Aethan

After he realised that I was worried for someone, the boy was much quicker to help. But I knew that if I stepped foot out of the palace I would have to leave with guards. Anything was better than to have to go with Mirax. So I was beyond thankful when the commander outside my door only asked if I was ready to leave now, and I didn't hesitate to allow him time to second guess himself.

I ended up taking the little boy's hand along the way, realizing that I still did not know his name.

He stuck close to my side, sending looks of distrust at my guards. The silent children were not often treated kindly, and usually were sent away when they were very young and living in a city. I remember there were a few in Gorma, people would give scraps to them or they would learn to fish. But even when they proved useful they were treated like scum, beggars. Those without a future. I wondered how much affection the boy would have ever felt in his life.

"Down by the wharves, commander," I directed softly, making sure to address him properly in Gracian. How did women do this every day? This polite way of saying everything was really beginning to become very tiresome.

The children's home was by the wharves, the boy had drawn it close to a shipyard so it must not be very hard to find. Even at this time of night the town was very busy. The streets were bustling and the roads were all illuminated with lanterns that casted a golden glow on merchandise and all manner of sweet meats and food being sold on sticks.

The wharves were different though, the people here did not recognize me. They had never seen their prince, or princess for that matter, before, and the guards did not enlighten them thankfully. Perhaps they thought it was more convenient for me to remain unknown.

Here, loose women called out from the corners and men cursed out of the corner of their mouth even as they blew smoke from their nostrils. Their speech was guttural, and men and women spoke alike a fourth type of Gracian among themselves. The kind that a person referring to a wild animal used, if that could be considered Gracian at all.

I kept my head down, refusing to let my eyes linger on the people here. The drunks back home used to take offence when anyone looked at them for too long. Guards or not, I wanted no trouble on my last night in the North.

The boy tugged at my hand, moving just ahead of me insistently, which I took to mean that we were close to the house.

Sure enough the place stood out like wretched fingers reaching toward the sky, and right beside it, a bustling, noisy shipyard full of cursing sailors and builders. How could anyone rest in this racket?

I used the knocker on the wooden door, three times in rapid succession.

"Stay behind me," I told the boy reassuringly, then directed my next words to the guards, "Keep a look out, I'll speak with his guardians." With a sharp nod the commander relayed my instructions and then stepped back towards the streets to keep watch.

Just as I made attempt to knock again the door swung inwards, revealing a thin woman with a sharp beak-like nose. Her dark eyes narrowed when she saw me, then she frowned, "Come back with your mischief have you? What did you do to that poor man that took you in a few days ago?"

The boy stayed behind me, looking at my face in what seemed to be a plea for understanding. He shook his head twice, determinedly.

"He found me, kind woman, after wandering around alone. I did not know who to return him to-"

She gave a quick shriek, interrupting, "Not here! This one we got rid of only days ago. Not even a week and he comes back on our doorsteps, a right kind of leech, he is. Always runs off from anyone trying to get him off our hands."

"Someone got him before then... Can you tell me anything about them? Did they give a name?"

She eyed me again, looking briefly behind her into a house clearly in shambles. "No name, but it was a girl, maybe about your age, come here with a man as big as an ox. Said they would take the brightest one I've got. I told them that Emric was, always holding a book, he is. Never mind he probably can't read."

The boy, Emric, pulled my sleeves and nodded sharply, his hold tightened too. I shot him a quick smile. "He means that he really can read."

"You understand him?" The thin woman rose a thinning black eyebrow streaked with grey. "Seems to have taken a liking to you too. Sure you don't want to keep him?"

"I should find the woman who took him," I tried to steer back the conversation. "Who knows, they probably are worried. Can you tell me anything about the woman, how she looks and if she said she was headed anywhere?"

"Ain't said all that. She was a pretty one, hair like yours and nice soft skin, though her clothes was all messed up. She spoke real proper for a poor maiden if you ask me, but said she was from Awning, three harbors down West. Maybe she went back there... You know... Come to think of it you speak all proper too. Hair's the same too." She was looking at me very curiously now, suspicious enough to make me uneasy.

I let confusion colour my tone, "That so? I guess that might make finding her easier then." I thanked her with a brief handshake and started to back away from her doorstep.

Emric backed away with me and I could see the pleasure in the old maid's face at not having another mouth to feed. She shut the door as soon as it was clear that we had no more questions to ask.

Farosh came in close again, probably thinking I had been rejected entry. I still had Emric with me after all, which certainly meant things hadn't gone to plan in his eyes.

"Your highness? Is everything all right?" His voice held shades of worry.

"All is well commander, just that we will be needing some things for Emric's trip."

"His trip? Where's he going?"

"With me," I confirmed.

*******

I did not see my father again before leaving, and I was secretly very grateful. I did not want to have to face his scorn for having empathy for Emric. Nor did I want to endure his questioning.

I did however fall under the ever watchful eyes of Mirax.

On the day of my departure I found him aboard the Heavyset, the ship with cabins made for me to travel in.

I could feel his judgment with every passing second before it fell to the little boy attached to my side. Emric hardly separated from me since we had left the silent home, and had even insisted on remaining just outside of my inner room to sleep. Just for the night I allowed it, and had moved a recliner for him to rest on right outside my door.

“Why did you adopt a stray?” was Mirax's simple question.

I decided to adopt his same attitude, reflecting his cool composure and patronizing manner, “I needed a pet.”

His eyes narrowed suspiciously, “I have prepared a retinue for you. They have been instructed and bid to secrecy in the most stringent manners available to me. You should find them sufficient for your needs.”

Of course. I was to be the Lady Aella, which meant I required handmaidens. The prospect of having attendants who Mirax had handpicked made me nervous. He was a spy, I was sure they would report to him ultimately. “Thank you lord Mirax,” I replied sweetly, “I hope I don't miss you too terribly.”

The ghost of a smile played upon his lips, “I doubt you will at all. I have a final gift to remind you of me always….” When Mirax clapped once a figure seemed to come alive out of the shadows. I had thought the suit of armor was empty, but it turned out to be a warrior gripping the hilt of his sword.

He did not greet me. Nor did he bow. He just stood there, breathing and waiting for something I did not know.

Emric was drawing rapidly on my arm but I couldn't concentrate one bit. I tried to put the boy behind me in case Mirax tried anything awful.

“This is Gregio. He is to be your… chaperone.”

“You are sending a spy with me into the heart of Yarkia? King Haslon wouldn't allow it.”

“He will take in all we send to him. I don’t think you know how desperately the `South needs this alliance. Whatever you choose to forget, remember this, you are a means to an end. A prize and nothing more. They will bear any insult as long as they acquire the prize. Goodbye my lord Aethan.”

It was the first time Mirax had used my name since coming to the city. I found that I disliked him even more when he said my name, especially in his mocking tone that drawled the pleasantry.

“Goodbye Lord Mirax, take good care of my father,” I replied good-naturedly, with cold icy steel beneath. I was secretly wishing they were both poisoned.

The Heavyset was a thirty cannon frigate with lavish rooms and a cheerful crew. They sang sailor songs as the waves and the wind bore the ship out to the open sea, and swung on ropes to get fore and aft and to call out updates to the Captain, Beric.

The man stood closer to seven feet tall than anyone I’ve ever seen, and clasped in his hand an advanced looking glass that let him see over a mile away. His silver streaked black beard was a wonder to see and his voice boomed across every plank of the Heavyset and rang out to the accompanying galleons no doubt. No pirate was likely to pick a quarrel with us.

Later another six ships would be following bearing my betrothal gifts to Yarkia. My father wanted them to be impressed with us, and that was sure to be the case when my bridal gifts arrived. The Heavyset alone had lots of fineries that I still hadn’t grown accustomed to.

My handmaidens were close to my side as I watched over the prow of the ship where the statue in my sister’s likeness held out her hands outstretched in fervent prayer.

“Where are you from?” I questioned them.

The one called Prucia, a slender girl with pretty pink lips and dark hair replied, “From Lovirne, northwest of Gorma, my lady.” I would have to grow accustomed to being called ‘my lady’. “We are sisters, called into service by his Majesty the King when our father fell in battle.”

My father had taken them to the palace? I knew what that likely meant, they had been used as concubines then pawned as servants. My father took anything he desired. It may be easier to trust them if I knew where their loyalties laid, but that would have to wait.

“I am sorry to hear of your father,” I said, “Many died unnecessarily in this pointless war. We should be glad it’s over.” Except it wasn’t over, was it?

Footsteps sounded that alarmed me to Emric’s presence, it was the only thing that alerted me to him, since he was otherwise silent. His eyes were wild with excitement and he peered over the prow, patting the statue childishly. He turned to look at me and said one of his few words, “Prince-cess.” He had recognized the statue.

If I had had more time in Gracia I would’ve had the physicians take a look at his condition. Our healers had developed a sort of therapy for areas of the tongue involving needles that allowed the silent children access to more sounds. But it was expensive and most couldn’t afford it. Maybe when I reached the South I would have my father send one out of good faith.

Just the thought made me happier and I took up the boy’s hand and asked him, “Have you ever been on the sea before?”

His smile beamed back at me, and he held up a single finger. Once.

Emric had loved the ship ever since we stepped foot on it, and seemed to be happier with every passing mile we made away from Readris. He must’ve had bad memories tied to the place. I could understand that.

That was the place that had driven my sister to desperation. Whatever it was that eventually had made up her mind to take matters into her own hands it was surely part of the city. I knew how she yearned for freedom, I felt the same yearning inside myself. I just hoped that she got it, and wished I could see her before leaving.

But that was a lie. I wanted her back here with me. I wanted her to be on this voyage to marry the Prince. I had lived my life in her shadow, and now without her shade I blistered in the heat of her responsibilities.

Emric was drawing lines on my arm but I hadn’t been paying attention and had missed half the picture. By the time I was paying attention he was drawing a man with an axe and nodding surreptitiously to the cabin. I understood that much.

“You don’t need to fear Gregio,” I assured him although I wasn’t so sure. “He is just a bitter man who was forced to leave his home. We’ll win him over yet.”

Prucia’s voice rang out with full of contradiction, “I highly doubt that your highness…”

“Prucia,” Mira scolded her. “My apologies for your maidservant, your highness. She forgets herself many times.”

“Forgiven,” I wave away her apology, I preferred outspokenness, being royalty did not attribute me with mind reading abilities no matter how much my grandfather claimed we were divine. “What do you know of Gregio?”

They shared a look between themselves this time before Mari spoke up, “He is an adept under Lord Mirax’s command…”

“And do you know why he is here?” I had to test how much they knew. It might’ve been more than my own knowledge. “The real reason he is here…”

It took some waiting but Prucia was the one to succumb to my gaze. “He’s here to keep an eye on you, my lady.”

“Yes,” I confirmed. “Yes, he’s here to keep me in line. To remind me of my homeland, lest I forget myself…” I gave a shaky smile, my father and his schemes… I really was growing tired of the blood we shared. “Well, we all have a job to do, don’t we? So why don’t you do yours?”

“What does my lady require?”

I stopped using feminine speech. “For you to get me out of this gods-be-damned dress.”