"I have to do this. But I have to know you're okay with it first," Prince Owen said. He and his cousin were standing in a parlor with his uncle, the king, seated in a chair nearby.

"What does this quest involve?" his cousin asked. "Will you be gone for a few years? Ten?"

"Forever, actually."

His cousin's eyes widened at this, and the king coughed in surprise. "What is it that will take you away?" his uncle questioned.

Owen turned to him. "I am going to a magical world. When I come out, it will be a hundred years from now. No one still in this land will ever see me again."

"You're just going to disappear?" the king muttered.

His cousin shook his head slowly. "The kingdom will mourn you."

"Don't," Owen insisted. "It's not like I'm going to be dead. In fact, I'll outlive any of you. Just...try to forget about me, and do your best to keep everything going even when I'm gone."

His cousin and uncle exchanged unsure glances. "Must you do this, Owen?" the king asked. "Are you sure?"

"I am."

The king shook his head grimly. "First you come back here dishevelled and riding on a borrowed farm horse, and now you tell us you want to leave forever!"

"I don't know what else to say," Owen said with a shrug. "I've already made it clear my mind is made up. This is my great adventure uncle! You were always telling me I had to go out and do something with my life, and now I have that something. And it's really important to me!"

"I know. I just pictured you fighting a dragon and coming back in a day or two. This is different."

"It sounds like he's going to do it whether we like it or not," his cousin cut in. His eyes flicked toward Owen, who nodded in agreement. "The best thing that we can do is show our support. It will make the inevitable easier to bear."

The king thought about it for a moment, the wrinkles in the skin around his eyes deepening. "Of course," he finally said. "Of course you're going to do it anyway. We can't do anything to stop you. I certainly can't; I can't pretend like I'm your father. It's your choice, and I'll support it."

Owen suddenly wasn't sure. It was true that they were only his uncle and cousin and that they hadn't had much time together. But they still cared about each other.

Noticing his hesitation, his cousin leaned closer. "Everything here is your past," he whispered. "Don't let it keep you from your future."

A smile crept onto Owen's lips. "Are you sure you don't just want me out of the way so you can be king?" he whispered back.

His cousin's face was stern. "I'm serious."

Owen nodded. He knew his cousin understood. He could be pretty wise when he wanted to. He would make a good king.

"If everything is settled," the king said, "The next step is to tell the people."

~*~

"Hear ye, hear ye!" the herald cried. "A notice from the king!" Other messengers had been sent to other cities to spread the same words to all corners of the kingdom.

The citizens of the capital city crowded at the foot of the walls on which the herald was perched. Behind him stood Owen and his cousin.

"Let it be known throughout all the kingdom that His Highness Prince Owen will soon depart on a quest."

Whispers rose from the crowd. People turned to each other to converse in excited tones; most faces were alight with curiosity.

Owen closed his eyes and tried not to imagine their expectant stares boring into him.

"He will journey to a magical land in the hopes of rescuing a fair princess from a curse."

The energy in the throng rose.

"His Majesty the King is pained to say the prince is not expected to return."

There were gasps. "Why is that?" some bold person shouted up in question.

"Is he expected to fail?" another chimed in.

The herald's voice remained smooth. "He will not return, whether or not he succeeds."

The people below became louder, though they were incoherent.

"Should I say something?" Owen asked his cousin nervously.

He shook his head. "Let the message be finished. Then we'll see."

The herald looked to the princes for approval before starting up again. "Since the crown prince will be gone, it is His Majesty's decree that Prince Cedric be named the new heir to the throne."

The people pressed toward the wall, looking like a tidal wave that could topple its stones in an instant. The noise rose like water. "Prince Owen!" someone shouted. "What does this mean?" He looked down and saw many eyes on him and his cousin. His first impulse was to shrink back, but he steadied himself against it. His quest was nothing to be ashamed of.

"I will explain it to you," Owen said, trying to make his voice strong. "You deserve to understand. Here is the simple truth: I was never your prince, not the one I should have been. My title tied me to this kingdom, but my life took me beyond it. All the time that should have been due to you from your future ruler was instead devoted to the princess whom I must now free. I am her prince; my duty is to her. But my cousin is here for you. He has always been and ever will be. He will be your prince."

When he had finished, the people were silent. A few faces were still puzzled or disconcerted, but they all seemed accepting. Several of the people (most likely the ones with more romantic minds) were smiling or tearing up.

"I would like to address them now, if you don't mind," his cousin said quietly.

Owen nodded and took a step back. His work here was finished.