Kazimir shot Aeralie three hand gestures then followed a young man out of the sunroom room, Perry hurrying after him, looking back to see a single gesture from Aeralie before she turned to Dotty who was saying something to her about taking a slow turn around the garden. 

Kazimir was shown to his own rooms that were close to Aeralie's, two male servants bowing as he entered, a set of clothes already laid out for him. Kazimir looked at them for a moment, then looked at the servants.

"I would like to change alone. Would you get me the items I'll need to send a message to my home country, please?"

The servants bowed and walked out and Kazimir shrugged off his torn up jacket and threw his shirt on the bed, picking up the fresh one.

"What are those?"

Kazimir glanced back at Perry who hadn't left. "What?"

"Those hand gestures you two keep making," Perry said, "Are you two thinking something that I can't hear? Or are you just motioning junk at each other so everyone thinks you're really a translator?"

"What, no," Kazimir said, frowning at him. "It's a sign language. We have a lot of ways of communicating with each other."

"You have a secret language?"

"It's no more secret than any other language," Kazimir replied, shrugging the shirt on, "You just need to take the time to learn it."

His fingers paused as he began to button the shirt and he was quiet for a moment, looking down at the buttons.

"Well, it was started as a secret language, so I suppose it is."

"Why would you need a secret language?"

"Because my family hates me."

"What? Seriously? Why?"

Kazimir looked over his shoulder at Perry, frowning at him. "Hello, my name is Kazimir."

Perry looked blankly at him. "Huh?"

"We weren't even properly introduced to each other and you want to start digging into the personal stuff of my life? No."

Perry pursed his lips and looked away as Kazimir changed his trousers and boots, sitting on the bed to lace them up.

"Can I learn it?"

"The sign language?" Kazimir asked without looking up. He shrugged. "You can, if you want. I don't know why you would want to though. You can speak to Aeralie without any hindrance, unlike everyone else." He straightened, setting his hands on the bed and leaning back, looking at Perry. "Also, I won't teach you."

"What? How will I learn then?"

"Ask Aeralie. But don't get in the way of what she has to do while she's here. We won't stay here long, understand?"

Perry glanced away then down at the floor. "Understood," he muttered.

The servants returned soon after and Perry left. Glancing at one of the clocks as he passed, he noted that he was still well within the hour the captain had set for him so he made his way back to the sunroom on the off chance Aeralie was still there.

As it turned out, she was, but – to his disappointment – she wasn't alone. Princess Cynthia was with her again.

She smiled at Perry when he walked in and gestured to the empty seat at their table.

"Are you joining us?" she asked.

"Um... if I may?"

"Of course," Cynthia said, her smile brightening. Perry couldn't help but smile in return. "Did you notice all those hand gestures Aeralie and her aide were making?" Cynthia continued as Perry took a seat, "Well it turns out it's a sign language. As in they can communicate with their hands, isn't that ingenious?"

"Wait, how did you figure that out?" Perry asked, staring at her.

"I asked and we figured it out with signs," Cynthia said simply, smiling, "So I asked if she might teach me some so we could talk more freely."

Perry stared at her, then held back a sigh.

This princess had beaten him to it.

Cynthia tapped his arm, making him look up and she made two gestured with her right hand.

He looked blankly at her and Cynthia smiled.

"I asked 'How are you?'" she translated.

Perry looked at Aeralie. "So how do I say 'I'm fine?'"

Aeralie showed him and he relayed that to Cynthia.

And on they went, going over signs and learning new ones and Perry realised just how in depth their secret language really was.

Within the hour passed within the blink of an eye.

Within two, three and four also passed.

And Cole stood at the palace gates, frowning up at them, debating on whether he should drag his subordinate out by the ear or not completely humiliate him in front of the ladies. Because that was undoubtedly where he was.

Cole let out a dramatic sigh and ran a hand through his wild hair, yanking his fingers free when they snagged on a knot.

"He's so weak against pretty girls," he muttered, walking through the gates and up the grand walk to the palace, going straight through the front doors without waiting for anyone to open them for him and making his way upstairs.

"Knock, knock. Favourite person coming in," he called as he opened the door to Dalton's office.

Dalton was behind his desk, looking at papers, head bowed, forehead in his palm.

"Have a seat," was all he said without looking up and Cole let out a breath.

"No snapping at me for that today? You must be low," he said, walking over and dropping into a seat. "So... I take it no luck with your merman."

"I don't understand it," Dalton muttered.

"Come on, Dal, he was probably stolen. Can you imagine the price a real merman would fetch? Perry said himself that he was priceless. You have some amazingly loyal servants working under you but no one's perfect. Chalk it up to a loss and let it go. You would have got bored of him anyway."

"It's not like that," Dalton muttered.

"Not like what? Think about it, what would you do with him? It would be creepy to have a human face looking at you constantly like that. How long until you got rid of him anyway?"

"It's not like that!" Dalton snarled, slamming his fist on the table and looking up.

Cole looked at him in surprise.

"It hasn't anything to do with keeping him or profit or prize or any of that worthless stuff!" Dalton snapped, "I didn't even intend to keep him that long!!"

"Huh?" Cole said, staring at him, "But you've been looking for a mermaid for years. A merman is the next best thing."

"Yes but not for a pet!" Dalton cried, "I owe a mermaid my life! I wasn't looking to keep one forever! I just wanted one until... until..."

He gritted his teeth and looked away, his eyes narrowing.

Cole stared at him for a moment, then sank back into his armchair.

"Ohhh," he muttered, slouching down in his seat, settling his linked hands on his waist and crossing his legs at the ankles. "Right... I... I see why you're hurting then."

"I just needed a few more days!" Dalton cried, shaking his head and standing up, "The impossible happened! I found one! I just needed one for a few days and now..."

He was silent for a moment, looking through the balcony doors then banged his head against the glass. "My only goddamn chance... ruined."

"Let's just not mention it," Cole said, "brush it off as rumours. Nothing more. No one need know. It's just flight-of-fancy talk in the city, no one really believes it. It won't go any further and will blow over. No one will know."

Dalton didn't answer.

"It will be fine, Dal," Cole muttered, looking down, knowing Dalton wasn't going to hear him anyway. They were quiet for a while, Cole watching Dalton, Dalton watching... probably nothing. Finally Cole reached for the desk, scrunched up a scrap of paper and threw it at Dalton, bouncing it off the back of his head.

Dalton finally turned, looking at him out of the corner of his eye, glaring.

"I get to join you for dinner, right?" Cole asked, grinning at him.

"If you want," Dalton muttered.

"I want to. I want to know more about your new guests."

"Guest?" Dalton copied, frowning, looking away before remembering. "Ah, the shipwreck duo. Hell, I forgot about them. What a pain."

"Now, now," Cole said, smiling, "Be a good host."

"Nuisance," Dalton replied.

"Don't be mean. The young princess looks quite taken with you."

Dalton glanced at him. "I have no idea who she is," he said, taking his seat again, "She claims to be a princess, fine, but I don't even know where they come from."

"It's a fairly serious title to be throwing around if it's a lie."

"Yes well, people do odd things."

"Shall we test her?" Cole asked, grinning. Dalton frowned at him. "We can do what your cousin did and stick a pea under a million mattresses."

"Let's not," Dalton said, "How many mattresses do you think I have to spare? And my aunt is mad so I'd rather not follow along her lines."

"Everyone thought you mad as well... then you came home with a merman," Cole pointed out.

"I'm not making her sleep on a mountain of mattresses," Dalton said flatly. "And if that's what you pass for entertainment already, you need to head back out to sea on the next tide. If you stay much longer, you're going to get stuck here until the waves pass."

"Hmm, I don't mind sticking it out on land for a while," Cole said, linking his fingers behind his head.

"You? Why? You hate the land."

"I don't hate the land. I just like being on the move."

"You could still join our navy and live a respectable life, you know."

"And follow orders and go where I'm told to go? I'm alright," Cole said, grinning.

"Why are you here by the way?"

"What? I can't visit my childhood friend?"

"I saw you this morning."

"Eh, I came looking for Perry. Idiot got stuck."

"Stuck? Stuck where?"

"With a lady."

Dalton raised an eyebrow at him and Cole smiled.

"Isn't it nice being young and finding someone you like?" he asked. "Minutes just slide into hours. Ah, good old youth."

"Stop talking like an old man," Dalton replied. "If that's your goal then shoo for now. I have work to do and you're a distraction."

"Best kind of distraction."

"That's highly – highly – debateable."

Cole grinned and shoved to his feet, walking out and leaving Dalton to his duties, closing the door behind him.

Something made him pause before he walked away. He was still for a moment, then looked around.

It was that man.

The shipwreck victim Perry had dragged up.

What was his name? Kaz... Kaz... something starting with Kaz.

Kazimir.

He was walking passed at the other end of the hall, looking at a sheet of paper.

What was an unknown guest doing walking around unescorted before anyone bothered to verify their identities? Or at least keep an eye on them until they seemed trustworthy enough.

This was a palace and he was sure he was more safety conscious then the lot of them. Perry could handle himself for a while – he'd probably be happy.

Turning around, he hurried to the end of the hall and looked around the corner. Kazimir was just turning the corner at the other end.

Cole sped down the hall, light as a feather on his feet and peered around, waiting until Kazimir turned the next corner and followed.

Three more corners and Cole half wondered if the guy was lost and, rather than following him, he should just ask if he needed directions.

Until he turned the last corner and Kazimir was gone.

He blinked, startled.

Had he gone into a room? He hadn't heard a door open.

He walked forwards, looking at the various rooms, wondering which one he might have gone into.

"Are you following me?"

~~~~

Next Up: Thursday

Art By: Pinterest

Ok, so overall: Yes, submit dancing on Glass. 

I kind of figured that'd be the response but good to know you guys agree lol

But, question. So on the form for submission it asks 'what makes your story unique?'

... I dunno. What makes it unique? Is it even unique? I'm honestly not sure if it is. Genuine question. 

Say you were submitting this form for Cinderella - readers can submit their favourite stories to be featured so say you were doing that. How would answer this?

This is where I fall down massively in writing -.- I can't sell my work.