Sea Hawk pointed forward. "Adventure!"
"Fiiine." grumbled Mermista.
Dodging a crewman laden with cheese wheels and bread, Sea Hawk rocked off the dock and onto the sand. Dusting his brown boots with the granules. Crashing waves filled his ears, drowning out the droned noise of the crewman. The sky was sketched in golden reds, oranges, purples and pinks around the setting sun.
Tide was high. Grey-blue water just kissing the edge of his shoes. Sea Hawk was slightly sinking into the wet sand, the sludge spilling around his feet. Salt-tinted wind bit across his face. He took a large gulp of that air, tasting the salt. Letting his roll on his tongue.
He loved it.
Sea Hawk loved every minute the ocean graced him with.
"You plan on boarding your ship from the water or…" said Mermista, gesturing to the docks for him to come.
She was wearing what Sea Hawk had told her was traditional pirate gear; threadbare black breeches, brown boots and a white shirt tucked in. Still the circlet crown of gold, -with a water-drop shaped pearl joining the two circles of metal- rested atop her head, as always. Sea Hawk wondered if he ever saw it off the princess's head.
The whole look mirrored his own outfit, save for the red neckerchief and blue coat with gold trim that had been a gift from his foster mother, Anastasia. Though she had gotten the coat a few sizes too big. Sea Hawk had adamantly opposed returning it, saying he was going to grow into it so enough.
He ruffled his hair and gave Mermista a winning smile, born straight from the definition of charm. "Why of course," he said, "I was just looking upon her beauty from the sands!"
"Ugh, whatever." Mermista was getting better at hiding her emotions under a guise of boredom. But her pearly smile managed to peak through, unable to hide itself behind the curtain of aloofness its owner so often put up now.
Sea Hawk slipped his way from the sands to the wooden docks. Crewmen grumbled about as he gazed at the ship, in all her beauteous glory.
The Dragon's Daughter was a proper royal ship. Rocking and swaying in the waters, she was built for cargo and transporting gaudy passengers. The ship's bow adored a curvaceous nautical figurehead. Luscious curls gracing her birch shoulders, pretty mouth set in a sorrowful way. Her brows and closed eyes going with that sorrow.
With her perfect figurehead, -stained to a shine- wood bearing little to no barnacles and silken flags, The Daughter was polished back into charm for aristocrats and higher ups.
It meant little, the perfect look of The Daughter. Sea Hawk knew the real her was hiding under the silk Salineas flags and banners. The over shined wood and over the top nautical ornament. Waiting to peep out, The Daughter was a pirate ship at heart. She was built for long voyages in harsh blue waters. She was built for Sea Hawk.
Or he so desperately liked to think.
Men shuffled around the ship, bringing cargo crate after cargo crate into the ship's stomach, loading the below decks with relief and aid supplies: Breads and cheeses and dried meats. Seeds for planting and soils for growing. Vinegars for pickling and wines for pleasures.
And building supplies too. To help remake the poor waterlogged fishermen village that had suffered a bad tsunami.
Sea Hawk walked up to one of the poles, holding The Daughter to the docks with a sturdy rope. "Thank you for keeping her here." He whispered, planting a kiss on the pole. It tasted rather gross, but he wasn't going to tell it that. After all, it had kept his beauteous ship safe.
"Ugh," Mermista pointedly stepped around him, as if to avoid whatever disease he had just contracted from the pole. She bumped into a burly man carrying three wheels of creamy cheese. He startled and one of the wheels fell into the murky water with a comically loud plop.
Mermista cringed as she heard the sound of cheese hitting water. The man huffed, very loud, and walked on.
Clearly the crew were still harboring a grudge about the princess and her wannabe pirate. It was made clear by both captain and crew that Sea Hawk and Mermista were burdens to ship. Not that either of them cared, they were far too busy being excited. Sea Hawk and Mermista, on a relief mission. It was all very grown up.
Mermista turned to Sea Hawk and minmed a gagging movement. He let out a quiet chuckle.
She walked the grated plank of wood that connected the deck to the ship, onto The Daughter. When Sea Hawk did the same, he kneeled and plated a kiss to the board of wood. "Thank you, for letting me board my ship." This variety of wood did not taste much better, but, like the poles that kept his ship from drifting away, he was not going to tell it that.
"Ugh," Mermista groaned again. "Must you."
"I must!" He cried. At her disgusted face, an idea popped into his head. "And I must thank you, I haven't nearly enough!" He pitched forward and reached for her hand. Mermista startled at his actions and placed a hand on the railing to steady herself, but she didn't pull away. She merely groaned like this was the greatest inconvenience.
"I gave you this boat like a year ago, you've thanked me every time we've gone on it."
"Yes, but it isn't enough!" He placed a swift kiss on her copper knuckles. He looked up and grinned a devilish grin.
A dark red tint painted Mermista's cheeks, but it was gone in a flash, Sea Hawk must have wished it to be there. Though, as to why that wish was there he could not say. And he did not dwell on it, he was far too busy messing with his princess.
Mermista pulled away in a disgusted fit. "Eww!" she screeched, moving away from him. "You just kissed a plank of barnacly wood with those-those things."
"And pole." He corrected, "but wait! I'm not done thanking you!" Sea Hawk pursed his lips, reaching out, getting ready to kiss her hand again.
Annoyed groans filled the air. "You've thanked me enough!" said Mermista. "But you can thank me again, if you can catch me." She added, eyes sparkling.
Sea Hawk did not reply, just raced after her. Chasing her all around the Daughter. His foot caught in a coil of rope. It snaked its way up to his ankle and halted him in his chase for Mermista.
"Aha! You've lost!" Mermista gloated. Stepping atop a barrel to do so.
"Oh but I haven't!" Sea Hawk hopped up and started after her again, only to realize he had not quite detangled himself fully from the rope. He promptly hit the floor again, his chin connecting first and the rest of him following. Luckily his face managed to hit a pile of rags. Dirty soggy rags, but soft nonetheless. They certainly saved him from having to stitch up a tongue he chopped in two with his own teeth.
The bustling crewmen stopped moving. Filling the ship with silence, even the gulls far overhead stopped their insistent crying. Sea Hawk heard the thump of footsteps.
If feet connecting with ground could sound confident, those footsteps managed it well. If they could sound like dread, the dripping sweat of it, they managed that too.
Captain Korin stepped onto The Dragon's Daughter.
He was a palace captain. The status reeked from his fine clothes and hat, slicked back hair drenched in oil and polished white skin. It was far too smooth and clean for a captain of a whole look was marred by the sparkling silver hook on his right hand. If Korin was dressed more like Sea Hawk or Mermista, and maybe dored a few blemishes on his skin, he would have looked like a pirate out of a children's story.
Korin was nodding to his second mate, then to the rest of the crew. A proper, professional greeting for a proper, professional captain.
Dread trickled down Sea Hawk's back. Jaw still aching where it rested on the floor. Korin was walking towards him and Mermista.
"Get up boy!" Captain Korin curled into harshness, his polished look making it all the more ugly. "If you are to captain this ship when you are of age, you need to start acting like an adult."
"But he's just thirteen." Mermista interrupted.
"But that is not the point, my Princess." His tone turned from hardened steel to honeyed sugar in an instant.
The way he gazed at Mermista made Sea Hawk want to break every finger beating that look from his face. It was a flash in Korin's eyes but it was always gone in an instant, one really had to look to notice the gleam, and Sea Hawk was looking. Every time.
The gleam was a soft entitlement, a predatory want. It disgusted Sea Hawk. Sea Hawk, who looked upon Captain Korin and thanked him silently, everyday. For giving him examples of all the best ways on how not to be a captain.
He couldn't wait to be eighteen, couldn't wait to kick Captain Korin out of his ship, right after kicking his teeth in.
Captain Korin offered a hand to Mermista, to help her off the barrel she perched herself on. She didn't take it. He curled that open-palmed hand into a fist.
"If we are to make a good impression on this impoverished village, we all must look the part," He eyed Mermista. "Princess, do good to remember about changing into something more proper for a girl of your rank, next time." His tone was all cream. But that smile he bore curdled the sweetest of his voice.
Sea Hawk's thoughts blistered into anger. He noticed how Korin made no voice for Sea Hawk to change into 'proper clothes'. The message was clear.
Sea Hawk was dressed for who he was: threadbare in unkempt clothes, he was a luckless streetrat who somehow gained the good graces of the royal family's pity. It was a wonder why Sea Hawk wasn't licking the ground Mermista walked on, for all he was worth.
"I'll remind you of my rank within the palace." Was all Mermista said. And suddenly she was her mother, sauntering past Korin and the crew like she had all the time in the world. Like she owned the ship. She did. Letting the nature of her words sit in the air. Gulls overhead barked their laughter. Sea Hawk held back his own.
That's my girl! He thought, a proud grin threatening an appearance.
She reached the doors. Without looking back she added. "Do good to remember that, next time"
,-,-,
There had been a thunderstorm. A vicious one.
It raged on for most of the first night. Setting the inky sky speckled with stars in a blazing fit. Streaks of crisp lightning flashed across the sky, setting the world aflame in milky white.
Mermista, -like Sea Hawk- was tasked with not getting underfoot as the crew fought to keep the cargo from running into the dark, murky water. Mermista was always divided on storms like the one overhead. On one hand, the ocean was in a daze at times like these, and she was muddled as a result. The lines of comprehension and awareness fuzzed when her element was stirring into some form beyond madness.
On the other, the ocean was a vast, vast, mighty thing. When storms of light and heat, such as the one raging above, forced the world into its wrath, Mermista was sucked into that want for destruction, the greedy desire for something go awry. The ocean was scary in its feeling, its thought. Its way.
On the surface, the water sparkled, inviting pleasures and play. Go just a little deeper, and it was a home to a great many things, it provided warmth, family. Go to the dregs, and it was a cavernous waste of greed and hunger and dark lust for destruction. That waste always raised to the top on nights like these. Always.
Mermista and Sea Hawk sat on the same grungy hammock, hearing the same anxious foot falls, almost as loud as the flaming thunderstorm around them. The wooden planks were dripping. Water was leaking every which way. Mermista was getting soaked, if she didn't know any better, she would say they were sinking. But she knew better.
Being connected to the sea also meant being connected to its inhabitants. All, whether man made or born from nature, Mermista knew - or rather, felt- what was they were doing. Or what was being done to them.
A bolt of lightning sounded overhead. She could not take it anymore. That want, that awful want was rampaging for room to plant within Mermista. She could not let it take root.
She would not.
Mermista hopped from the spotty bed. Ignoring Sea Hawk's protests, she opened the wooden doors keeping her prison in the sodden sleeping quarters.
The chaos was everywhere.
Every crewman was axing down some crate or box or barrel, and if they weren't they were yelling at one another to do so. Supplies of all kinds lay across the ship's deck in piles.
Sea Hawk had come to join her, he must have guessed what she was going to do.
Mermista walked to the center of the boat, ignoring the crewmen like she did Sea Hawk. She ignored that seedling of greed buried in her, she always did, lest it plant and flourish. Mermista shuddered to think of the horror, the terror if she fed that waste.
She stretched out her arms, splaying out her hands and felt the ocean. Felt for the happy, the warmth, the families, the good. She ate that feeling of goodness, she gorged on it. She let that feeling, and her love of being connected to the ocean fill her limbs.
The crash of each wave tingled in her fingers, sending that shiver up her arms. Pumping her veins, her heart. She felt the lighting sizzle on her skin, heating it, as it did the sea. She was a part of it. A part of the murky depths. In the homes of cods and dolphins, of sharks and whales. She leeched a little of the perfect calm out of each household and captured it.
She closed her fists, and with that enclosure the chaos of nature ended. As if she captured it all within her palms. She let out a breath, let out the stolen good. She felt the calm she took from household to household settle over the water, stilling it. Stilling it completely.
It looked like a sheet glass. Black glass. Mermista knew no one else saw the wave of anger try to rush and break that impossible calm she set open the sea. It terrified her, that she -if she let herself- could become something so terrifying that people would wish for this type of storm, of its benevolence, everyday.
She could wreak havoc upon the whole world, she could take away their rivers and streams, she could harbor water so every lush greenery crumpled to black dust. She could end the world if she wanted. Could.
And what truly terrified her, was that if she let that dark waste grow, take root, flourish and overwhelm her-
She would. She would relish the despair. Delight in death and destruction. Would.
,-,-,
She can't have slept for long. The sky was still black when Mermista emerged from the sleeping quarters. The air was still, the gulls still, the world still. She did that. All of it. She shivered.
Sea Hawk was up. Back to her, forearms resting on the boat railing. Gold earrings glinting in the creamed light of the seven moons. White shirt resting against sloping shoulders. It was hard to remember Sea Hawk was thirteen, just two years older than Mermista. The way he carried himself, barrel chested and confident, the way he commanded the crew, -when Korin was not around- whether they listen or not, he seemed far older.
He seemed like the captain of The Dragon's Daughter.
But then there were those moments when Sea Hawk was thirteen. When Korin talked to him, or when the Salineas king and queen did. But that was land, when he was on the water, on his boat, he was a captain in the making.
The water was still a sheet of glass. Moons reflected on it. The wind was dull, resulting in The Daughter staying where she was, not even rocking.
Mermista wondered if the ocean was glass everywhere. She did not like it -she hated it more rather- but she did not have the energy to coax the her element back into its normal, unpredictable self. The good unpredictable, not the greedy kind.
Sea Hawk glanced at her as she slid up next to him, close enough for their shoulders to touch. His eyes lingered at her forehead. She had left her crown in her trunk. Mermista missed the comfort the gold circlets gave her, the cool pearl that rested between her brows.
"You scared everyone." Sea Hawk said. Mermista found she would always be grateful for Sea Hawk and his unwavering honesty, she needed it, him, more than she could ever begin to say. That was another thing that she hated, her distaste for being open. She knew it came from the dark part of the ocean.
"I scared myself." Mermista replied. With Sea Hawk though, she found out a while ago, she never found it hard. Well, not that hard. Words would never come easy to her. She was sure.
"Do you think you can get the sea back to normal soon?"
"Yes, but like I'll need some more rest and stuff. How long was I out?"
"'Bout four hours."
They went silent after that. Just staring at the lifeless sea. A baby dolphin jumped up from the sheet and plopped back into the water. It did not send a ripple, not one ripple, throughput the entire ocean. Mermista felt gooseflesh pucker her arms.
"I wish I had been there," she said, keeping her gaze on the quelled sea, the spot where the dolphin jumped. Her eyes stayed latched onto that spot.
"Been where?" wondered Sea Hawk.
"At that fisher village, If I had been there, I could have stopped that tsunami like I did here, with the sea."
Mermista saw Sea Hawk turned to her out of the corner of her eye. Some flame burned up in his gaze, making Mermista face him, making her look him in the eye.
"You can't blame yourself for something you didn't know of." There was an unspoken follow-up to that sentence. Mermista could only guess at what she wanted it to be.
Sea Hawk was gazing at her with such intensity. Such passion heated his broze monolid eyes. She had to look away. Back to the glass monstrosity she made.
"Listen to me Mermista." Sea Hawk placed a hand on hers. Her eyes locked onto the spot where the dolphin jumped from, not looking at Sea Hawk. "Your amazing, the most amazing person I've ever met. I won't let you beat yourself up for something you could have done nothing to stop. I won't."
Mermista looked at his hand in hers. The tanned peach completing her golden brown. She wondered what he would think if she were to shift her hand, so it was palm to palm with his. Would he back away? Would he look at her the same way again, if she were to interlace their fingers?
Or would he squeeze back? The rough of his palm scraping against hers.
She turned and looked and looked at him. Really looked at him. The way she did when he could not catch her doing it. When she was studying him. His movements and mannerisms. His crisp edges and fine lines. His unarmored, honest self. His ticks and quirks. Him.
She often compared his openness to herself, would she ever be that honest? Could she be?
Something made Mermista want Sea Hawk to know she had looked at him like this before, that it was a long ago formed habit.
Something made Mermista want to make sure Sea Hawk never found out.
He looked so much older. He had taken to tying a black headband to tame his unkempt hair. The thicker portion above the band flopped over his forehead. Days in the sun left him kissed with it's mark. Freckles dusted his whole face and neck and arms. Beauty marks dotted randomly throughout his tanned skin.
Her eyes slipped down to their hands. She let them break away, letting her hand swing back to her side. She turned away from him, she could not let him know her formed habit of studying him. When it came to openness, it was easier with Sea Hawk, but only by so much.
She knew it hurt him to not talk, she knew that, and yet she did not turn back to pour herself out in earnest honesty, spill her secrets like water from a pitcher. Instead she said, back to him-
"Imma get some rest."
,-,-,
It was Sea Hawk's fourteenth birthday.
A very unfortunate thing, considering he was spending the first day as fourteen hauling supplies to a damaged fisher village.
It had been two days since Mermista turned the ocean from wild temptress to a muted servant girl. She had woken the morning after their conversation, and smashed the sheet of glass. Righting the ocean to its unpredictable self.
She had stretched out her arms and opened her palms, as if releasing something. It had been a whisper, quiet, yet Sea Hawk had found his skin bumped with gooseflesh. It was dazzling. He often found himself to be dazzled by Mermista, just plain dazzled.
His mind slipped back to the way his princess had loo-no, studied him two nights ago. He had felt like it was something she had done before, a purposely formed habit. He did not know if that was fictitious, spinning a sweet tale of his own desire -like back when he wished her to blush at his touch- or factual.
Then how odd she had looked not wearing her crown. It was back on her head today, but that night she looked impossibly young. Cyan tresses fuzzed up, eyes red and under them darkened.
He shook his head clear of those thoughts. He could puzzle out what it all meant at a later date.
,-,-,
Sea Hawk spent the rest of the day building or hauling or helping or stretching or more building. No matter how hard he tried, Sea hawk's mind flashed back to the outline of Mermista in the creamed yellow and pure whites of the moons, back to him. She seemed small that night, vulnerable, somehow.
However all thoughts of Memista left his mind when he met the lord's son, Alaric.
,-,-,
Grayfield Village could have once been beautiful, had it not gotten an over excited greeting from the ocean.
Mermista could picture it as it was: A bustling wharf, marketplace just beyond it. Selling the catch of the morning. Homely cottages stacked atop one another, breeding out onto the dark blue moors, and to the edge of the cliffs, brimming with potted flowers, lilacs, sorrowaxes, sunflowers, blue-drips and peonies. There was the outlines of sweet gardens. Plots of overturned earth and seedling rows. Rakes and shovels and such resting against homes, ready for use the next morning.
And there was the palace, a completely safe building, being built on the highest hill. Looking down at it's village. It was cut of the silver stone that made up the meat of the cliffs. It was comprised of three main towers jutting out from the large oval base, the largest being the center. A railing on stilts connecting the entryways in the towers.
Sun bleached shop fronts, and market stands would have been bustling with people clad in elbow patches and floaty skirts, baskets and purses hung at their arms. Come to get their needs for the day. Apples, blueberries, flour, spices, and sugar soaked treats. Fishermen would have been hauling the catch for the day, readying to sell to those bustling sunbleached shops. Complete with a castle.
It would have looked like a sweet fairytail, a joyous kid's story meant for late lights and tuck-ins. The kind that actually put you to sleep and dreamt yourself into that story.
It would have been all that, had its joy and heart and life not gotten washed away by the greedy, wanting waters of the sea. Mermista had felt the residue of that waste lingering on those sweet gardens, now turned to mush, and those charming sun-bleached shopfronts and market stands, now waterlogged. But the worst was the wharf. When she departed from The Daughter on the only standing dock left she had been hit with it's reek.
It was rather depressing.
But that was why Mermista was here, to help. To make it not rather depressing. To rid Grayfield of the dark, cold touch of the sea.
When Mermista was younger, she only felt immense gratitude towards the sea, she was blind to the waste and carnage that lay under the goodness. Now, here in Grayfield village, that was all she could see.
Still, despite the waste of the ocean, Mermista always came when it beckoned. Always. She often wondered what had come first, her love for the sea, or her connection to it fueling that love. As the years went on, she found her feet shying away from solid ground in favor of her element. She, whenever she could -whether between meetings or lesson, after luncheons or dinners- would slip down to the ocean and gaze at it. Marveling.
Mermista, mind filled with pleasant thoughts, felt out for the water housing itself in others homes. A puddle lay resting in a garden bed, another in a kitchen, and more and more and more slept in the rest of the village. Mermista would return them all.
She closed her eyes, her fists, felt the pull of a puddle of water almost waiting to return home. The puddle lifted in time with Mermista's arcing arms. It moved overhead, in a brilliant crystal stream. Water flowed back to home in a river -joining all other little puddles Mermista had lifted- back to the sea.
,-,-,
Despite having rid over a dozen houses of water, there was still more work to do. Mermista was the only one really able to rid the homes of water, so everyone -crew members and villagers alike- had set their efforts on rebuilding.
And there was the missing Lord Damon and his son. Mermista had expected them to greet the Salineas crew by the docks, but they had been absent.
She turned to look at the sun, it was midday and she was ravenous for the cooks buttered rice and slabs of chicken. Just the thought made Mermista's mouth water.
There was work to be done, but Mermista could have a break.
,-,-,
edited shit
The marketplace near the docks was a mess of crates and building supplies. Gulls hovered above waiting for a scrap of food to dive for. The Dragon's Daughter rocked in the water, pitching back and forth. Salty air sung around, filling everyone's mouth with the taste.
Crew and village people waited in line for the food, local and ship cooks banding together to feed the weary masses.
Mermista awaited her turn, feet burning from all the standing, she could almost feel the cracks in her heels forming. When she finally slid up to the counter the food looked more than delicious. She got her serving of buttered bread, stewed potatoes swimming in hot chicken broth and a slab of now-cooled meat.
Among the tables and benches, there was a large pale birch one above the others, so the guests at it could look down at everyone eating. That table seated what Mermista guessed to be the missing Lord and his son -who was devouring a chicken thigh- Captain Korin and an empty seat next to him where Mermista was supposed to sit. She ignored it. Them. Him.
Instead, She walked over to a set of tables where Sea Hawk was. She plopped right next to him and pretended she didn't notice a crew member nudge his shoulder like he had won something.
She took a bite of stew and relished the meaty flavor of the broth, burst of skin on the chicken. The soft chew to the potatoes. It was ameger meal to what she was used to, but Mermista loved it all the same.
"So," she said around the food, "How many frames did you build."
"Me?" Sea Hawk asked. His eyes looked unfocused, like he had been lost in thought. He gave his head a light shake.
"Ughh, yes you, who else would I be talking to?" She gave him a raised brow and pursed lip look.
Sea Hawk shrugged. "I haven't." He looked upset about it. "I've just been hauling supplies and letting the 'real' men do all the hard work."
Mermista frowned, "Did they really like, say that."
"More or less," Sea Hawk took a bite of meat. "and there's the Lord's son, Alaric." Names were strong, and Sea hawk bit out that name with such quiet strength.
As if summoned, Alaric walked up to Mermista's table, drink in hand. He was a tall lanky sort with sharp cheekbones and dark shining hair. His skin was a shocking white, like he feared the sun, but his charmed smile was whiter still. Something rang in the shine, it was not like Sea Hawk's born definition of charm, but a studied version of it. He could not have been much older than Sea Hawk. Fifteen maybe.
"Hello," Alaric said. "You must be the beautiful princess of Salineas." Without asking, he swept her hand from the table, -making her fork clatter against the metal of her plate- and placed a kiss to her knuckles. There was a grease spot where his lips had been. A single drop of grease dotted his shirt. Which looked to have been hastily tucked in.
The Lord's son smelled of a sharp tang, like alcohol. He smiled again, his lips greased from the chicken thighs he had been eating. The look was unfortunate, but more so than that, that smile, growing smile, made it less than. Mermista shrank away from his touch.
"You must forgive me for not greeting you when you came, I was preoccupied and my poor father had been searching everywhere for me." said Alaric. Mermista noticed Alaric's pants had been buttoned improperly, and though the fabric of his top covered most of it, she could still see red lip marks painting his clavicle and neck.
Mermista looked him in the eye, "I can only guess at what kept from making a good, proper impression." Her mother said, she slowly flicked her eyes from his blue ones to his now hidden kiss marks, letting Alaric see that she saw. "But worry not, I was immediately immersed in helping rebuild you home. It was a shame, though how you were not there to see the progress we've made. Whatever, maybe next time."
Mermista was quite proud of her response, if was the kind she would think her mother would give. Though that slip up of diction at the end was something she would have to work on. Mermista always found herself imitating her mother whenever she was around people close to her in title.
She turned back to her food. Sea Hawk had given her a thumbs up from under the table.
"Yes well," Alaric said. Mermista turned back to look at him. "I've greeted you now haven't I?" The study of a smile slipping. He curled a fist and started again. Raising his goblet as if to toast.
"Your about five hours late for th-" Before Sea Hawk could finish his whispered remark Alaric dumped his drink all over the boy. Goblet clattering to the floor.
"How dare you think of speaking to me." Vulgar authority spilled from Alaric's tone. "Princess, I've come to ask why you're sitting here and not next to your Capt-"
Mermista leaped from the wooden bench and spun to face the Lord's son. What type of overzealous reaction was that, no one just dumped wine on someone for speaking out of turn. Alaric stood a head and half taller than her but she tried her best to look down on him. Any hold that smile had on her moments ago snapped
"How dare yo-" Mermista started, but Sea Hawk reached for her wrist. She snapped her gaze back to him. The look she gave him must have been something close to perfect incredulous dismay. It made his shoulders graze his ears.
Before Mermista could say another thing the Lord of the village walked from the head table. Mermista's eyes flitted to that table for a brief moment. She saw Captain Korin, hook glinting, white polished face beet red at what was happening. There was that empty seat next to him, where she was meant to sit. Maybe that was why the captain was a coursing red, Mermista had pointedly ignoring that seat, in favor of the bench with Sea Hawk.
Mermista and Captain Korin locked eyes for a moment. Then the Lord walked right up to his son and clapped a hand on his back. Joviality alight in every crease of his pale face.
Lord Damon laughed a booming laugh. Mermista could almost see the crowd defleat with relaxation. "I'm so, so terribly sorry for my son's behavior." He smiled, shaking his Alaric's shoulder. "But I'm afraid that's what parties do to people."
And then Lord Damon and Alaric walked off back to their-her table. Shoulders and heads shaking like this was the grandest of parties. Like Salineas had been invited here to jest, not to rebuild a broken village.
Mermista turned back to Sea Hawk. His head was hung in something close to shame.
,-,-,
Sea Hawk was tired. He had been hauling for an hour now and his shoulder blades were pinched. He did not want to take rest near the ship, or on the docks, for fear of Korin or another crew member calling him useless.
So here he found himself, wandering near the finer houses. Dark blue grass a shocking contrast to the silver of the palace. It spun around in the wind, whipping back and forth. Whereas the homes and shops near the carnage of the wharf were much worse for wear, the homes and shops near the palace were standing. Prim, swept clean and flowers watered. But even money could not buy protection from nature. Some buildings needed rebuilding. Sea Hawk was tasked with delivering the supplies to those buildings. It was less than grunt work. It was borderline useless.
How was he meant to lead that crew if they felt him just as useless and replaceable as Korin did? They laughed at him whenever he dared to give orders. Worse than it all was that every time he heard a crew member talking of him to his back, he knew they were right. He would not be here without the Mermista, without her title and friendship he would licking alleyways for gold. Trying his damndest to find a ship, any ship, for voyages.
And now he had it, and no one wanted him too.
I'll have to make them want me as their captain. No matter how hard, Sea Hawk vowed to make his so-to-be crew proud to call him captain.
He had lost track of his traveling. He was near the palace. Sea Hawk scanned his surroundings. A gray stone wall curved around a bunch of peach trees, protecting them. There was a pond, fishing flashing brightly in the water. The native purple tree dotting about here and there.
And just beyond that wall was a patch of more trees: peach and purple, orange and birch. All enclosing a creamy pleasure tent.
He moved closer, getting a better look at the tent. It was a thick canvas, a heavenly buttered yellow color, lavish purple and blue pillows spilled out from the entrance. Sea Hawk moved closer, until he could see inside. His foot caught a loose twig. Could have been a tree for how long it sounded.
,-,-,
Alaric was supposed to have done something, but he could not for the life of him remember what. His father had announced it at breakfast, but his mind had been on the recently hired help waiting in his room.
And now his mind would not dare think of anything other than that said help's thigh, and his hand grazing it.
She -her name, could not remember that either- shivered as he slid his lithe hand up her smooth jade calf. He heard whimpering, but he ignored it. Let that maid see how he could please her, he was paying her for it.
The girl he was working on brought herself closer to him, she slipped off his shirt, kissing his clavicle. Blast, that girl -what was her name?- wore muted red lipstick, that perfectly complemented her green complexion. After he was done here his father would know immediately what he had been doing, but Alaric could not bring her stop. He loved it when women left their mark, whether it be clever teeth indents, bruises after sucking skin, or painted lips.
The burn of the girl's forest skin enticed him to inch his hand higher, higher, until he grazed her thigh. She moaned against his neck. She was selling this well.
The second hired help, another girl he could not remember the name of, was ghosting her thin index finger up and down, up and down the maids bare arm. The help was a deliciously freckled redheaded. Desire to mark those freckles with his lips overtook Alaric, but he minded to finish his work with the green curly-haired one, he was not a selfish lover. Most of the time, anyway.
He brought his swollen lips to the jade of her neck. She exposed the column of it to him, giving him more room to plant kisses. A trail of pecks, and then sucking. She moaned.
Alaric dared a look at the maid through his lashes, lips still on the neck of curly-haired one. "You'll be next." He stated. He went back to his work. He remembered when the maid came to him that morning.
"Please, you have to help me." She almost cried those words. "My mother-o-our home was destroyed by the tsunami and we've no money."
How utterly helpless she seemed. How utterly adorable for her to completely depend on him. She told Alaric she would do anything to earn some coin. And here she was, waiting for anything.
"You know it'll be such fun." the freckled one was telling the maid. Running the finger up and down, almost hypnotising. "Your with Lord Damon's son."
To hell with being a good lover. That girl had tears welling in her eyes, he would kiss them away. Run his hands along her back, make her gasp and arch. Make her grateful for every cent of his coin. If conquering a challenge was selfish of him, then so be it.
Alaric lifted himself from Jade-skinned mid-lick, he heard her give a light pout. It was good to know that even paid women loved his work.
Half-drunk wine bottles littered the floor near the maid's feet. Alaric would do good to finish those after he did her. He reached for the girl and pulled her from the bench she had been sitting on. That determined line set in her mouth told him that those tears welling in her brown eyes would not fall.
"Now remember, your mother and you will be well on your way to Brightmoon after this, pockets bulging with coin." The maid looked down and nodded. Alaric caught her pointed chin and tilted her face up to his. He ran the backs of his fingers along her pale cheek. She really was quite beautiful, that sad look almost completed the painting. Alaric was relatively regretful of his desire to kiss it away.
He brought his lips to her cheek and kissed each one in turn, then each eyelid. He planted chaste kisses all over, loosening the maid up to his touch. To conquer a challenge one must have a plan, and his was to start sweet.
It was working, the girl helped him as he undid the strings to her dress, and slid it over her shoulders. -Unfortunately she had on her underthings- She even leaned into his lips. An easy win. It was annoying that Alaric did not have to work harder. He was almost getting bored as the girl gasped her pleasure at his lips brushing her neck.
Almost.
It was a pleasant sound, Alaric wanted more. She really was a pretty painting. Pale skinned and waved hair the color of wheat. He wanted her red cheeked and breathless. He hastened his kissing, greed and desire overruling chivalry.
"Wait-I don-" Maid started, but broke off when she heard the loud snap of a twig.
,-,-,
From the corner of his eye, Sea Hawk saw the boy snap his head to look at who made the noise. Sweat trickled, icy blue eyes poured into brown. Sea Hawk gulped.
"Now then," Lord Damon's son said lifting his hands from the maids body. He sauntered out of the tent. Bringing the maid with him. "A little rascal wanted a peak at some grown up things did he?" Words slurred with drink.
"No I-" Sea Hawk let out a nervous laugh, backing away. "I mean I wasn't-I just-" He smiled, but it broke. He could not form a sentence. The Lord's son was getting closer.
"You were what? You could've asked to join ya'know, I would have let you." said the boy, walking closer still. Even with soiled clothes, half-undressed and kiss marks painting his skin, he was still the son of a lord. The same lord that ruled this little village.
An image of this Lord's son flashed in Sea Hawk's mind. He was putting on a charmed smile, clothes crisp and velvet lush. Pale skin marked with metallic make-up. Silver dripping from his hands and tongue as he addressed the masses set in a deep bow.
This boy right here would rule. Would. He could have anything he wanted, and everyone would be happy to provide. With a jolt, Sea Hawk realized if this boy wanted to lead a crew, be to a pirate, he could. Could.
The memory of The Daughter's crew laughing at his back as he dared to give an order flitted back to Sea Hawk. Here, closing in on him was everything Sea Hawk could not be.
But he could try. Sea Hawk was born in rags, raised in riches. That image of a baby left, abandoned was the glaring truth everyone saw at they looked at him. He would be better than Korin, this Lord's son, he would be worthy of The Dragon's Daughter and her crew, of his princesses good will. Would.
"That girl," -Sea Hawk pointed to the undressed one- "She didn't want it, she-"
"She what? I'm paying her just like the others." The boy closed in. Confidence dwindled like someone
was slowing dripping water on a half-burnt out fire.
Sea Hawk felt his back meet a tree, with surprising speed the boy pinned him against it. "Listen here, I'm paying her a fine some to see the way she is, everything I wish to do to her is agreed upon, do you understand?
"I won't have a little rat sully up my reputation because it thinks it's being a hero. I'm doing nothing wrong." The boy let Sea Hawk go, "in fact, the only person in the wrong here is you. Your trespassing on royal grounds. If I see you again I'll have you arrested, do you understand?"
Sea Hawk nodded and ran. Every foot fall, every beam of golden sunlight, every huff of his quickening breath, every wish of blue blades of grass screamed, one word. Coward, coward, coward. Over and over.
The chance at worth evaporated, like morning dew kissed by heated light, like steam rolling over the ocean. Gone.
,-,-,
The Dragon's Daughter was rocking with the sea. Three days had passed since Salineas had come to Grayfield's aid. Rebuilding was still underway, they were not finished. Trips back to the village were being planned as The Daughter made her way back home.
While they were rebuilding, one of the volunteers had discovered a ore rich mine. And sudden interest the village's well-being rocketed. Salineas wanted to partner with Grayfield, trade with them, build them up to something great.
Mermista scoffed at the thought, her parents were kind, good people. Her mother was a role model, all delicate lace touches and beaming eyes. All harded stares and unwavering commitment. Mermista had set her mind to being her when she was queen. Her father was all crinkled grins and feathery words lulling anyone to sleep. All strong hands and a benevolent head bearing the crown. They were good people. They were rulers. And they were snatching at an alliance. A soon-to-be very wealthy allay, for an already wealthy kingdom.
The ship rocked. Mermista was immensely grateful for her natural sea legs. She swayed with every rock and jolt of the boat. Never affected by the dance of waves. Night was falling, and stars were starting to shine. The seven moons of Etheria had already awoken, incandescent in the sky.
Mermista watched as Sea Hawk lifted another coil of rope. The boy she knew as a child was becoming something close to a young man. His shoulders had boarded a little, his hands had cords of veils running up them, up his forearms. His already curled mauve hair curled up more with the salt water. He carried the rope with ease over to a few barrels where he threw it down.
The whole crew was roaming around, getting ready for the halfway rest point between Grayfield and Salineas.
A cloud of unrest hung over Sea Hawk as he made his way down to the kitchens for dinner. He had been doleful ever since that first day in Grayfield.
Mermista was wise to his fourteenth birthday having passed when they arrived at the village. Sea Hawk had spent that whole day hauling and unloading. And then being publicly embarrassed by Alaric. Alaric with the charmed smile, and winning iced eyes.
She had to make it up to him. Mermista noticed a school of fish near the side of The Daughter. She scanned around, making sure no one saw her, and then dived into the water. She had some questions to ask those fish.
,-,-,
Sea Hawk groaned.
"What-d 'ou wamt?" he mumbled a demand. He had been dreaming up something that was not lost worth and iced eyes and dark hair, for the first time since Grayfield. The unkind hand that kept tugging on his shirt did not ease up.
"To like show you something or whatever." The hand replied. It had a rather enjoyable monotone voice. Sea Hawk peeped an eye open. His eyes glided up smooth copper skin, resting on azure waved hair. Mermista had something wild sparking in her eyes, something beyond excitement.
The call to adventure simmered in Sea Hawk.
He propped himself up on his elbows. "Will we be back for breakfast?" He asked, tilting his head and giving his princess a lazy, crooked grin. The sleepy brand, it was too early in the morning for the charmed-born one. "I hear the cook's making thin-cakes with honey syrup."
"We'll like be back before the batter hits the pan."
His smile grew wider. The events of the past days vanished. Dazzling brown eyes and pearly smiles without armor did that sort of thing to a person. He grabbed adventure's hand, and let her pull him into chance.
,-,-,
Mermista had blindfolded Sea Hawk.
She refused to tell him where she was taking him. For the briefest of moments Sea Hawk wondered if this was finally the day when he met his untimely demise, via the hands of his best friend. Of his elegant princess.
It was a fleeting thought, Sea Hawk knew Mermista wouldn't go through the hassle of such an epic scheme. He was reverted to guessing.
Was this a birthday gift? Surely it must be, the princess had known the wayward wannabe pirate for some years now, she would be savvy on his date of birth. At least he hoped, anyway. The only clues were the atmosphere. Mermista was bending an airtight bubble, so he could breathe underwater. Ocean floor was hardened stone. Sea Hawk heard schools of fish swimming nearby.
He felt an incline in the terrain, and the ground went from stone to sand. Granules slipped through his bare toes.
"So," Mermista said. He heard dripping water and waves. "Remember when we were like toddlers and you like showed me that cavepool thingy before my birthday or whatever." Sea Hawk could almost hear the eye roll, like it was his fault at this untimely inconvenience. A playful curl to his lips threaten to break.
He cautioned a step forward. "Uh, yes,"
"Well," he heard shifting. "I tried to do the same." Mermista's hands were on his scalp. He enjoyed the light scrape of her fingers against it. Sea Hawk felt the blindfold fall from his face.
It was a cave. Marvelous and filled with wonder. Perched atop the cliff faces were birds, great birds with blue feathers and white bulb-like eyes. They didn't scare, in fact they just looked curious. Sea Hawk spotted little babies resting about in their nests crying for more food. Mouths agape waiting for the regurted mess to fall down their throats. All around the cave were glowing crystals, spiked out from the rocky floor, scattered around the place. Near one side of the cave was a pool, it glowed bright. Waves lapped at the sandy floor.
"And this is. . ." Sea Hawk started.
"Your birthday present." finished Mermista.
"Hmm," was all Sea Hawk replied. He wanted to seem blase. To get back at Mermista for being two days late. He strolled to the edge of the pool. Looking at the water with what he hoped to be aloofness. Sea Hawk eyed the whole place, nodding. "Hmm."
"Ugh stop it I know you like it." Mermista said. She slid up to his side. Her brow raised. "Well?" she demanded.
Sea Hawk placed hands on her shoulders, looking her right in the eye. "Your right," he said. He wanted her to know that this really did mean a lot to him. It was extremely important that he make it known that he loved it. "I love it. I really do." He let the praise marinate. Softening edges. Then -because it was never too early for unruly- he flashed her his unruly grin and pushed her into the water. Clothes and all.
"Ugh!" she huffed after emerging. He cackled, feigning twirling a mustache.
Sea Hawk felt a rope of water snake it's way up his ankle, pulling him in. Clothes and all.
,-,-,
Sea Hawk's foster mother, Anastasia had gifted him a braided leather necklace sporting one charm. A golden ship sail. He wore it with pride, it twinkled at his neck. A prelude to his future Anastasia had called it. She had long since given up on making him into a polished up schooler with glasses indents burning on the bridge of his nose. That wish was given to Sea Hawk's new baby sister. Who sat perched on Zura, Anastasia's shining wife. The pair made such a fit, it was hard not to believe they were made for each other, a long lost set finally reunited.
Sea Hawk's suit pinched his thighs. He was blessedly not swept up in black formal attire, but instead he was pinned in a more fitting purple. Though, the color being to his liking did not make it any more comfortable.
This was a very important dinner that Sea Hawk was attending. As Princess Mermista's plus one, of course. Grayfield was trying to form an alliance between Salineas and themselves. Lord Damon was there, and unfortunately his son as well. Sea Hawk rather disliked that boy, he'd go as far as to day he just about hated him and his charming demeanor. He straddled the whole place with his pleasuring ways and acted as if this was the best thing happening to him.
The Alaric seated at the Salineas council table was not the Alaric at the tent in the palace garden. Salineas Alaric was of a more likeness to that flashing image Sea Hawk had. Except this Alaric dripped pleasantries and compliments.
Alaric also happened to be sitting next to Mermista, which only fueled Sea Hawk's distaste for the boy even more. Though Alaric did plenty enough already for disliking.
Sea Hawk tried to loosen his tie, but his mother pinched his thigh and he dropped his hand. He slumped a little in his chair, not enough for his mothers to notice, but just enough for him to satisfy his moody needs.
Mermista looked moody as well. More moody than usual that is. The only difference between the princess and the pirate was she got away with slouching. Sea Hawk's mother pinched him again and he straightened out. Apparently he would need to work on his ability to hide something from his mother.
Sluggish ticking of the seashell-covered clock in the council room did not help with the thick atmosphere. He closed his eyes. Listening to the melody of ticking clocks and alliances being formed.
,-,-,
Sea Hawk peeped an eye open. The adults around the table were moving to stand, seemingly done with the evening. He glanced at the sea clock. Sea Hawk must have dosed, he desperately wished that no one noticed.
Mermista was moving towards him. Her face grew into one of her very rare pearled smiles.
"We did it!" She reached for his hands and squeezed them. "We got the alliance!"
He gazed at their clasped hands. A funny stirring had started in his chest. Matching the ticking of the clock. Smiling back, he promptly ignored it. Foolish hearts and all that.
"Well, I say it was more you and your parents than me," he said. "All I remember was falling asleep and dreaming of epic shanties sung about the charming and handsome Sea Hawk." He said this as matter of fact as he could manage.
Mermista groaned but her eyes sparked. "Ugh, c'mon I have like a second birthday present for you."
,-,-,
Mermista brought Sea Hawk down to the palace kitchens. There she sat him down on one of the island chairs and had him wait, eyes closed. She shifted about near the ovens. A loud clatter sounded near them.
"How long am I meant to wait here?" He asked, shifting on the stool "I have things to do, epic, epic ballads to write."
"Ugh, just. . . hold on." Another clatter.
Sea Hawk grinned his crooked grin. He fingered the ship sail charm at his throat. He couldn't wait to be out on another mission, smelling the salted air, feeling the spray of the water on his skin. It all gave him such a thrill, such a thrill.
"Okay, open your eyes."
Sea Hawk did as he was told, and was greeted with the lumpy cupcake under his nose. It looked very sad, purple frosting smeared all over the crumbing chocolate cake. Melting sprinkles gracing the purple mess of sugar.
"For me?" he asked. The cave was a wondrous, wondrous gift, as gifts wondrous went, but the sight of this little nothing made Sea Hawk genuinely lose words. He remembered Anastasia telling him why she was marrying Zura. She said it was because Zura made her remember all the little nothings nobody talked about. All the early mornings and late nights. All the fits of laughter and snorts of happiness. Flour dusted hands from baking and stained garments from cooking. All of it, all of the little nothings.
"For you." Mermista affirmed. "And me because I made it." She split the cake in half, the side for with more frosting going to Sea Hawk. It tasted like sand with purple cement on top. Sea Hawk ate the whole thing. Every bite.
Mermista hovered closer to Sea Hawk, "It tasted bad."
"It did," He confirmed. "I loved it."
"Thanks I guess." Mermista moved to leave, back to her studies, and then, and then -with a little hesitation- she kissed Sea Hawk on the cheek. A red too deep for her dark complexion to hide bloomed on her cheeks.
"Bye!" She scampered off.
Sea Hawk tried to mumble his own goodbye, but his foolish, foolish heart kept beating like a drum. Thump, thump, thump.
,-,-,
Mermista pressed a hand to her heated cheek. It felt like a furnace. Every step from the kitchens to her study felt like she was in syrup. She wanted to race back to Sea Hawk and explain why she kissed him.
But even if her tongue was gilded and bore lyrical diction like music. Even if her chest did not seize at the thought of open communication, the words would fail.
She did not know what compelled her to kiss him, all she knew was the thunderous footfall she was making, matching her hammering heart.
Ba-dumb thump, ba-dumb thump, ba-dumb thump.