Reunion at Sea

Heal

To Rapunzel's surprise, King Trevor actually took them to a medic, who quickly set to work examining Varian. Adira waited outside the closed tent flaps while Rapunzel stood off to the side with King Trevor and the others. "I don't get it, why would you want to help him? I know you recognized who he was."

"Any enemy of Frederic is a friend of mine." King Trevor chuckled. "Although, I would have offered my assistance regardless, seeing how he is only a child. I am curious, how did he end up out here? I was told by my spies that he'd been locked away in the dungeon."

"I guess your spies missed it, but he was sent out on the prison barge along with Lady Caine and Andrew of Saporia." Rapunzel sighed.

King Trevor's eyes lit up. "Oh, he knows the Saporians!"

"Why do you look happy about that?" Eugene asked.

"Because it means we have a mutual ally. Equis has been supporting the Saporians for centuries." King Trevor casually revealed. "If only the Princess would accept my hand but, alas, she turns me down just as Arianna did years ago."

"Princess?" Rapunzel asked, surprised. "Saporia has a Princess?"

"And a Prince, who you know." King Trevor sighed dramatically. "Ah, if only I could have rescued him for her, but, alas, I was unable to locate where in the dungeons he was kept!"

"...Wait." Eugene looked at Rapunzel. "He's not talking about Andrew, is he?"

"Who else?" King Trevor looked annoyed, then turned to see the medic looking out at them.

"Who is this child's guardian?" The medic asked.

Adira walked forward. "What's the matter?"

She looked up at him. "Who are you to him?"

"His aunt, though we only met recently." She admitted.

"I see." She cleared her throat. "Who is this child in the care of?"

Rapunzel stepped forward. "Uhm, me?"

"Have you seen his back?" The medic asked sharply. Eugene sucked in his breath and Rapunzel nodded while Adira looked confused. "Do you know how it happened?"

"What is going on?" King Trevor asked. "Out with it."

The medic came out and sighed. "Very well. Your Majesty, the boy has a concussion from the blow to his head, but the biggest damage is the infection caused by sub-par medical treatment for the wounds all over his back. I've woken him up, he should not be sleeping with a concussion, and he refuses to tell me where the scars came from. They look both old and new, layered upon each other."

"Scars?" Adira breathed, her eyes wide.

Rapunzel looked at her. "Adira--"

"Adira, I'm back." Hector said, walking up to her. "Where's the kid?"

"He's being treated." She turned to him. "Hector, he's hurt badly, he has scars on his back. I haven't seen them yet--"

Hector's eyes went wide and then he shoved past the medic to enter the tent, Adira behind him. Rapunzel shifted nervously, then jumped when Hector came out yelling, "WHAT HAPPENED?!"

"He was in prison!" She cried, stepping back in alarm. "I didn't know it was happening, my father was having him whipped every month when he turned down a horrific offer!"

King Trevor's eyes went wide. "Frederic, really?" He murmured. "I never thought him the type."

"...Your father. The one that let Quirin's home get destroyed by the rocks with his inaction?" Hector asked with a venomous tone. "The one that took the flower, against Quirin's advice? THAT 'father'?"