by Cait Marie
“To get medical supplies?” Ada asked with a raised brow.
Brienne took a sharp inhale. “I know he hasn’t explained, but please just let it go. It isn’t what you think.”
“Then why won’t anyone tell me what’s going on?”
Brienne seemed thoughtful for a moment, pursing her lips. She waited until after their food was delivered to say, “Lee has been through a lot in his life—we all have—and he doesn’t trust easily.”
Ada understood. As a princess, she was all too familiar with keeping trust close. Their history books told of the betrayals that caused many of the wars before her time. She wondered what happened to this crew to make them so distrustful.
“Fine, I will leave it for now,” she relented. Grinning, she tried to lighten the mood. “But you are going to have to trust me at some point.”
“And why is that?”
“Because we are friends now.” Ada shrugged one shoulder as if stating the obvious.
Brienne laughed and tossed a small piece of bread at the princess. Ada picked it up and popped it in her mouth. She let out a small moan. It really was as good as Brienne told her—buttery and flaky and warm. She needed the chefs back in the palace to have this recipe.
The thought brought with it a bout of homesickness. She had never been away from her brother and Phillip this long. Shaking her head, she smiled at her friend and took a drink of her bitter wine. She choked and took another bite of bread to rid her mouth of the taste before moving on to the fish.
They talked and laughed throughout their meal, staying away from serious topics. Books seemed to be safe, as was food. When they finished, Ada paid for their food and an extra loaf of bread to bring back, then they walked arm in arm through the dark street to the ship.
Silence enveloped them on deck. Brienne tilted her head to the side. “They must all be down below. I’ll see what’s going on.”
“I’m going to put this in the cabin.” Ada held up the wrapped bread.
They parted, but Ada froze before the captain’s quarters as a crash sounded on the other side of the door. She opened it slowly, peeking around the corner. Lee paced inside, and she breathed a sigh of relief that it was only him.
She did not like that the sight of him relieved her. Stepping inside, she closed the door and watched him pick up a figurine from the table and throw it across the room. When he turned to continue pacing, he noticed her but kept moving.
“What’s wrong?” Ada asked.
Finally, he stopped. Before he could throw another piece, she approached and grabbed his arm. She plucked the small boat from his hand, put it and the bread on the table, then turned to face him. He pulled his arm away with a sigh.
“We’re going to be here a little longer than planned,” he said.
“What do you mean? Why?” Dread filled her stomach.
“The supplier doesn’t have everything ready to go.” As he spoke, she turned to lean back against the solid surface. “I tried to argue, but they said I can either wait until tomorrow or leave without their business.”
Ada didn’t speak.
“I’m sorry, Ada,” he whispered.
She met his gaze and realized how close they stood. Reminding herself it was just one more day, she nodded. “I know.”
Lee opened his mouth, then shut it. He seemed hesitant to say more.
“What?” she asked.
“Nothing,” he replied. “I just expected a bigger fight.”
Ada let out a soft chuckle. “Contrary to popular belief, I’m not completely unreasonable.”
He shook his head.
She didn’t want to pry. She didn’t want to care. Yet, she found herself asking, “Why are you so mad? Surely the delay doesn’t bother you that much.”
He shoved a hand through his hair and walked toward the door. Over his shoulder, he called out, “Goodnight, Princess.”
Sighing, she turned to rip off a chunk of bread and moved over to the bed. A strange happiness filled her as she realized they managed to have a conversation without arguing. Even as short as it had been.
“We’re ready, Captain,” Brienne said with a raised brow toward Ada, where she sat on the table. Her feet kicked in the air as she watched Lee getting ready. He swooped down to grab his sheathed sword and strapped it around his waist.
“All right.” He nodded and walked out to the deck with Ada jumping down to follow into the late morning sun. He whirled around to face her. “Where do you think you’re going?”
Ada raised her chin. “To help get the supplies.”
“No.” He put a hand on her shoulder and led her back into the cabin, “You’re staying here while just a few of us go.”
“But I can help,” she protested.
“You would only slow us down.”
“I would not. It will be quicker with more—“
“Ada!” he cut her off and ducked down to her level. “My crew and I have worked together for a long time. We know how each other operates and can improvise if necessary. I can’t afford to bring in a new person with zero training or experience.”
“But I—”
“No.” His sharp tone made her stop. She hadn’t heard him be that harsh before—snarky and arrogant, yes. But never this.
Looking at her feet, she nodded. His hand moved from her shoulder. With two fingers under her chin, he tilted her head up.
“We’ll be back in a couple hours,” he said. “Then we’ll be on our way to Tugora.”
“Fine.”
He let go and stomped out the door. Without another word, he left with Brienne and two others, George and Stuart.
Slowly, Ada walked out onto the deck, watching them leave. She crossed her arms over her chest to fight the chill in the air. Most of the crew stayed behind. Ren stood up at the wheel looking out over everything. Merta and some of the others had pulled a crate out to the center of the deck and started a card game.
Ada looked around and with a huff, decided to join them. She pulled an empty bucket over and flipped it to sit on. They welcomed her warmly, inviting her to join in, but she waved them on to continue without her.
Hand after hand she watched them play. After a few hours, they made their way down to get food, first for lunch and then dinner. Each time they finished, the crew went right back to their game, the group increasing in size with not much else to do.
Ada eventually joined Ren up by the wheel and began pacing.
“They’re fine,” he told her for the third time.
“He said a couple hours.” She chewed on a nail while her feet kept moving. “It’s getting dark. They should’ve been back hours ago.”
“Worried about the captain?” Ren asked with a lopsided grin.
She stopped walking. “Worried about losing my way to Tugora.”
Ren’s let out a deep laugh and said, “They will be fine. They know how to take care of themselves.”
She had seen the swords hanging from their belts as they left, so she knew he spoke the truth. It didn’t ease the pit in her stomach though.
As the sun fully set, darkness covered the boat. The docks quieted, and the market shut down for the night. Ada moved to the captain’s quarters. She hoped reading would distract her, but she stared at the pages without seeing the words.
“This is ridiculous,” she muttered under her breath. Putting the book aside, she snatched up her coin purse, hooked it on her belt, then put on a lightweight cloak she found hanging among Lee’s belongings. Before she reached the door, she hesitated. She brushed a hand through her hair, thinking while she turned back to look at the room. With a sigh, she moved over to the intricately carved chest in the corner. She had seen Lee move around weapons inside earlier. Pushing around some clothes and worn letters, Ada found a dagger near the bottom. It was small, but sharp. The handle fit in her palm perfectly, and she grinned. She slid the dagger back into its sheath, then strapped it to her thigh beneath the cloak.
Lanterns illuminated the deck wh
ere more of the crew had gathered. Ada kept close to the wall, sticking to the shadows. As she reached the gangway, a hand came down on her shoulder. She cursed and turned around.
“I can’t just sit here anymore,” she said before Ren could say anything.
“Captain said you weren’t to leave the boat.”
“Yes, but he also said they’d be back hours ago,” she argued.
He seemed to consider that for a minute, then sighed. “I’m coming with you.” She opened her mouth, but he cut her off with a raised hand. “You won’t know where to go. I can’t just let you go by yourself; he’d kill me.”
She wanted to argue that the captain wouldn’t care if she disappeared, but she knew he was right about the rest. She had never been to Innysa, and she didn’t particularly want to go wandering around at night by herself. So, instead, she nodded.
“Thank you,” she whispered as they made their way across the wooden walkway to the dock.
The town was quiet. The people seemed to have settled for the evening. For the most part, the streets were empty. Regardless, Ren kept close to her side. As they left the merchant district, she looked to him in confusion, but he kept moving. The paved, lit streets turned to cobblestone as they entered a residential area with large manors and homes. Then the streets turned to worn gravel and dirt as they moved into what appeared to be the slums.
It was darker there with fewer lanterns. It was also noisier. With thin walls in small, closely laid out homes, they could hear muffled arguments, talking, and wailing babies who refused to sleep. They came to a street with a couple taverns and inns, and Ren put a hand on Ada’s back, keeping her close as they began passing more and more people. The slums had their own business district.
“I thought they were getting food and medical supplies?” she asked under her breath.
Ren didn’t say anything as he led her into a loud and chaotic tavern. He found the barkeep and leaned in close to speak to him over the noise. Ada looked around in discomfort. The tavern the night before was calm and civilized. She had never been to such a rowdy place. A couple of men laughed and bumped into her, spilling amber liquor on her feet.
With an arm around her shoulders, Ren led her back to the street and to an inn not far away. Seated at a table in the corner were familiar faces. Brienne stood and hugged her when they approached, and Ada let out a sigh.
“What are you doing here?” Brienne asked before pulling away. Looking to Ren, she said, “You were supposed to stay with the ship.”
He held up both hands, then pointed to Ada with an accusing look.
“I was worried about you. You were supposed to be back hours ago,” she said as they all sat. That was when she noticed only George and Stuart at the table with them. “Where’s Captain Lee?”
She saw Brienne look to Ren, silently communicating with him. Brienne only said, “We had some difficulties, and he had to separate from us.”
“Fine, is he meeting us here then?” Ada asked.
“Not exactly,” George said. Stuart hid a smirk by taking a drink.
“Where is he?” Ada asked again, looking between the four of them.
Brienne hesitated before saying, “jail.”
“Jail?” Ada asked in disbelief. “Why is he in jail?”
“Well…”
Ada pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes. “He didn’t use the gold,” she said quietly. When no one responded, she lowered her hand and looked around the table. “Why didn’t he use the gold?”
“It’s complicated,” Brienne said.
Ada sighed. “So, how do we get him out? Can we pay bail or something?”
“No,” Brienne explained. “It’s not as simple as that. The people who locked him up have a personal vendetta against him.”
“Of course they do,” Ada muttered. “Fine then, how do we break him out?”
They all looked at her with raised brows. Ren grinned at her with a nod, and they began planning.
Shane pushed the door to his father’s study open without knocking. He stormed over to the large desk and demanded, “We need to do something more to find Ada. She’s been gone for days, and no one has any information.”
As if his sister were truly missing, Shane acted the part of a worried brother. It wasn’t a difficult role—he was terrified for her. Speaking to the king had proved to be the hardest task. It made Shane sick thinking about his father’s plans and the fact that he had sent two soldiers after Adalina.
Phillip had stayed close by. No one commented about him being on duty more frequently or using his spare room more than usual. Many of the older guards remembered how Phillip was there for both royal siblings when the queen died, especially the princess.
The king played along, pretending to be concerned for his daughter. Had he not known the truth, Shane might have believed him. “You are right. I want the guards out searching the village more thoroughly. Go with them and have them go door to door. Someone has to know something.”
Shane and Phillip walked down the street the next day. Guards still moved through the streets, searching for clues that didn’t exist.
“This is getting difficult,” Shane said.
“I know,” Phillip agreed with a sigh.
“How long do we keep this up?”
“As long as we can.” Dread filled Phillip’s voice. The king was a smart man, and they knew he would eventually either figure it out or take drastic measures to look for her. Neither option was good.
“If she caught a ship out that day, she should be halfway to Tugora by now, right?” Shane asked.
“It’s hard to say. It depends on the ship. She should be though.”
Shane nodded. They met up with a group of guards at the end of the street and relayed that there was no sign of her. The men split up once more, heading in different directions throughout Ferda. Shane led Phillip down a side street.
“Shane,” Phillip started as he realized where they were heading.
“We need to buy some time,” Shane answered without stopping. He smiled over at his friend. “Might as well visit while we are here.”
“And if someone sees us?”
“Then we tell them we were checking to see if they heard or saw anything.” Shane draped an arm over Phillip’s shoulders. “Come on. It will be all right. Besides, it has been way too long.”
Phillip ran a nervous hand through his hair before nodding. They stopped before a pale blue door. Shane went to knock, but Phillip laughed and turned the handle, leading the prince inside.
“Hello?” a woman called out. A bright smile lit Shane’s face as Phillip’s mother appeared around the corner. “Your Highness.”
Before she could curtsy, he reached out and wrapped her short, plump frame in a hug. Phillip shut the door, then walked around them into the kitchen, chuckling under his breath.
“Shane?” a smaller voice said from the other side of the room.
Shane released Mrs. Lavens and turned as a young girl ran toward him. He lifted her easily, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. Her blond hair tickled his face, but he held her close. When she leaned back, he shifted her to his side.
“Why does he get that kind of greeting when neither of you even say hello to me?” Phillip asked from where he stood leaning against a counter.
“I’m sorry, my baby,” his mother said as she went to pull him into a hug.
“What are you doing here?” Carys asked.
Shane looked to Phillip, who nodded.
“We just came to visit,” Shane told the young girl. “But we need to speak to your mother for a few minutes.”
Carys pouted as he put her back down. She looked to her brother, who squatted down when she walked over to him. “How about you go put on your new dress? Then we will come see it when we’re done.”
Her eyes lit up, and she ran from the room. Phillip laughed and stood.
“Shane, dear,” Mrs. Lavens said, pulling out a chair for him at their small, round ta
ble. “I am so sorry to hear about the princess. Have they still not found anything?”
The two sat while Phillip filled a kettle from the pump and hung it over the fire. As he joined them, he said, “That is what we wanted to talk to you about, actually.”
Shane listened as his friend told her what happened. He noticed Phillip leaving details out, such as the king’s involvement. Shane knew he didn’t want to cause more worry than necessary. Mrs. Lavens loved Adalina and Shane as if they were her own. She needed to know his sister had not truly gone missing, but she did not need to know the dangers the rest of them faced. Not yet, anyway.
The kettle whistled, and she got up to make them each a cup of tea. Their home was small, but they were doing better than those in the other half of Ferda. When Phillip’s father died, they worried about not having any income. Shane refused to let them suffer, but Mrs. Lavens would not accept more than necessary to keep her children fed and sheltered. Phillip joined the guard as soon as he was old enough and quickly moved up ranks. Knowing the royal family might have had its perks, but he was one of the best soldiers they had. He worked hard for his position. And though his family no longer had to worry about money, his mother wanted to stay in their cozy home.
They drank their tea and went to Carys’s bedroom to visit with her a little longer before heading back out to the streets. She twirled in her pink dress before showing Shane the wooden sword her brother had given her. Mrs. Lavens shook her head, but she didn’t discourage her daughter.
“One day,” Carys said, jumping onto her bed, “I want to be a brave soldier just like Phillip.”
Shane and Phillip slowly wandered into the poorer areas after their visit. Shane hated seeing that part of the village and wished he knew how to help his people more. For years, he had tried discussing it with his father, but the king always brushed it off. Shane looked around at the boarded and broken windows and let out a sigh. When a group of soldiers appeared at the end of the block, Phillip motioned for Shane to go down a side path.
Trash littered the alley, and it smelled ripe. Shane blanched at the sight of people sitting against the walls. It was clear they were homeless, but they also appeared to be sick and dying. Phillip grabbed Shane’s arm when he stopped near an older woman. Shane shook his friend’s hand away and squatted down beside her. Her forehead glistened with sweat despite the chill in the air. She kept her eyes closed, not stirring as he moved closer. He could barely hear her shallow breathing.
