AN: Hello Papa!verse, I missed you. Tried to recapture the tone of the first two, not sure I made it happen. And thanks to a certain someone for the idea!
The Admiral
The navy of the court of the Gemini is an afterthought. The brothers are more concerned with exploiting the riches of their own lands, intrigues of the court and palace gossip. Unlike their father before them, they do not spend much time or energy troubling themselves about ships or trade routes, munitions or sailors. They do not bother worrying about defending their harbors, ports or rivers. The pair were fortunate to inherit the great Admiral of the Ocean, Lir Mazu, from the reign of their father. Lir is a confident, quiet man and content in his role – he seeks no further gains, does not have time to waste in the complexities of the court – he was born for the sea. From his earliest days as a sailor, his abilities in the height of the fiercest storms sent whispers from port to port that he is descended from Poseidon himself.
Fortunately, Lir Mazu is at sea when the war between the brothers transpires. Upon his return, he swears allegiance to the victor and for his commitment, the title of Shitennou is bestowed upon him. More clever than his brother, the winning twin sees more to be gained from the navy. On the birth of his son, the new prince, the Terran leader commissions the greatest warship the known nations have ever seen. Under the direction of Lir, work on the Endymion begins and hurtles forward at a frantic pace.
Although older, clever, handsome Lir has a comfortable bed in every port, his extended time in the shipyards force him to remain in one city for longer than usual. There, it is the Widow Canaria – a tradeswoman, that unexpectedly catches his heart. She is light where he is dark and never presses him for more of a commitment than he can give. She sees how his green eyes scan the horizon, watching, waiting, concentrating. He's like the tides, ebbing and flowing. She takes what she can and contents herself with him during the cold winter months.
It is fortuitous that Lir comes to dock on the day of the arrival of his son some months later. The local pub bursts with well wishers and those wanting to partake of the free ale - a gift from the proud father.
"A son, a son!" he exclaims, wondering what the years will hold.
He manages to stay in port for 6 weeks after his son, Zoiscite, is christened. In the light of the full moon, the Widow nods, kisses his cheek as he leaves.
The next years are difficult. Per the instruction of the Terran King, Lir is aggressive at sea – attacking, destroying becoming the scourge of the Northern waters. And the years catch up with him - rising at dawn, there is an ache in his bones. He partakes more heavily in the rum rations. When he finally makes it back to her port, his son is a gangly six year old. The boy has his mother's features save for his green eyes, which Lir recognizes as his own. In the boy's hand, a small toy boat – a gift sent overseas from the last time he was on dry land.
Without going into the house, he approaches the boy and says, "Hullo."
"Hello, sir."
"What do you have there?"
"A boat!"
"Who gave it to you?"
"My ma says it was my pa, but I don't know right know."
"Where is your pa now?"
Young Zoiscite pushes his toy against some imaginary current and answers, "He's at sea."
"Do you miss him?"
Zoiscite shrugs, wipes his nose and answers, "I guess. I wish he would take me on his boat. I've heard it's a mighty thing."
Lir chuckles. The 'boat' he captains is a warship. With the Endymion almost ready to launch, he thinks of taking the mighty vessel on its first maneuvers and perhaps retiring. Surely the Terran king would grant him this request. He's served the land well.
"What if I said I could take you to him?"
"Would you?" the widow Canaria asks, walking towards them.
"He's old enough. We have lads younger than he," Lir answers, his eyes still on his son.
She is quiet.
"Lass, t'would be for a year or less, then I would retire and we'd come home together. This is a younger man's game."
"Let me consider. Will you stay awhile?"
"Aye."
After a blissful week long respite and a tearful goodbye, father and son return to the port. Young Zoiscite has questions about everything he sees, each person they meet. He is captivated by the mechanics of the shipyards. They leave for the port, bound for the capital in fine weather. An easy crossing, Lir walks the ship with his boy, introducing him to everyone. When dark storm clouds gather later, Lir thinks nothing of them – tells his son to stay in his cabin and all will be well.
Thus, when a lifeboat enters the port of the capital three days later with a sole survivor, it is the king himself who takes the boy into custody. A week later when the boy finally speaks, he tells the heroic story of his father and the complete loss of the ship and crew. During his convalescence, the young man befriends the prince and the king decides this boy – Zoiscite, the Admiral's son, is deserving of a place in his court.