There are some that believe that the world is flat.
Even with overwhelming evidence from centuries of maps, globes, and discovery, many still held onto this notion with an iron clasp.
To Naomi Turner though, it mostly just amused her to hear such talk even when they would prattle on for hours in pubs or on port docks a top of soapboxes, pious to the extreme all over the EverRealm.
Naomi could definitely see the appeal of that belief as she tightened her grip on the rung and leaned so far forward that she was practically hanging over the side of her schooner, The WindChaser. The breeze whipped her blonde hair around her face, and she could taste the salty sea spray on her lips as seagulls called above her in the sky. Being encased in her element was absolutely spellbinding, especially from her vantage point of the morning sunrise rising over the completely flat and calm horizon.
Still, Naomi wasn't one to believe in magic…well between what reality defining spectacles and incredible creatures she saw during her time as a Grand Council member, a part-time Anthropology student, and now as an independent Captain, perhaps believe wasn't the right word. Rely on, she guessed, would be a better fit.
And that's why despite her intrigue and ability to keep an open mind, Naomi couldn't accept the idea of a flat world as nothing more than a fantasy, a myth.
If anything, she always wanted to ask these people, what was the point in the belief?
If they were proven right, what then?
Would they be content to stay in the little pond they now found themselves in?
Or would they look over the edge and into the abyss of stars and planets and the great unknown, and jump.
The musical tolling of the City's noon bells then rang out in the distant.
A smile stretched across Naomi's lips as she turned towards the direction of the sound.
She made a reach for her trusty spyglass that hung at her hip and brought it up to her eye.
Through it, Naomi could make out the familiar docks and easily found her parent's home at the end of one. She also spotted the Jaquin guardians hanging out in the cliffs, the large-winged cats stretching out their lithe bodies and sun bathing. And finally, up on the highest hill, where the Royal Castle stood: grand, tall, and proud.
She was home.
Naomi swung around to the other side of the shroud and used the momentum to propel herself off and land gracefully onto the upper deck. This had been made exponentially easier when she had decided to forgo her skirt in favor of her mother, Captain Scarlett Turner's, style of high-waisted breeches about a year ago.
She quickly took hold of the helm and began steering the ship towards one of the surprisingly empty docks.
The Kingdom's brightly colored emblem flapped in the wind from the top of many docked local ships, including her mother's impressive and beautiful clipper, The Wayfarer. The ports of Avalor had also become one of the leading places of trade. And while they hadn't been founded by the current Queen and Naomi's good friend Elena, they had been cared and grown under her tutelage and her diplomatic skills to create friendships first and business later. Naomi's sharp eyes picked up the flags of the Kingdoms of Cordoba, Pariso, and even Galonia. Looked like the trade agreement on textiles had been finalized since she had been here last.
Naomi caught sight of the enthusiastic arm waving of one of the Port boys, signaling where she could dock. Naomi redirected her course, and though she had been docking ships of this size since she was 12, she couldn't help but get that small dose of pride every time she did it smoothly and gracefully, this time included.
"Miss Naomi!" A boisterous voice then called out. "Welcome back."
"Good to see you, Horacio," Naomi said as she graciously took the hand he had extended out and her small frame was easily pulled up and onto the dock. "Have you seen my dad?"
"Haven't seen Captain Daniel for a while Miss," Her father's second-in-command said, which is why he could call her father a more casual name. "Went somewhere with the other Captain Turner about an hour ago I would say."
"Well, they're bound to pop up eventually," Naomi said. "I am a few days later then I had written in my letter."
Naomi finished securing and rechecking all her expertly tied knots in record time. "Let them know you've seen me and that I'll be at the palace if they happen to come back here."
"Aye aye ma'am."
Naomi returned the man's salute before she began walking down the dock with quite a bit of haste in her step, she was always excited to be reunited with her group of close friends of Queen Elena, Mateo the Royal Wizard, and Captain of Guards Gabe. They had all gained quite the reputation of equal part heroes and troublemakers a few years ago that most of locals had started to refer to them as Los Cuatro Amigos.
However, her pace was instantly slowed and she only made it a few feet at a time before she was being called out and greeted by one of the said locals. With her father having been the harbor master now for quite a few years, Naomi had spent a majority of her time down at these docks, helping where she could and getting to know these people. Which is why despite the excitement and anticipation coursing through her, she took the time to reply to every one of their greetings.
"Heya Scotty, how's the new baby?"
"Hi Franchesca, you grew so tall!"
"I'm fine Miguel, but I can't say for those knots! I thought I taught you better!"
"Careful there!"
Naomi ran over to where a man was struggling to get a bag of coconuts up into a cart. She quickly grabbed one end of the bag and helped him bring them up and over.
"Thank you." The man huffed out and she was greeted with yet another friendly face.
"Naomi, good to see you!" Julio grabbed her hand and shook it violently.
"Likewise Julio," Naomi replied, gripping his hand firmly and matching his enthusiastic welcome. "Elena wrote to me saying that you were re-elected as Magister of Trade. Congratulations!"
"Thank you! Though, I would be lying if I didn't say it was a lot more responsibility than when I first started out. More routes are starting to open up." Julio rubbed as the scratchy beard that had grown in. "Say, why don't you come by the restaurant soon, my treat!"
"It was just a bag of coconuts, you don't need to do that." Naomi mused.
"I'm talking about having the famous Captain Turner, the young explorer of the world visit my establishment."
"Well, let's not go quite that high," Naomi said, hoping to sound nonchalant. But if she looked a little too please, who could blame her? She hadn't spent the last three years traveling all over the EverRealm just twiddling her thumbs.
"But sure, I'm never one to turn down a good meal."
"Excellent!" Julio clapped his hands together. "I'll let Carmen know, she's a huge fan of your-"
"What's that matter, Chancellor? The Royal family doesn't have time to be concerned with the plights of the common people since the Queen's coronation?" A familiar haughty and overly aristocratic voice rang out through the courtyard of Avalor Square.
Julio and Naomi simultaneously groaned and turned to it's source.
Doña Paloma was the owner of the largest Emporium in all of the kingdom. She had a lot more power during the reign of Shuriki as ex-Magister of trade, but it had started the wane in recent years as Elena gave people the actual "common people" more opportunities to rise up.
Doña was the only one who seemed to miss this memo.
Or she was trying to nag her way back into power still, and Esteban, who was standing by the woman, was the best person to do this too, since he never failed to meet her pettiness wholeheartedly.
"Tell your sister that I'll be in tomorrow night for dinner," Naomi said. "I need to give a proper greeting to even those two."
"You really are braver than all of us," Julio said with unneeded dramatics.
Naomi gave the man a small smile before she turned and called out, "I see some things never change!"
The pair immediately stopped bickering as their eyes turned upon her.
"Miss Turner," Doña Paloma said, fluttering her fan in clear agitation, not doubt from the scandalous sight of Naomi's many ear piercings and visible tattoos. "What an...unexpected and unannounced entrance as always."
Naomi took off her turquoise Captain's hat in one great sweeping motion and bowed to the woman. "Doña Paloma."
"And I still see that your training as a refined lady began and ended on the day of your Royal Quinceañera," Doña replied condescendingly, eyes turning to Esteban. "Pity your training for your protegee didn't stick, Chancellor."
"Oh no, it did," Naomi sharply interjected, her blue eyes now slightly narrowed. "I just prefer to use my courtesies on people who actually warrant them."
Esteban's thin mustache twitched slightly up on his lips.
"Well Doña, as invigorating as this conversation has been, I am due back at the Castle for some actual important Royal business, as always." Esteban motioned to Naomi, "I assume you're heading the same way."
Naomi nodded. Her eyes briefly went back to Doña Paloma. However, this time Naomi didn't bother to pull her hat off, and instead grabbed the brim and gave her a slight nod. "Doña."
And with her head held high, Naomi went on her way towards the direction of the hydro-gondola station, one of the more successful inventions created and patented by Princess Isabel. And it wasn't that Naomi didn't love the younger princess like she was her own little sister, but the young woman had been in the palace during quite a few explosions and shattered fountains that she could safely say that she only now felt comfortable riding this form of transportation, rather than the slower house riding or even walking with the assurance that all the kinks had been worked out.
"I see time hasn't dulled that sharp tongue of yours, Naomi," Esteban then noted as they fell into step to walk side by side. Which wasn't always easy with him since his taller frame meant he could take longer strides than her.
"What can I say, some people's ignorance makes for a great whetstone." Naomi smirked, "So I look forward to our conversations while I'm back."
Her barb seemed to work on him as he gawped and tried to look down towards her to show his insulted face. Which was always humorous since he stood a head taller than her, but was made even more so since her hat now blocked her face and he had to bend at a more weird angle to try and meet her gaze.
It really was too much fun to take a jab at him. He looked down on her over that long nose of his since the day they met, that she relished when he fumbled up the façade.
He finally gave up his ridiculous bending and straightened his back in it's usual dignified way.
"Shouldn't I be the ones on that list that 'warrants your courtesies' Miss Turner?"
Naomi loathed at the use of his nickname for her when he wanted to sound superior. So, she wasted no time as she jumped in front of his path into the only hydro-gondola coach that was guarded by a few soldiers as this was the only one that led directly to the palace.
"And here I thought we had a more friendly relationship." Naomi smirked as she hung forward from the coach's doorframe towards him. "Esteban."
The young woman counted this as her win as Esteban refused to give her a response and simply took his place on the opposite bench across from her. The door was closed and latched securely and the hydro-gondola mechanics whirled to life and with a slight lurch they were lifted off the ground.
Naomi leaned out the window and gleefully took in the sights as they climbed higher and higher into the sky. So much of this place hadn't changed at all. Not that she had particularly expected it too, but she had gotten so used to navigating unfamiliar territories, it was nostalgic to see things that had become so familiar to her in her teen years. Even the school she graduated from, which had been the most surprising thing as her education had mostly consisted of a fair bit of homeschooling by her father since they had moved around for so long.
This may have not been the place of her birth or her family's origins, it was quite obvious by her paler complexion and hair color, but it was the only place that had ever felt like home.
She then laughed lightly to herself, she was only 21, her teen years were hardly ancient history.
"That is quite the dagger you are carrying." Esteban then noted.
Naomi's eyebrows furrowed slightly before she realized he was talking about her dagger that was strapped to her thigh. It had become such a second appendage to her, much like her lasso that hung from her belt, that she hardly remembered that she actually carried it, but always knew she had it in the most dire of times.
Esteban stretched out his hand. "May I?"
Naomi unsheathed it and handed it over to him. She had seen him spare with his grandfather with a fair amount of fancy footwork in there to know he could handle a sharp object without hurting himself. She hoped.
"Got it over in a village near Camelot," Naomi explained. "The blacksmith that I got it from supposedly dips his weapons in water collected from the same lake that Excalibur was kept safe in by the Lady in the Lake."
"Is that the reason you bought it?"
"Don't be silly, you know I'm not one for honeyed or flowery words. It was just too fine and useful of a weapon to pass up on, however." Naomi said proudly. Though it had required quite a bit of haggling to get it down to a decent price.
"This is true," Esteban actually said approvingly as he ran his thumb down the intricate design carved into the blade. "Fine steel. Lightweight. And it's perfectly balanced." The dagger then disappeared out of Naomi's sight for a second as Esteban tossed to his other hand with a sharp twirl at an incredible speed before it was presented back to her hilt first.
Naomi raised up one eyebrow and cautiously took it back from him. Even though they had known each other for quite a few years now, there was so much mystery around him. It's not like they had been particularly close. But having been Royal Council members together and him being Elena's cousin, she knew the basics about him. That he had been Chancellor of Avalor since he was 18, he had lost his parents at a very young age, he had served under Shuriki's tyrannical reign to protect his family, and that he was also arrogant, had his nose permanently stuck up, and was generally annoying. So, Naomi often wondered how much wisdom actually came with those sparse gray hairs of his.
Her point was further proven when the hydro-gondola came to a stop, and he made a show of exiting first with a great flourish of his deep burgundy colored jacket. He also made a show of not showing that he just did something so childish as he offered his hand without making eye contact with her like he was the bigger man. Was this man really forty years her senior?
"Come on Miss Turner, surely a woman of your youth and vigor shouldn't take this long."
Naomi took it upon herself to ignore his gesture and instead jumped from the coach well past him altogether.
"Don't fall behind," She said over her shoulder as she walked down the platform steps.
She threw open the nearest door and was greeted with silence. And that's struck her as odd. This place was always lively with some kind of activity. So where was everyone?
"This way Miss Turner." Esteban immediately made his way to one of the grand staircases and Naomi had no choice this time to be to be the one that followed.
For this stretch of the journey, both Naomi and Esteban seemed to take it upon themselves to remain silent. It wasn't uncomfortable by any stretch, just extremely rare.
They then reached one of the sets of doors that led to the balcony. Esteban motioned for her to be the one to open the doors. And here she thought sophisticated gentleman always opened doors for ladies.
"Welcome Home!"
Naomi jumped back at the sudden assault of the loud jovial voices and a fair amount of colorful confetti that was raining down as soon as she opened the door. Now she saw why he wanted her to go first.
Once it died down, Naomi smiled as she was greeted by the friendly faces of the entourage consisting of her parents, Francisco, Luisa, Elena, Mateo, Gabe, Isabel, and even Rafa.
"I didn't realize you had been stuck with coming to retrieve me?" Naomi said, jabbing her elbow into Esteban's arm.
The man looked unamused and brushed out the spot on his coat she had touched, even though there wasn't any trace of a wrinkle. "I had other business to attend to while I was down there."
"And it was a Royal Order from his Queen. And you seem to have more than enough free time nowadays," Elena said matter-of-factly.
Esteban only rolled his eyes and went over to take his usual place next to his grandparents and younger cousin.
The young women shared knowing smiles before Elena wrapped her arms around Naomi and pulled her into a tight embrace.
"This is not the first time I've come back home, you know!" Naomi said pragmatically, but she still returned Elena's affection with just as much enthusiasm that they swayed a little, just like little kids did.
"Well, we have a lot to celebrate anyways," Elena said, moving to grab both of Naomi's hands. "With Reina on the way, Isa being accepted as a full time college student in Setu, Mateo starting his Wizard Guild, and of course you being officially home now, it would have been foolish to not throw a small party!"
Naomi put a hand on the small protruding bump on Elena's belly. "Reina? How do you know it's already a girl?"
"I had a dream of a baby that was all round, so that only means it's a girl."
This statement confused Naomi, but she figured that was probably just more of an Avaloran superstition than a particularly magical one. After all, a woman in the Kingdom of Napurna had once told her she was having a boy because her nose hadn't swollen during her whole pregnancy. However, Elena could have very well added a psychic ability in her already long list of magical skills. Which with her also having a Royal Wizard for a husband, wouldn't surprise Naomi in the slightest.
"Well, you can let Reina know that she is the only reason I know for sure that any time has truly passed here!"
"You say that, but look how long your hair had gotten!" Elena grabbed a piece of her blonde hair, usually she had kept it ear length, to keep it off her neck and easy to maintain. But now as a Captain, having slightly longer hair helped in keeping her neck warm. Still, it wasn't a long as her parents that it laid flat down and more stuck out in spiky angles.
Speaking of which, her parents then stepped forward to the pair, and Elena instantly stepped aside respectively.
"Good to see you Naoms!" Her mother exclaimed as all the of them came in for their usual group hug that ended with her dad pulling both women right off their feet.
"Captain Turner and I, Captain Turner, are happy you are home, Captain Tuner," Her dad said extremely proudly as he set them back down. Causing both her mother and her to roll their eyes good naturedly.
"I can't wait to tell you guys everything! And I also have a few more sailing questions as well that I didn't get a chance to write to you in my last letter," Naomi beamed up at them.
"Well, were not going anywhere anytime soon. So we'll have plenty of time." Her mother said. And it was still a sentence that made Naomi extremely happy to hear, as her mother had been so absent during her childhood on merchant sailing trips, it was nice to know they had plenty of time to be together.
Naomi was almost tempted to just start rambling off to them despite what her mother had just said when she caught sight of something.
"Woah, and Elena said my hair got long!?" Naomi exclaimed. She gave her parents one last look before turning onto her next target.
"Well I happen to like it," Mateo said proudly. His brown curls had always been messy and unruly, but now they were so grown out that he had to have them tied back into a ponytail.
"Elena really finds this attractive?" Naomi asked jokingly as she gave him a friendly side hug.
"Why yes, she does actually," He said smugly with one eyebrow cocked up. Hard to believe this was that same clumsy and kinda dorky (well he was still dorky) guy that she had first seen around school.
"I guess you know what she likes better than I do, Wizard King Mateo, Pioneer of new magic and Defender of the Realm,"
"Ugh, can you not," Mateo said with a deep sigh. "I already have to tell some many people that it's just 'Royal Wizard Mateo who just happens to be married to the Queen of Avalor.'"
Naomi barked out a laugh. "Yes, because that is so much easier to say."
She felt a hand touch her back, and Naomi turned to see the only person here that made her heart beat a little faster.
Gabe gave her a smile as his warm hands grabbed her waist and pulled her in for a hug that brought her up to the tips of her toes. Naomi wrapped her arms securely around his neck.
"Hey."
"Hi."
And that was all the greetings they needed to say right now as they both let go of their hug. Neither one of them was big on overt public affection and most certainly not around this nosy bunch of people, especially Mateo and Elena, who were sharing a knowing glance. They were hardly ones to talk, or in this case look, though with how long it had taken for them to get together.
"Nice stubble," Naomi then said, as she tried to play off running her thumb against the rough texture of his skin on his sharp jawline as casual as possible.
"What? You prefer me clean-shaven?" Gabe asked, taking a small step so that they were toe-to-toe.
Naomi brought back down her hand and shrugged. "Surprise me when we have dinner tomorrow night at Carmen's place."
Gabe quirked up an eyebrow at her usually brash way of delivering an invitation. "Are you asking or demanding?"
Naomi simply shrugged again, but this time threw in a small wink at the end.
The balcony doors were thrown open and a short rounded man emerged.
"Dinner is served," Armando, the Chief-of-the-Castle said brightly, motioning for the group to make it's way inside. "Got everything set up in the ballroom since we have so many extra guests."
"Perfect timing, as always Armando! I'm starved," Elena said as the took Mateo's arm that he had offered out to her.
"Goodness mijita, you just might give your Abuelo here a run for his tamales," Luisa joked as she and Francisco followed in as the next pair behind. Followed by her parents, plus with Rafa on her mother's other arm. Then Gabe and Isabel as he was helping her get some confetti out of her tangled hair. Which left Naomi and Esteban as an unlikely walking pair again in the back.
Just as they were about to walk through the door, a gust of wind suddenly blew by, causing the door right near Naomi to swing speedily at her. She held up her forearm to shield herself from the impact as possible. But right as the door was about to hit her, Esteban's hand shot out and stopped it.
So, he did have the capacity to be a gentleman.
"Why thank you, Chancellor," Naomi said, raising her voice to a higher, more girlish pitch as she dropped into a perfect little curtsy, despite not wearing a skirt to give it's full feminine elegance. Even now, she could still feeling the weight of the heavy book Esteban had forced her to balance on her head while she did her one and only week of Royal etiquette lessons.
"Hmmm, there may be hope for you yet, Lady Turner." He said just as pompously as always, but there was a certain twinkle to his eye that Naomi had never really seen directed at her before and threw her off slightly.
She recovered quickly and gave him a wicked smile as she reached up and plucked a piece of confetti that had been stuck on the tip of his pointed beard. "Funny, I was just about to say the same thing to you, Esteban."