Chapter Seven
Darkness had fallen as Xander watched the approaching bay of Hecate. The dark gothic castle perched on the summit of the rugged mountain dominated skyline. From the mountain, wooden bridges protruded from the rock on to surrounding islands. Each island seemed to glow with firelight and the noise of bustling crowds and gunpowder could be heard even from the ship.
He strained to see a welcoming party at the docks and was shocked to see nothing. In Zolar, parties and banners were thrown up whenever royalty visited or came home, but here there was nothing. Was this really a place he could rule from? He already felt uneasy.
'Is it to your liking?'
Xander turned as Briganti stood beside him, it had been the first time she had spoken since the outburst earlier and was relieved her tone seemed more pleasant now.
'Every place has its own beauty,' he said diplomatically.
Their eyes met and he felt something pass between them that seemed over in a flash. Briganti, however, was the first to avert her gaze as something seemed to catch her eye. He followed her eyes and saw a docked ship in the harbour.
'Is she yours?' he asked.
'She's called the Crux, my father built her for me,' she said fondly.
'She is beautiful.'
Orlson came from below deck and stopped at the sight of Bri and Xander standing together deep in conversation. He guessed from her animated enthusiasm that she was talking about the Crux. Her pride and joy. Nothing compared to the love she felt for that ship.
'One thing I've learned this week is that it's hard letting go of something when you've had it for so long.'
The Queen’s voice made him jump and he looked at her and saw the tiredness around her eyes had caused them to turn black. Even though he knew he was not her equal, to him, she would always be the mother he never had and he loved her just as much. To see her in pain did not feel good and he wished he could make it right. She and the King had treated him like a son and at times encountered jealousy from other members of the household. Many had tried to spread malicious gossip about himself and Bri, but had just met with a brick wall. Or so Orlson believed.
The day before the King was due to sail his last voyage he had asked Orlson to walk with him through the woodland beside the castle. This was not unusual as often Orlson would hunt with the King for sport, and this day felt no different. Until the King approached the subject of marriage.
‘I hear on the grapevine that you and Croenda have talked about marriage.’
Orlson felt himself flinch. His relationship with the fiery gypsy was one barely spoken about, especially around Bri.
‘Croenda has done much of the talking Your Highness,’ he answered.
The King gave him a small knowing smile. ‘Yes, women tend to have a knack of arranging these things without you knowing it and before you know what you’re doing you are knee-deep in children.’
Orlson had nearly choked on that causing the King to belly laugh loudly and slap him on the back.
‘Oh Orlson, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to scare you boy.’
‘No harm done Your Highness,’ Orlson replied recovering himself.
They walked a little further and soon arrived at the lake where the King sat himself down on a fallen tree. The air that had once been jovial turned serious as Orlson waited for his king to speak.
‘You have grown into a good man,’ he said at last.
‘Thank you Your Highness.’
The King patted the seat beside him, which Orlson took. ‘I mean it boy. If I’d have been blessed with a son, you are exactly what I would have asked for. You have done your duty well and you have served your princess as I have asked…but I need to know one thing.’
Orlson’s eyes remained on the floor as he held his breath. They knew and he was going to be punished. He should have worked harder on hiding his feelings.
‘Orlson look at me,’ the King insisted.
Orlson lifted his eyes and met the King’s.
‘I need to know if you love my daughter?’
‘As we all do,’ Orlson answered.
The king rushed to his feet and Orlson flinched.
‘Don’t play stupid. Are you in love with Briganti?’
‘Yes,’ Orlson whispered.
He waited for the onslaught. The punch or the whip, but none came. Instead and arm rested on his shoulders.
‘That’s all I wanted to know. Now, I just want you to know that if I had the power the Queen and I would have granted you permission to marry our daughter. But when we promised her to the Zolar we had no idea what would grow between you both. I regret it so much. I would have loved to have you as my son, but I have one thing to ask. When she marries Xander you must leave and marry Croenda. Because I fear if you stay she will never settle with her new husband and may take flight and ruin this chance of a union.’
Orlson nodded in agreement while swallowing tears. He knew the King was right, but still the thought of separation was unbearable and Bri was fast approaching her marriageable age. Their time was running out. If only he knew then how much time they really did have. Now standing with his queen those memories made him swallow those tears once more.
'Are you well Your Highness?' he asked.
Magda looked up at him and smiled a sad smile. 'You have always kept your promise Orlson and you have grown into a good man. Croenda will be happy when you’re finally free.’
The smile left his face. He had been with Croenda for two long years. She was as fiery and stubborn as Bri and desperately wanted to replace his commitment band with one of her own. However, deep down he knew once his own bond was broken he would never really be able to give her what she wanted. Also, it was no secret that the two women hated the sight of each other and Bri would rather, in her own words, swallow knives slowly then see him marry her.
Soon they were all stood facing the Crux and her crew. There was no time to prepare or even visit his new home, and his body ached with tiredness, but Xander could not help but look upon the ship’s wooden body appreciatively and he understood a little of why Briganti loved the sea so much. Her carvings and woodwork were exceptional. Pictures of sea monsters seemed to come alive in the wood, and on the front, a swan sat in mid-flight ready to guide the way.
Standing by Surrial he whispered, 'She is beautiful.'
Surrial nodded, though his eyes were on the crew. For over a decade he had been a part of the King’s Guard. He was highly trained in riding and combat, and his magical spheres were the most powerful around, as well as his emotional reading being exceptional. He had already read the crew whilst on the Phoenix getting an idea of who was accompanying his prince. He knew the Queen held a heavy heart that was filled with burden and grief. Princess Briganti, however, had been more complex. She was like a storm inside, he could only catch glimpse of what she felt. Her guardian though was a different story. When he tried to read him he hit a steel wall and that disturbed him. What was he hiding? And why?'
Bri paced the creaking wood of Hecate's docks. Her most trusted crew watched her, waiting for instruction. Clues, her first-mate was an aged gypsy. He was the wisest and the oldest, and had served beneath her father before her. Beside him, a plump rosy-cheeked dwarf called Decks, named because he maintained the deck of the Crux. However, his weakness with the ale was such that it could always be guaranteed to find him near the barrels below.
Then there was Eyes. Eyes like Orlson was an orphan, he had been dumped as a baby because he had been born with plate-sized eyes. He had turned up at fourteen begging for a chance, telling Bri that he could see as clearly at night as he could day so she took him on. Last, but by no means least, her own secret weapon.
The Trio. Three men in one. They were a mystery from origin to why they had agreed to be part of the crew. They had the ability to split as three different personalities as well as becoming one and by the gods did those three personalities test her patience many times. However, when they were o
ne, they could be as lethal as any warrior or solider.
'I'm sure you may have already heard the Scales of Lyberia have been stolen and...can the three of you shut up for one second,' Bri snapped at the arguing Trio that stood at the end. They stopped suddenly and smiled at her innocently. 'As I was saying,' she continued, 'King Aquim believes that Dryad has them, so we are sailing to Nepta.'
'When do we go?' Clues asked.
'As soon as the tide allows,' she answered.
Clues moved closer to her so he was out of earshot. 'And the stowaway?' he said nodding toward the Prince and Surrial.
'He's joining us,' Bri said quietly. One of the Trios laughed out loud and another of the Trio elbowed him. She turned and walked back towards Xander and Surrial. 'You had best get ready to go. We leave in the next few hours,' she said to them both.
She then moved towards where Orlson stood with her mother. The dark light of Zilva could not hide how pale and worn she had become and it only worried Bri more.
'How are you feeling?' she asked
'I am fine, Briganti. I just miss your father.' Bri's heart jumped at her mention of him.
'I miss him too but we have each other,' she comforted.
'I'll always be here for you. Just go and do your duty and let me do mine.’
Bri watched her mother walk away, puzzled at her comment. Something was not right but she did not have the time for it now.
Chapter Eight
Celestia's Tales: The Lybiria Scales Page 8
