The next morning, Sparrow and Waterstone came in together with the prince’s breakfast.
“Good morning, you two. Are you better now, Sparrow?”
“Morning, Tarkyn. Yes, I’m better. Are you?”
Before he could answer, Waterstone’s voice cut in sharply. “I beg your pardon, young lady. What did you just say?”
Sparrow thought back and repeated faithfully, “Morning Tarkyn. Yes, I’m better. Are you?”
“Sparrow, you do not call a prince just by his first name,” scolded her father.
“But I did yesterday and you didn’t say anything.”
“Hmph. I may not have noticed at the time, but I’m noticing now.”
The prince in question coughed apologetically, “My fault, I’m afraid. I introduced myself to Sparrow as Tarkyn”
“I see,” said Waterstone, although he was clearly at a loss about what to do next.
The pri
