Cas? Is it really you? Jay sounded dazed as he picked up the call. Like everyone else in the capital, he’d thought the prince was dead until the article had been released that he had been found alive at the border. Receiving a call after a week of silence on top of that had been nothing short of shocking to him.
“It’s really me,” Cas told him with a half-smile, imagining the look on his friend’s face as he revealed that he hadn’t been killed. While he’d been in the other districts, he’d convinced himself that no one had cared that he was gone, so it felt good to hear genuine relief in the other high born’s voice. It was the confirmation he’d longed for that told him there were at least a few people who had missed him.
Oh my god, what happened? Jay asked, practically stumbling over himself in his haste to get the words out. Are you okay? I read an article that said you were almost dead when security found you!
“I’m fine now,” the prince assured him, leaning back on the bed. “It’s kind of a long story, and I promise I’ll fill you in later, but I actually called because I wanted to ask you for a favor.”
Anything, Jay replied promptly. What do you need?
“Well…” Cas frowned as he decided on the best way to approach it. Knowing that his friend had probably only heard the media’s version of what had happened, he started by explaining how Iris had helped him stay alive when he’d been on the run from the rebellion and how it was because of her that he’d even managed to get back to the capital without dying from his injuries. From there, he told Jay about how instead of being welcomed into the city, she’d been arrested at the border and taken into custody like a common criminal. He described how she’d been questioned and ended up at the hospital—although he left out some of the more personal details for her sake—as well as his concerns about his father’s unwillingness to see her as anything but an enemy.
“So all that to say,” he inhaled slowly. “I’m going to break her out of the hospital before the soldiers take her back to the penitentiary, and I wanted to ask for your help. We would be breaking the law, so I understand if you don’t feel comfortable—”
I’m in.
Cas blinked, not expecting such a rapid response. “What?”
I said I’m in, Jay repeated. Fuck it. If she saved your life, she shouldn’t be killed no matter where she comes from. I think it’s fucked up that your dad wants to have her killed or banished or whatever, so I’ll help you rescue her. I’m sure Miles will too if you give him a call.
Caspian smiled to himself and shook his head incredulously, amazed by his friend’s willingness to step into his mess without asking any questions. “You understand how serious the consequences will be if we’re caught, right?” he asked, needing to make sure Jay knew what he was getting himself into. “I mean, in plain terms, we’re going to be helping a traitor to the crown evade arrest. This is death-penalty-worthy stuff, man.”
Then we just won’t get caught, Jay replied simply. Look, dude. Stop talking when you’ve already made the sale. I said I’m in, so just tell me what I’m supposed to do.
“To be honest, I’m still working on that,” Cas admitted sheepishly. “I have a few ideas, but nothing is set in stone yet.” He paused, drumming his fingers on his knee. “Why don’t you and Miles come over tonight, and we’ll talk about it when you get here? It’ll be easier to come up with a plan if we’re all together, and we have to move fast. Iris was only guaranteed two days at the hospital, and today was day number one. We might have to do it tomorrow night if we want to make sure we move her before the soldiers come back to take her to the penitentiary.”
Hm, yeah. I’ll see if he’s available, Jay said thoughtfully. How’s seven?
“Seven is perfect. I’ll let security know you’re expected to come over, so they’ll let you in at the gate,” Cas replied, feeling his heartbeat quicken as solid plans were being made. “See you then, Jay.”
Later, Cas. Glad you’re not a corpse.
As the call was severed, Caspian rolled his eyes amusedly at his friend’s last gibe and set his phone down in his lap. Glancing at the clock, he saw that it was still only about one o’clock, so he had plenty of time to pass before Jay and Miles would arrive. He supposed he might as well take a nap to make it go by faster. But first… He picked the device back up and dialed the extension for the security team’s line to tell the guards that he would be having company over later.
“It’s really me,” Cas told him with a half-smile, imagining the look on his friend’s face as he revealed that he hadn’t been killed. While he’d been in the other districts, he’d convinced himself that no one had cared that he was gone, so it felt good to hear genuine relief in the other high born’s voice. It was the confirmation he’d longed for that told him there were at least a few people who had missed him.
Oh my god, what happened? Jay asked, practically stumbling over himself in his haste to get the words out. Are you okay? I read an article that said you were almost dead when security found you!
“I’m fine now,” the prince assured him, leaning back on the bed. “It’s kind of a long story, and I promise I’ll fill you in later, but I actually called because I wanted to ask you for a favor.”
Anything, Jay replied promptly. What do you need?
“Well…” Cas frowned as he decided on the best way to approach it. Knowing that his friend had probably only heard the media’s version of what had happened, he started by explaining how Iris had helped him stay alive when he’d been on the run from the rebellion and how it was because of her that he’d even managed to get back to the capital without dying from his injuries. From there, he told Jay about how instead of being welcomed into the city, she’d been arrested at the border and taken into custody like a common criminal. He described how she’d been questioned and ended up at the hospital—although he left out some of the more personal details for her sake—as well as his concerns about his father’s unwillingness to see her as anything but an enemy.
“So all that to say,” he inhaled slowly. “I’m going to break her out of the hospital before the soldiers take her back to the penitentiary, and I wanted to ask for your help. We would be breaking the law, so I understand if you don’t feel comfortable—”
I’m in.
Cas blinked, not expecting such a rapid response. “What?”
I said I’m in, Jay repeated. Fuck it. If she saved your life, she shouldn’t be killed no matter where she comes from. I think it’s fucked up that your dad wants to have her killed or banished or whatever, so I’ll help you rescue her. I’m sure Miles will too if you give him a call.
Caspian smiled to himself and shook his head incredulously, amazed by his friend’s willingness to step into his mess without asking any questions. “You understand how serious the consequences will be if we’re caught, right?” he asked, needing to make sure Jay knew what he was getting himself into. “I mean, in plain terms, we’re going to be helping a traitor to the crown evade arrest. This is death-penalty-worthy stuff, man.”
Then we just won’t get caught, Jay replied simply. Look, dude. Stop talking when you’ve already made the sale. I said I’m in, so just tell me what I’m supposed to do.
“To be honest, I’m still working on that,” Cas admitted sheepishly. “I have a few ideas, but nothing is set in stone yet.” He paused, drumming his fingers on his knee. “Why don’t you and Miles come over tonight, and we’ll talk about it when you get here? It’ll be easier to come up with a plan if we’re all together, and we have to move fast. Iris was only guaranteed two days at the hospital, and today was day number one. We might have to do it tomorrow night if we want to make sure we move her before the soldiers come back to take her to the penitentiary.”
Hm, yeah. I’ll see if he’s available, Jay said thoughtfully. How’s seven?
“Seven is perfect. I’ll let security know you’re expected to come over, so they’ll let you in at the gate,” Cas replied, feeling his heartbeat quicken as solid plans were being made. “See you then, Jay.”
Later, Cas. Glad you’re not a corpse.
As the call was severed, Caspian rolled his eyes amusedly at his friend’s last gibe and set his phone down in his lap. Glancing at the clock, he saw that it was still only about one o’clock, so he had plenty of time to pass before Jay and Miles would arrive. He supposed he might as well take a nap to make it go by faster. But first… He picked the device back up and dialed the extension for the security team’s line to tell the guards that he would be having company over later.