Cirahl eyed the ship with unease, but his eager future bride wouldn't let him hesitate long. She enchanted him with her long red hair her boundless enthusiasm. She was practically dancing him up the long planks. Apparently, since they had arrived at the marina, Rianin had warmed up to him. Since their introduction, when his caravan rolled into the castle forecourt, she had said nothing preferring to let her family speak for her. Her eyes had widened at the gilded carriages and they had sparkled when she saw his horse, but with Cirahl she had been shy at best. Now however, at home among the ships, Rianin was chattering without pause. Refusing to look at the water below, Cirahl followed her voice onto the ship.
The plank had swayed under his weight, especially when Rianin, heedless of his discomfort, stepped too quickly. And as soon as he was safely aboard, Cirahl couldn't help but offer a quick prayer to the gods of the Black Lands. "May I show you about the ship?" Rianin asked proficiently, breaking her monologue. Cirahl declined. The motion of the waves caused the ship to bob unsettlingly, and frankly he doubted he could walk.
"Are you seasick?" She peered at him incredulously with eyes the precise color of the shallows.
"Of course not." He lied
Rianin patted his arm reassuringly. "These are only little waves. You're from inland though, so it might be worse? I've never met someone who gets seasick before. Flame Dancer is a steady ship, she even survived a hurricane. And they named her after me!"
"You are a beautiful mermaid." The ships figurehead was carved in Rianin's image, complete with eyes of polished aquamarine, and hair that had been painted red. The tail that curved around the bow was jeweled with blue and green stones.
"When I was born," she said excitedly. "All the artisans in the land brought tribute and they built me my first ship. A queen is only as good as the fleet she commands."
"What about your brother?" Cirahl asked.
"He's going to have a tragic accident at sea." Rianin confided. Her whisper carried across the entire deck. "Then I'll be queen."
"No I won't Rianin!" Cirahl cracked a smile as the young prince stalked across the deck to confront his sister. The boy was eight, an age where his clothes and crown didn't seem to fit despite being perfectly tailored. Prince Sealan's introduction had been dignified enough, however unlike Rianin, he had warmed to Cirahl immediately.
"Of course you won't Sealan." The queen glided over and separated her children before an argument could spark. She turned her son away from Rianin and pushed him gently. "Didn't you say that you wanted to help the captain chart a course for today?"
The king arrived immediately afterwards. "And I thought we were going to look for dolphins." He pulled Rianin out of her seat with a smile and twirled her around. Cirahl watched longingly. Did he wish that he were still small enough for the king to spin around? No, that would bring shame on the Blacklands. But, although his betrothed was only six, Cirahl couldn't wait to become a part of her family.