Setting Sail

That night I met the crew I’d be sailing with for the next month. They were rowdy from the moment I stepped into the house, eager to meet the Princess that dared to sail alongside them through danger. My brother fit right into this crowd, I realized. He wasn’t like my father at all. My father was a devoted ruler to Oceane and always had been. He’d come from Prune, where they believed strongly in honor. Armelle believed in living in the moment, taking life as it comes. He believed in being in the heat of the battle, not giving the orders from a safe distance. He believed honor came from inclusion, and his people respected him for it. Here, they didn’t call him Prince, they called him Melle. He was their friend. He was living the life I’d always wanted.

  I watched my brother drink with the sailors. While I didn’t participate, I enjoyed the ambiance. As a Princess, the only parties I’d ever been to were balls, and they were not nearly as fun. In fact, compared to the cheerful singing and dancing of this party, balls were a bore. I was ridiculed for my attire, which only fascinated me more. These people were free of judgment, dressing and acting as they pleased.

  I listened to their stories and imagined I had been there. The kind of life they lived was full of adventure, speaking of things I’d only ever dreamed. By the end of the night, we hadn’t made one single game plan. I had a feeling they knew what they were doing and I trusted them. I half carried my brother home and laid him to sleep. His low snoring made me smile.

  It was late by the time I retired to my room. I took off my clothing piece by piece, wondering what it might be like to dress as a sailor. Their attire was simple and not nearly as extravagant. I envied them. They didn’t have to slip into uncomfortable shoes or put on a show for other kingdoms. They had the raw form of life, while I was condemned to a palace. I loathed myself for not being thankful, but another part of me would have given it all up for what they had. My brother was right, this journey would make up for it. I intended to drain every ounce of adventure I could in the next month. Maybe, if I got it out of my system, I would feel better about my betrothal.

  I collapsed onto my bed, thinking of Sade again. He was different from his father. He was kinder, gentler, and the thought of him aroused a part of me I didn’t know existed. I’d been so focused on leading Oceane, I hadn’t thought about romance. My mother used to say love was what made the world go around, but I’d never understood what that meant. Not until she was gone. It felt like my life had been torn in two and all I wanted to do was run. My brother had done that successfully, and he hadn’t stopped. My love for her had been the only thing that kept me going, making me want to assume control of Oceane one day.

  Sade had been there in my mourning. He’d been the one to comfort me when my father was shutting his children out in his own grief. He’d been the one to let me cry on his shoulder. Ultimately, it was the reason I’d sealed myself off from him. He’d seen me at my most vulnerable and I could never forgive myself for that. I was supposed to be a Royal, but I’d sobbed like a baby in front of an Arsenal. When he’d come to visit after that, I’d stayed in my room. Sometimes I’d see him in the garden, looking like he was waiting for me to come down. I never had. Arsenal’s visits became less and less after that. I wished I could explain to him one day why I’d done what I’d done. Maybe now, I could.

  I watched the waves crash against the dock, unrelenting. For as long as I could remember, I’d loved the sea. The smell, the color, the feeling, everything about it was empowering. Captain Verano pulled me from my trance.

  “Come on, milady. It’s time.”

  I watched him walk up the board, wondering why he’d called me that. That’s when I noticed my father coming up behind him. He smiled, his eyes brimming with sadness and worry.

  “I love you, Kiara. Be safe.”

  I smiled back. “I will, father.”

  Armelle moved towards the ship, but my father grabbed his arm and halted him.

  “You take care of your sisters. Both of them.”

  Armelle pulled away from him. “You’re looking at the best crew in Oceane. You may doubt your own abilities, but don’t for a second doubt mine. Kiara is safer with us than she is locked in that castle.”

  My father’s expression hardened. “Let’s hope you’re right about that.”

  I waved goodbye as the ship set sail. I continued watching Oceane until it was nothing but a speck on the horizon. All around me, the men carried out their duties. I took a deep breath, welcoming the new scents of my surroundings. Someone came up next to me and hurled over the edge of the ship and I had to jump out of the way to not get sprayed.

  “What the hell?” I hissed.

  “My apologies, milady.” The man coughed. “I don’t yet have my sea legs.”

  Armelle came up behind him and slapped a hand against his back. “Fang here is from Chamber, trying to get back. He’s not much of a sailor.”

  “I hate the sea.” Fang vomited again.

  I had to look away. “They don’t sail much in Chamber?”

  After a moment, Fang straightened up with a hand on his stomach. He still looked green and I had to resist the urge to take a step back.

  “Chamber is full of crafters, not sailors. I’m surprised you aren’t in the same state, milady. Do you have much experience at sea?”

  Armelle bit his lip. “She doesn’t, but sailing is in our blood.”

  I eyed the man warily. He had long, greasy hair that hung in strands down to his shoulders. He had a stubby beard and a scar across his right cheek. His eyes were the color of murky water, with a permanent sadness embedded in them. He was thin, like he hadn’t eaten for days, and only barely taller than I was. He wore a dirty vest over what once was a stylish white dress shirt. His paints were stained with dirt and what looked like oil, which should have been hard to notice given they were black. What struck me as odd about this individual was how similar he looked to the other sailors. If what he said was true, I expected him to be less unraveled than he was. He looked like he belonged at sea. I disregarded this when he gave me a suspicious look.

  “You should probably stay by the edge.” I forced a smile.

  Fang nodded. “I probably will.”

  Armelle led me to where Captain Verano stood steering the ship.

  “The winds are to our favor, Melle.”

  My brother smiled. “Excellent.”

  “Would you like to steer, Kiara?” Verano gave me a warm smile.

  “Me?” I laughed. “I don’t know.”

  Armelle nudged me. “Go on, don’t be shy. You know what you’re doing.”

  I took the wheel with little confidence. Armelle and Verano watched me for a moment before they both broke out into laughter. I didn’t understand.

  “She’s wound as tight as the anchor.” Verano shook his head.

  “Relax, Kiara. It’s not going to bite you.” Armelle pried my fingers from the wheel.

  “I’m sorry.” I stepped back, embarrassed.

  “Trust yourself.” Verano looked out ahead. “You have to trust yourself.”

  I nodded. “I’ll get the hang of it.”

  “Yes, you will. Sailing is an art that very few have the means to master, but it’s in your blood.”

  I spent about an hour talking with the Captain and my brother before I was shown my quarters by the Second Mate, Creed. The room looked to be an old storage unit that had been cleaned out to make room for me, but I didn’t mind. I collapsed onto the bed and nearly inhaled a cloud of dust. Despite this, I smiled. Somehow, this was more comforting than my bed at home. This felt real. I opened the first drawer of the tiny dresser and admired the dresses Lyla had chosen for me. They were elegant, but not overly extravagant. She understood for once that I didn’t need to be suffocated by ruffles. I ran my hand over the fabric but shut the drawer when I heard a knock at my door.

  “Yes?” I peered out.

  Fang held something out to me. “Here.”

  The man no longer looked sick. I didn’t reach for whatever he was trying to give me and he let out an exasperated sigh.

  “The Captain asked me to give this to you.”

  “Oh.” I took the object from him awkwardly. “Thanks.”

  I went to close the door, but he slipped his foot into the crack. My heart skipped a beat as I reopened it to look at him again.

  “You should get some sleep. Dinner will be served at seven and after that we enter dangerous waters. You’ll want to be alert, milady.”

  My brow furrowed. “Dangerous waters?”

  “Aye.” He clenched his jaw. “Exiles own the water, ma’am. Whatever your brother or the Captain told you was a lie. They have no idea what they’ll be facing. Exiles have granted us passage from time to time, but this ship is carrying two Royals. I doubt they’ll look the other way now.”

  “My brother has sailed these seas for years.”

  “He’s a Prince. You’re a Princess. Do you know what a pirate would do to get his hands on you? They’d defy every law in the book to capture a gem like that.”

  I felt queasy. “My sister has sailed this very journey. I think we are fine; all due respect.”

  He smiled and I realized why they called him Fang. His canines looked like they’d been filed into actually fangs. “Your sister is not you, Princess.”

  Ice ran down my spine. He had already turned away before I had a chance to ask him what he meant by that. Even more disturbing was the look he’d given me. I closed the door and locked it, pressing my back against the wood. I had to force myself not to panic. It was the first day of a very long journey. I couldn’t let a Chamber get to me. I had full confidence in my brother and Verano. This crew was the best in all of Oceane. He was just trying to shake me. I held up the item he’d handed to me, peeling away the cloth that covered it. In my hand was a very well crafted, dainty but not delicate, knife.