The False Prince

The next morning, Errol enters the boys’ room with the old clothes that Sage had requested. When Sage inspects them, he realizes that something—a piece of gold—is missing from his pocket. When he asks what has happened to it, Errol tells Sage that he should ask Conner because, when Conner learned that Sage asked for his old clothes back, Conner insisted that he inspect them himself.

Sage is irate that Conner has taken the piece of gold and storms into Conner’s study to demand it back. Conner informs Sage coolly that what Sage believed to be gold was just a painted stone, that the piece was only imitation gold. Sage says it does not matter, that it was a gift and he needs it back. Even when Sage’s pleads, Conner refuses to give it back.

Later that day, Sage is at the stable for his afternoon riding lessons when Cregan and Mott approach menacingly. Cregan pushes Sage so that the apple he is eating goes flying out of his hands, and they demand on behalf of Conner that Sage give back the gold. Sage refuses, so Cregan and Mott drag him from the stables and bring him to Conner in his office.