* * * * *

"oooh chills. That was amazing. I had no idea he had such talent." the younger brother cooed as they watched from their more than comfortable seats before the looking glass.
"The other one is getting to close. We need to put a stop to it right away."
"Agreed. We can't have him meddling now can we?"
The elder brother looked thoughtful, "no need to be too rough... let me see that book." he reached for the large, leather bound book on the table and the elegant quill pen. He twirled it thoughtfully for a moment before scrawling out a quick message.

* * * * *

Ethan escorted Briar Rose back to the coat check to pick up her cloak. He doubted there was anything in the world that could get him down with how good he feeling right now. The audience had loved them. He wouldn't be at all surprised if Topher got to be quite in demand after tonight. He had already told Ethan to go ahead and take the carriage. He would be getting a ride with some of the young ladies he'd met earlier and he wanted to make sure Ethan and Briar Rose had a "good time." He just hoped it didn't all go to Chris' head.
He carefully led Briar Rose through the rain and down the cobbled path. It was well after midnight and most of the couples and guests were starting to slowly trickle out of the ballroom.
One of the stable boys led Chris' horses and carraige out to meet them. Ethan nodded his thanks and tossed them some change before helping Briar Rose into the canopied front seat of the cart. He clicked at the horses and flicked the reins and they were on their way.
Briar Rose smiled, "I had such a great time tonight. I had no idea you and Christopher were such amazing musicians."
"Ah... thanks. But really all the credit should go to Topher. He's a lot more dedicated than I am." Ethan blushed. "Honestly music is more like a hobby..."
"Oh..." Briar Rose fiddled with her hands in her lap, "So what is it that you like to do Ethan?"
"um... Rune Arts. I'm studying with Professor Ardeneaux right now. He was kind enough to let me be his apprentice."
"Ardeneaux? That sounds familiar..." Briar Rose mused aloud.
"Yeah, he's really quite skilled. He's elven though, so he's had plenty of time to study." Ethan smiled. She's actually interested in what I'm talking about? I knew she was more of an intellectual, not just a beauty but brains as well! Keep it cool!
It was quiet for a moment and if Ethan knew anything about conversation, it was that if it started to lag, you ask the other person to talk about themselves. It was a time tested and true rule of conversation. "So tell me about yourself Bri, I don't see you much outside of school..."
She brightened at this, just as he'd thought she would. "Well, I have two younger brothers, twins, Larkspur and Oleander. My mum is a seamstress, so I guess that's why I like it too. Father... well..."
Ethan shook his head, "I heard about what happened. You don't have to talk about that if you don't want to."
Briar Rose looked at the ground, "it's ok. I mean... things like this happen. What about your family Ethan? With your grades and everything, I'm sure you're from quite a noble background."
Ethan coughed a few times, choking back his initial response of, "What does a noble background have to do with how smart you are?!" instead he settled for, "I... um..."
"Oh come now, don't be shy. You can tell me."
Ethan prodded the horses on a little faster, "I really don't think..."
"I've been thinking about it a lot, I mean, you get the best grades, the way you talk, it just reeks of sophistication. But I know most of the businesses in the kingdom and your family's name has never come up. I was thinking maybe... is he foreign maybe? What's your mother's maiden name, maybe I've heard of that?" she started rambling.
Ethan tensed and pressed the horses onward. "My father is a farmer. You havent' heard of us because we don't circulate in popular society. I get good grades because I study, unlike most of the ignorant little prigs at that school who're only there because they were born into rich families."
Briar Rose laughed nervously, "very funny. Y-you're kidding, aren't you?"
"No," Ethan said evenly, "I'm quite serious."
"But... but that's impossible! I've never even heard of a... a..."
"Go ahead, say it. Peasant. Pauper. Poor boy. I've heard them all."
"I didn't think they could even attend the academy..."
Ethan's face was cold. "We made sacrifices."
"But... I thought you were..."
This is all wrong. It isn't supposed to be like this. She's not supposed to be this way. I thought she was different. But I guess she's the same as all the others... Ethan pulled the horses to a stop in front the gate to her house. "I thank you for your company this evening Miss Morely. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go back home and slop the pigs before I go to bed. You understand, don't you?"
She stared back at him with accusing eyes, "How dare you talk to me this way! If anyone should be offended it's me! You lied to me! You made yourself out to be such a wonderful noble gentleman, but you're nothing more than a poor little pauper!"
"Then you'll forgive me if I don't walk you to the door. After all, I'm just a manner less peasant." With that Ethan flicked the reins again and headed the horses back toward the Hodge's shop. He was not looking forward to the trek home in the rain after dropping off the carraige with Topher's parents. How did things go wrong so quickly?! What just happened?!
The rain was still pouring down when he finally put the horses back into their stables. He was so upset he wasn't thinking clearly. He pulled his cloak on over his finery and started walking down the cobbled street and back the long road home. He should probably have taken it off first, packed it carefully away in a bag and carried it home, but he just didn't have the heart to care. He felt so disillusioned.
"Hey. Whadda ya know? It's the pauper... Your frog prince isn't here to save you this time."
Ethan froze like a rodent before a large oncoming vehicle. He felt his blood run cold as several sadly familiar faces appeared from the darkness. The familiar faces he'd been trying to avoid all week were out in numbers tonight it seemed. He tried to run, but they were on every side, at least half a dozen of them. He turned this way and that, trying to get by, but they just pushed him back into the ever tightening circle. The rain poured down so he could barely see, but he didn't have to see them to know exactly who it was.
"So where'd you get the fancy clothes pauper?"
"Betcha he stole 'em."
"Bet his ugly friend bought 'em."
Ethan squirmed at what he knew would be quite a painful experience, but he held his ground. He didn't reply, he just looked solemnly onward. A rough shove from behind sent him to his knees and he cringed as the cobblestones scraped through the thin shiny fabric and soaked up the mud and dirt that dotted the streets. He pulled himself up from the ground, only to be shoved again. His hood had flipped back and his hair was dripping with rain. Rough hands pulled at his arms and held him up.
"We've been more than patient with you pauper." the voice was Jacob's. Undeniably. "But you've really pushed your luck this time. You oughta consider yourself lucky just to breathe the same air we do. What made you think you could take someone like Briar Rose to the king's ball? You! What could you possibly offer her?!"
A fist slammed into the side of his face. Ethan reeled, but they wouldn't let him fall. He wasn't about to take this abuse again. He hadn't studied under Ardeneaux for all these years just to let his skills go to waste. He started a slow, quiet chant, one of the first Rune Arts he'd learned. Rune of the Wind. It blew back the guys that had been holding him in place. He had to be careful. Each spell he cast would take a toll on his energy. The young men before him backed away and he turned to see if there were any behind him, but not quick enough. He received a heavy blow to the back of his head.

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