distance he could see a cliff face, and beyond that, water. An ocean.
“You live somewhere across the ocean?” Caspian asked. “You came all this way to see me?”
Bran chuckled. “Not quite, hatchling. Come. You will see for yourself.”
They approached the cliff face. The ocean stretched out as far as Caspian could see, uninterrupted by vessels or structures.
“I can’t fly,” Caspian said. He was fairly sure that Bran knew that, but the closer they drew, the more concerned Caspian became. He didn’t think a raven would be able to carry him to whatever palace they had built beyond the horizon. “I don’t think I can swim all that way, either.”
“So I’ll fly for us,” Bran said. “We won’t have to go far.”
A rustling noise distracted Caspian. He looked at it and was stunned to see that a pair of black wings had sprouted from Bran’s back. They were folded close to his body, their feathers large and iridescent. Caspian could already tell that when fully stretched, they’d be staggeringly wide.
“Bran?” Caspian asked, breathless.
“Mm?” Bran asked. They stood now at the edge of the cliff. Caspian had yet to look down, but he knew that it had to be a far, far drop.
“Those wings. Is that—”
“Come here, hatchling. No more time for questions. You will have answers in time.”
Caspian’s tongue felt too large for his mouth. He swallowed awkwardly, but he couldn’t get over the sudden terror he felt. If Bran planned to carry him across the ocean, what would happen if Bran lost his grip? What if he got tired? What if Caspian weighed him down more than he expected and they both plummeted to their deaths?
Before Caspian could worry anymore or voice his concerns, Bran drew him against his chest.“Hold tight.”
With no time to reply, it was the last warning Caspian got before Bran lifted him from his feet with ease as if Caspian weighed next to nothing. Bran seemed so strong as he held Caspian in a powerful grip in his arms and dove from the cliff.
Caspian couldn’t find the breath to scream. His fear came out as a squeak instead, drowned out against the rushing air around their bodies. Looking sidewards to see where they were going, he clung to Bran with everything he had.
Seconds before they hit the surface of the water, he could feel the spray on the side of his face when their fall was interrupted. Bran’s massive wings had expanded, and he corrected their course, so they soared instead of fell. They traveled mere feet above the surface of the water at incredible speeds, then lifted up from the water’s surface to take to the sky.
Caspian closed his eyes. It was the same, weightless feeling he had in his dreams of nothingness—only this time he wasn’t alone. Not seeing made the experience more terrifying. He opened his eyes again and attempted to relax and enjoy the journey.
Bran looked down at him, lit up from the inside and laughed in untethered delight. With a flap of his wings, they rose higher. Bran’s dark eyes were filled with joy. His lips were spread with mirth. He was radiant.
“Bran?” Caspian tried to call over the noise of their flight.
Caspian saw the man behind his lover for the first time—Bran wasn’t just a prince bound by obligation, but he was a man who cherished the simple things in life. Like Caspian's thrill-seeking friends who liked rollercoasters, bungee jumps, and other terrifying forms of fun.
The freedom of flight suited Bran better than any fine-tailored outfit would. Seeing him this way made Caspian forget his fears. He could only think he looked forward to getting to know the man who shared his soul.
Bran circled and headed back toward the cliff. Looking to his side again, it was only then that Caspian saw it—a sprawling settlement built into the sheer cliff face. The cliff had been carved into sections, while building outwards in others. Buildings clung to the face of the cliff, secured by carefully positioned support beams. Wooden bridges were suspended by ropes and sturdier-looking walkways connected the buildings. Ladders bridged vertical differences between structures.
The system appeared complex, but Caspian figured most of the people in this dimension had wings, so no one needed to make use of the walkways, anyway. He guessed they were a convenience for the injured, or for visitors like himself.
As they approached the cliffside settlement, three men dove from buildings and spread their wings, rising to meet them. They circled Bran and Caspian at a respectful distance, and once Bran touched down on a segment of the settlement that seemed to function a lot like a dock, the three others joined them.
“Your Highness,” one of the men said in greeting. All three bowed.
“At ease,” Bran insisted. “Has all been well since my departure?”
“As well as could be expected.”
It bothered Caspian that none of them wore clothes. He was in a different dimension—a dimension where good-looking men and women had silken black wings. Much as he didn't want to join them in their nudity—he’d feel far too self-conscious—he also felt that clothes marked him out as different, even more than the fact that he was obviously a different species.
“Good.” Bran took Caspian’s hand. “Then as long as there’s nothing to tend to, I intend to show my beloved the palace. Reach out should anything urgent arise.”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
All three men dove from the dock, and Caspian watched in wonder as they took to the sky. It appeared majestic in a way he didn’t think he’d ever get over.
“Your Highness, huh?” Caspian asked. “Are they going to behead me if I call you Bran?”
“No. But they may laugh.” Bran looked Caspian over, eyes dazzling with humor. “No one’s used to seeing their Prince so casual.”
“You're casual?” Caspian hitched an eyebrow.
“The duties of the royal family are serious and not to be taken lightly,” Bran said. “I haven’t been allowed to be myself since I was a young man. You bring out the best in me, hatchling.”
Caspian puffed up with pride. He squeezed Bran’s hand.
“Now,” Bran said. “Let’s explore my home, shall we? It’s been a long time since I went anywhere without flying, so we’ll explore the bridges and ladders together.”
Caspian leaned into Bran, who kissed the side of his head. It was simple, but it was perfect.
“Let’s go,” Caspian said.
So they did.
They made their way to a place on the outskirts of the cliffside palace, far from where they’d landed, nearly kissing the ocean below. The small bedroom had a modest balcony, and Caspian leaned against the railing and watched the water below. Seashells and tiny, colorful stones had been left between the balusters. Bran leaned beside him. His wings were gone.
“This used to be my favorite place,” Bran said. The sound of the ocean complimented his voice and filled the silence between his sentences. Caspian felt at home. “When I was a fledgling, I used to come here to escape the main palace. No one cares much about this room. No one but me. It’s too far away from the central hub to be of much use.”
“I don’t know,” Caspian said. He kept his eyes on the ocean. “It’s so close to the water it feels like I’m standing on it. It’s not too big. It’s… lovely.”
“I thought so, too. It's become my retreat.”
They didn’t touch each other, but Caspian felt more bonded to Bran than he ever had before. In bits and pieces, he was discovering Bran’s world.
On the way to this room, they’d avoided the central hub for fear of running into the King. Caspian wasn’t ready to meet Bran’s father, and he didn’t think Bran was ready to introduce him, either.
Instead, they’d stuck to the small wooden rooms built around it. Some had been larger than they’d appeared from the outside—the cliff behind them dug out, so half the room was suspended above the ocean while the other half was encased in rock—but others had simply been small rooms designed for rest or meetings or study.
There’d been books written in scripts, languages which Caspian had never seen before, and strange items that Caspian didn’t recognize and was afraid to touch. From time to time, they’d passed others of Bran’s kind, but conversations had been short and to the point. Bran had protected Caspian from them, always taking the lead and never forcing Caspian into a conversation.
Through observing the interactions, Caspian witnessed how well Bran fit his regal status. He was clearly in command, and everyone they’d met seemed to respect and obey him.
Spending time together in this faraway room, Caspian appreciated Bran even more.
“When I was young,” Bran said softly, looking out across the water, “I would shirk my duties and fly to the Hercynian Dunes beyond the horizon. I would sun myself and collect shells and stones, and come back from that paradise rested and stress-free. Whenever I did, I would leave my finds here.”
Caspian glanced at the shells and stones left between the balusters. “These are all yours from when you were young?”
“Every one of them,” Bran said. He kept his gaze on a point in the distance. Caspian watched him now, enchanted by the story and the dreamy look on Bran’s face. “I feared if I brought them to my room in the hub, they would be disposed of.”
“But someone has to come clean here from time to time, right? They didn’t throw your shells away?”
“I made it a point to befriend the maid.” Bran grinned. He tore his gaze from the horizon and winked at Caspian. “He was easily charmed by a young, bright-eyed prince. Since then, I think word has spread that the stones and shells here are to be left alone. They’ve become as much of the palace as the cliff face. I don’t think I’ve ever told another person about how much this one, small room means to me.”
“It means a lot that you’re sharing it with me.” Caspian slid a little closer. “It’s beautiful.”
Bran smiled. He looked out over the water again. “One day, I’d like to bring you to the dunes. I’d like to take you to see the Baltian Forests and the treetop city of Sylna. Once word spreads of who you are, I think you will be be loved by the people.”
“I…” Caspian trailed off, unsure of what to say. He was touched that Bran would share his world like this, but everything was still so new. Caspian couldn't imagine living in this palace with the prince of the realm. He certainly wasn't ready for that yet.
“There are other sights to see, too. If you don’t like the thought of the forest, we could visit the tropical beaches of Quail, or the mountain range in Redfeather. Whatever you like, we can see.”
“I'd like to see it all. To know and understand your world. It's all so new to me. I’m still adjusting. It’s going to take time.” Possibly a lot of time to adjust to palace life.
Living among creatures, people who were so different from the world he knew. It wasn't just clothes and wings. Caspian didn't know the social etiquette of this world. However, he could see that it was formal and hierarchical. At least in how people regarded the Prince. Caspian couldn't envisage how he'd fit in.
“I understand.” Bran kissed the side of Caspian’s head. “It’s a lot to take in. We’ll go slow. I never want to pressure you.”
“It’s not that. I don't feel pressured.”
Well, a little.
“I’m delighted, but a bit overwhelmed,” he continued. “It’s just, until today, just a short time ago, I never knew other dimensions existed. My whole life, I’ve thought my world was the only one.”
“There’s a lot to learn, and a whole lifetime to learn it in.” Bran set a hand on Caspian’s back. “I’ll stand by you every step of the way.”
A shiver passed down Caspian’s spine, and he tucked himself beneath Bran’s arm. As long as they were together, he had nothing to fear.
Footsteps disrupted the moment. Caspian closed his eyes and wished they would leave, but no amount of wishing worked. The footsteps stopped. A man spoke. “Your Highness?”
“Yes?” Bran didn’t turn around.
“The King has left the palace to attend to business in Korintha. The palace is under your rule.”
“Mm. Thank you. Is that all?”
“The King has requested that your consort is properly welcomed. We will host the ceremony tonight.”
Bran laughed dryly. “Of course he’d leave on business. Why wouldn’t he?”
“A ceremony?” Caspian asked in a whisper.
“Don’t worry, hatchling,” Bran assured him. “All will be fine. Everyone wants to welcome you, including my absent father.”
All Caspian could do was trust Bran’s word. Besides, how much trouble could a ceremony be?