II
Ten years ago
With the morning sun's persistent glare, little six-year old Rhome Irida roused herself from bed. Rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, she looked to the window beside her bed. Smiling, Rhome remembered her father was expected to return from his latest shipping voyage today.
Leaping out of bed, Rhome threw on a pair of jeans and a loose fitting shirt. Opening her window, she took a few steps back before taking a running leap from her bedroom window. Leaping from awning to awning, she finally reached the street below. Breaking off into a sprint, Rhome headed for the marketplace alleyway.
Already aware of the young girl's tact, the shop owner's listened intently for the sound of bare feet pounding the pavement in rapid pace. With one glance; the owner of the egg cart gave a loud, shrill whistle down the alley. In fluid motion, the shopkeepers and vendors moved they're wares slightly giving the girl a small corridor to run through. Spotting the line, Rhome sprinted right through the alley. Upon her passing, the residents of the small market put their wares back in order.
"I don't see why we cater to that girl," a produce vendor muttered.
"Oh come on," answered one of the flower girls. "She could do worse."
"How can we not?" the egg cart owner asked. "Those parents of hers have brought more business to Lougetown than anybody before them. Besides; if she doesn't run around us she'll run through us."
The surrounding vendors laughed at this while the produce vendor grunted in frustration.
Weaving through and over the crowd, she finally spots the dock in the horizon. Leaping to a street post, Rhome bounces off to an awning on the other side of the street. Again, leaping to the low ceiling she ran up a series of ceilings that acted as a staircase to her secret route to the docks. Reaching the highest ceiling, Rhome breathes deep a few times. Partly to regain her breath, partly to work up the nerve; a single pole extended the entire length from the main courtyard to the docks.
Once used as a relay for messages from the high watchtower, it had become Rhome's secret shortcut to the docks after one of her mother's 'fighting sailors' had shown her how to slide along ropes and poles. Rhome had taken this route many times before, but never was able to get used to it. One slip or misstep was all it took to topple to the pavement below.
Taking one last breath she took a few sprinting steps before leaping onto the pole. Gliding down, the exhilaration began as soon as the wind caught in her hair. What would've taken a half hour was finished in a few minutes as Rhome leaped from the pole and onto her parent's office.
"Hi, Mama!" Rhome piped as she poked her head through the rooftop hatch.
"How many times have I told you to come in through the front door?" Layla Irida answered. Her flowing, silver hair braided in cornrows at the side and braided into a small iron ball at the small of her back. Filling out forms and organizing work orders, she shook her head at her daughter's indifference.
"Is papa back yet?" Rhome asked completely ignoring her mother's first question.
"No Rhome; daddy isn't back yet. Have you finished reading those books?"
"Can I see the telescope?"
"Have you finished reading?"
"Yes; Mama," Rhome said, her irritation apparent.
"Then tell me what the Pythagorean Theorem states."
"It states that the length of the large side of a right triangle is the sum of the squared length of the remaining sides."
"Correct, why is that important to a navigator?"
"I…don't know."
Putting down her pen and papers, Layla wheeled around to face her daughter, "It's important because it's essential for understanding Cartesian Coordinates in a three-dimensional system. Without that, a sextant is nothing more than a fancy, expensive toy. Understand?"
"Uh-huh," Rhome nodded half understanding and half lost on the subject.
Seeing this Layla tried hard to suppress a giggle.
"Why don't you become a doctor?" Layla asked returning to her work.
"No!" Rhome stated defiantly. "That's what Crocus wants to do."
"It's a lot less work, Rhome."
"No! I want to be a fighting sailor like you Mama."
"Why not a Navy officer like your daddy used to be?"
"Because daddy said they're all stu—pid."
Unable to suppress her laughter, Layla let loose a loud fit. After a minute, she gave in and tossed Rhome her spare telescope.
"Be careful with it Rhome."
"I will Mama."
Upon first glance, nobody would know that the beautiful, almost serene Layla Irida had once been a fighting sailor taking up with any crew that could afford her fee. It wasn't until she met a gruff former Navy officer, Soleno Irida, during one such voyage did she consider settling down. However, the sea still beckoned convincing them to start an escort and shipping business.
Soleno, having knowledge of all the secret routes, took care of the shipping aspect. Layla, having a knack for keeping unruly men in line, took care of the escort service. With the arm of the World Government extending farther each year, her escort services were needed less and less. It's as if the world kept getting smaller. There seemed to be just one frontier left.
"Mama, Mama; I can see Daddy's ship!"
With that Layla quickly opened a drawer taking out her sextant. Nearly flying up the staircase, Layla reached the roof in seconds. Rhome knew this routine by heart as she was already lying on her belly.
"Where are they Rhome?" Layla asked.
Looking though the small telescope; Rhome pointed to her right, "There, there Mama."
Looking through her sextant, she spotted the faint speck in the distance. Moving the dials here and there, Layla used her spare fingers for certain calculation. Holding her sextant at her side, she looked down at the little girl smiling back at her.
"How long Mama?" Rhome asked.
"I'd say about six hours," Layla answered. "Four, if he can get a good enough headwind. C'mon, we have to get a few things for Daddy's return."
"Okay Mama," Rhome said taking her mother's hand.
Standing at the dock Layla watched as her husband's ship, the Rolling Jack, pulled into port. Soleno Irida had already leaped from his ship onto the pier to secure the ship's line. His gruff exterior and jet black hair made him appear more a pirate than a former Navy officer, but it was all true. After serving half a lifetime in the Navy, he left it after growing tired of the political atmosphere. Now the co-owner of a shipping business, he was free to sail the seas as he saw fit and make more than a few belli doing so. However, the Navy was making it harder to take the secret routes that only a few Navy navigators were aware of. It was time to expand beyond East Blue.
"You know the drill men," Soleno bellowed. "Secure the ship and head home. Next job is in three weeks."
"Roger!" his men yelled in unison salute.
Walking up to Layla, he embraced her in one motion scooping her into his arms. Wrapping her slender arms around her husband's neck, Layla took in his scent after being without for what appeared an eternity.
"Have you told her?" Soleno asked.
Looking up at Soleno; Layla slowly shook her head, "Have you told Crocus?"
"Yes, before I left on this last job. Any idea on when you're going to tell your daughter?" Soleno asked letting her down.
"I don't know," Layla answered turning away.
"It has to be soon Layla, you know this."
"Three weeks, I know."
"Isn't her birthday coming up?"
"Yeah, in a few days she'll be seven. Can you believe it?"
"We'll tell her after the party."
"I hope so."