Aethan

“Bracathi, bracathi!” I woke to the cry of large fatty fish that jumped out of the water to catch birds that at times rested on the surface about a day away from shore.

I flung back the sheets and almost pelted outside before Prucia fell down in a bow just within my path, “My lord, you are not properly dressed.”

When she called me ‘lord’ I remembered, and was shocked by what I had almost done in my usual haste. I could have ruined everything in that small action.

“Dress me. Quickly, I'd hate to miss the Bracathi feast.” Prucia smiled, and as if sensing my haste she made short work of dressing me with no additional help.

“Where is Mari?” I inquired. I had gotten to know them both a little better. Mari was the older of the two, although Prucia was more developed. Mari was the sensible one that helped them gain favour at court, and Prucia was the voluptuous one that tempted men beyond their point of forbearance. Together they got anything they wanted until Mirax had them become my maidservants.

This was supposedly some great honour to serve the princess, except that they didn't get a princess. They got a prince they were tasked with beautifying day and night. It was a job that would consume much of their time, and a job that took them far away from home.

“You must hate me,” I blurted out without thinking.

Prucia looked up sharply, then lowered her eyes in polite fashion, “You shouldn't say that,” she reprimanded. It was not her place to reprimand me, but I found that I liked her manner of addressing me. She reminded me of Aella. “We don't blame you my lord.”

“And I don't blame you… I know you will have to report my doings to Mirax. Do what you must, I will deal with my own consequences if necessary.” I was willing to suffer if it meant they were not blamed for my actions. Eventually, I knew that my will and that of my father's would clash. I was preparing from now.

Prucia sniggered, “Mari and I have scores of letters penned just for Lord Mirax already. Believe me my lord, he will fall on his own dagger from the inanities within.”

That was intriguing, I wondered if it was true. I gave a slight laugh at Prucia’s amusement, “You wouldn't.”

Prucia's voice tightened. “Do you know how old my father was when they deployed him to the battlements?”

I looked into Prucia's youthful face. She was still older than me, perhaps twenty years. “I don't know, maybe fifty?”

“Add a decade. And Mirax had him don armor after retiring from the army and go to the fronts. I know you have no love for Lord Mirax my lord. For me and Mari, that's enough to ensure Mirax never gets what he wants from us concerning you.”

It could just be a story… But I think I recalled Mirax having a hand in something like that. A lord protecting two of his daughters from the King… men like that often conveniently died in defense of their homeland.

I took Prucia's hand when she was about to place a vidwa under my eyes. “One day, Mirax and my father will pay for their crimes.”

“May I live to see it, my lord,” Prucia replied with a vengeful, sparkling grin. She looked ready to take on the world. She applied the vidwa of teardrops for me as I was still to be in mourning over leaving my homeland.

When we reached the decks the bracathi were still feeding, half a dozen or so leapt into the air where the stupid gulls swarmed too low over the water, confused by the tactics of the fish working together.

Together, dozens of sailors worked together to secure a single bracath at the sides and to pull it aboard, ending its struggle with a savage blow dealt at the head below the gills.

In spite of its size, the bracath was truly a fish, with scales as large as three biro placed together (as wide a four thumbs).

A bracath could easily weigh 50 kilograms and many were larger and very strong. They had the temperament of whales but the appetite of sharks. Its flesh was a mild red and little lines ran through and through.

The seaweed at the tops of the water twitched and gushed from the millions of tiny fish that fed on it. On the surface were several hundred in a flock of gull-like birds that we called Grahai, (or fish food - specifically for the bracathi).

The little fish came for the seaweed, the grahai came for the little fish and the bracathi came for the grahai. It was its own perfect food chain, completed by us, who delighted in the flesh of the bracathi.

A small movement just above is what caught my eye. Emric, the boy was swinging on ropes like the sailors did, and was now leaning to see where the bracathi would surface. His face shone with wonder as he peered at the surface of the water with avid interest.

Slowly, as if in a trance I started to see how his hold loosened on the ropes, and was about to word my warning when with great speed he slipped and plummeted into the water. He quickly disappeared with a slight splash under the sea weeds.

My scream perhaps drew the attention of every sailor and soldier aboard The Heavyset. “Emric!” I was about the go after him when Prucia and Mari both restrained me, gesturing at the other sailors’ response while hissing at me to remember I wore a dress.

The sailors were plunging one after the other into the water with pod of bracathi. The creatures were unlikely to harm them, but Emric himself was so very small… it was possible that he could be mistaken for a large fish and swallowed by a bracath.

I clasped my hands to the graces that he not be swallowed either by the fish or by the sea. I called on every favour I possessed with the graces that he be spared and closed my eyes in anguish.

If anything happened to the little boy I would not be able to forgive myself for taking him from his home. For bringing him to an early watery grave.

“Frer indosia! Blakof af kamiye!” I picked out the sailor's voice and opened my eyes. His words, calling his sailors to help him get aboard drew the other's attention. His short black hair sat on his head and clung to his face, while under his arm he lugged Emric who seemed awfully still and pale.

“By the graces,” I whispered beneath my breath while clutching Prucia. Mari rubbed soothing strokes down my back and whispered into my ear words I never heard in my worry.

As they got the boy on board and started to revive him I flung myself to the child, grasping his hand and praying. He was not under water for so long to have given out. He would be fine. He had to be.

A towering figure blocked the sun suddenly and I looked up to find Gregio, silently standing and observing me.

“Princess, meet the captain in his quarters.”

Ire flashed through me like lightning parted the clouds and struck the earth in earnest. “I will see the captain in just a moment.” Emric coughed suddenly, jerking upwards and retching sea water to his side. I pulled him into my chest ignoring his soaked state and looked at the sailors who worked hard to revive him.

“Thank you, Gigio vivolir. Thank you sailor,” I could scarcely keep the gratitude from overflowing.

“Princess,” Gregio's voice came emotionlessly, “The captain has received instructions from your father the King, for you. Go to him.”

Prucia intervened first, “My lady made it clear she will go to him wh-”

The slap he placed on her face came so quickly I had almost missed it. But the redness in Prucia's face showed and she fixed the guardsman with a stare that could only be likened to a viper remembering the face of its foe. She stepped aside when I stood, still clutching Emric's hand.

“Back to work men,” I ordered the spectating sailors, “I will relay your fine deeds to the captain.” Then I looked at Gregio, summoning my sternest voice. “You will not lay a hand on my handmaidens. They are royal attendants, don't forget your place.”

He seemed amused, the first emotion he had shown in my presence. “My lady… Never forget yours.”

I took in his size, his mannerism and the way he didn't shy away from looking at me, or even maintaining eye contact. He smacked of every impression my father gave off in waves. Arrogance and control. I hated to admit, but it did frighten me.

I took a deep breath and walked past him, taking along Emric, “Come now. Let's get you something to calm and warm you, maybe some tea…”

Prucia and Mari followed close behind me and Gregio followed at a short distance. I wondered just what Mirax had meant by sticking me with this buffoon, and I pondered just how long it would take me to have him executed.

I had my father's blood within me it seemed, I just didn't always know it.

“I am told you have news from the King,” I said in lieu of greeting. It was not proper protocol for even a high standing lady to ignore courtesies but I was much past that to care. I wanted to see what my father had said so soon on our journey. How many more hawks would I receive between now and the capital?

Captain Beric looked away from his map table to give me the customary bow before saying, “Princess, it bore a red seal…”

Red seals meant urgent. Everything my father sent were in red seals just for the effect of being more important that anything or anyone else. I hated the pettiness of my father.

“Thank you Captain. And have you read this?”

“It is sealed your highness, of course not.” I did not pursue my suspicion as I broke the hardened red wax.

Your assignment in the South is simple - To gain favour with the prince and to marry to secure the alliance.

To do this you must do whatever it takes. I have sent with you everything and everyone you would need to perform the task. Use Prucia and Mari wisely, you have limited time.

You must not fail me.

• King Praelin, King of Gracia, Lord Defender of the Faith, Champion of Readris, Warden of the Marshes, Lord Steward of the Peace.

Use Prucia and Mari wisely. I reread the message and knew exactly what he was saying. He wanted me to prepare my body for the Prince. My entire being revolted against it and I held the missive to a nearby open lantern, feeling a bit relieved to see it go up in flames

My mind whirred at the possibilities. Maybe there was another way other than marriage…

My eyes lingered on the maps falling on the towns Beric had marked. Awning.

“My lady?” Beric looked expectant.

I broke a small smile, “Oh Captain, it is no trouble of yours, just a father’s direction to his daughter.” I turned as if about to leave before stopping, “Oh but Beric, there is a matter that needs to be taken care of before we press on to Yarkia. I require a landing party at Awning.”

“Awning, princess? There's nothing there but peasants.”

“My father orders me to serve the people, Captain. Awning is close enough to the borders to have seen war. It is a gesture of goodwill from the crown to grace the harbor.”

“Of course, your highness.”

I turned back and met with the curious glare of Gregio. “Master Gregio,” I grinned. “Perhaps you would enjoy a stroll on land again.