Eight

~Brynn~

I saddled up Addy and was ready to go among the last group of men. By the time I trekked up the hill to Edward, he was pulling on his gloves and chuckling at me.

"Late start this morning?"

"I'll work on that," I answered and yawned.

It was a rather chilly morning and when I exhaled heavily I could see my breath come out in a thin steam in the nippy breeze.

"I've already been down to the port and greeted Hemmingway. He's very anxious to meet you."

"Why is that?"

"Well, I told him you were close friends with the crown and that seemed to settle well with him. Although I can't possibly imagine why," Edward rolled his eyes and stepped out of his tent to where his horse awaited him.

"After you board, head for the Captain's quarters. He'll be waiting there for you," he sighed and mounted, before trotting off down the hill.

The ship was magnificent in size—unlike anything I had ever seen before. The height of the sails alone could rival the tallest flag on the top of the castle at Wales and I felt a little foolish being the only one in a sea of men to seem amazed at the sight of it all.

As I boarded the ship I peered down into the murky waters and started to feel a little uneasy. I would never forgive myself if, after all my training, I was unable to board the enormous thing without feeling ill. An older man who passed by me seemed to easily read the tension on my face and slapped me on the back, almost knocking me over.

"Don't worry, lad. You'll get your sea legs soon enough. Although probably not on this journey. Too short for some miracles," he chuckled and picked up the pace, leaving me to my uneasiness.

Edward was already somewhere on board, probably with Captain Hemmingway, so I aimed all of my focus on finding the barracks that I would call home for the time being.

It was nothing too impressive; a long room lined with bunks hanging from the walls by thick chains and skimpy-looking ladders that lead to the top bunk. I tossed my sack on the floor next to the first empty bed and slumped down onto the make-shift mattress. It wasn't as comfortable as it looked—and it didn't look very promising to begin with. I stared down at my hands and thought of Elizabeth; of how much I missed her.

If I were back home right now we would probably be at court; I would be taking her by the dress shops and showing her off to the boys back in the stables.

When my heart started to ache I knew I should stop thinking about her before I made myself too homesick. I couldn't afford that right now; especially since my journey had just begun. I closed my eyes for a few more minutes and set my sights on then introducing myself to Captain Hemmingway.

I ventured back out onto the deck where the sails were being hoisted to catch the wind; the beginning of my first journey at sea. A wave of nausea rolled through me and I took a deep breath of the salty sea air—which didn't help my case—before heading towards the captain's quarters.

Many of the men around me were at the ship's edge, waving goodbye to their wives and children, family and friends. I was one of the few aboard who had no one to see me off. I had already said my goodbyes.

As I shoved past a hoard of men, I noticed that many of them knew each other. This shouldn't have surprised me as much as it did considering that I was one of the newer recruits. But still I felt out of place and awkward.

When I reached the large mahogany doors with intricate carvings of depictions of the story of Poseidon, I took another deep breath and knocked loudly.

When it opened there stood Captain Hemmingway in all his glory. I had to admit he was nothing like what I expected, and that was a good thing. Some part of me envisioned an older and experienced-looking man with gray, weary eyes and a long white beard. I pictured him smoking a pipe and blowing smoke into the face of his pet parrot; I had pictured a pirate.

Captain Hemmingway was of a nice build and looked like he was in his late thirties or early forties. His coppery hair curled and waved down to his ears and his beard and mustache hair was only about an inch or two long. As for his eyes, they were a cheery green and the smirk he wore suggested he knew exactly who I was.

"Brynn Terris, I take it?" He crossed his arms and raised his eyebrows.

"Yes, Captain," I nodded and he opened his arms, reaching around to clap me on the shoulder.

"Come on in. We've got a lot to talk about."

His quarters were warm and cozy. The colors used for decoration were a little too macabre for my taste but the lighting made everything in the room come to life. The number of maps stacked along a table in the corner suggested he had been at sea for quite some time and the food on the table told me he had just finished lunch.

He walked over to the large table and held up a goblet.

"Would you like something to drink?"

"No, thank you, sir." He smiled.

"Very well then. Make yourself at home," he said and I joined him as he took a seat at the table. "I know you're probably curious as to why I was so eager to meet you."

"Just a little," I admitted.

"I understand from Prince Edward that you are very close with the royal family and you've been friends with them practically your whole life."

I nodded. "That's right, sir."

"And you're aware that Prince Edward does not wish to take the throne?"

I nodded again and felt a little uncomfortable. "Well, he mentioned to me that he still wasn't sure."

"I talked to him earlier this morning and he told me that he had made his final decision. I'm sure you'll hear about it soon enough." There was a gleam in his eye that suggested he wasn't telling the whole story. He scratched his chin and cleared his throat. "Tell me something, Brynn."

He leaned forward and propped his elbows up on the table. "Were you very close to the Prince before he left?"

"We were inseparable almost, sir."

"Almost?"

"I was closer to the princess."

"Ah, that's right. Princess Aderyn." I was trying not to squirm in the chair.

"Yes, she's watching out for a certain young lady for me."

"Very well, very well. But what is the princess like?"

What kind of question was that?

"I'm not quite sure what you mean, sir."

"It has come to my attention that if Prince Edward chooses not to take the crown then the fate of the kingdom lies in the hands of his sister."

"Oh. Well, yes. She's... one of a kind. A bit wild for a girl; but I suppose that's my fault. She's smart and stubborn; firm but kind when she needs to be. She prefers to be out riding around the countryside than being at court. Aderyn is a free spirit."

"And does that worry the king?"

"I hadn't really noticed before, to be honest. We all just would have liked to assume that Edward would return when the time came. But if that doesn't happen and the king will have to turn to Aderyn..." I trailed off, not quite sure what that would entail. "England would be in for a rude awakening."

"Do you think a woman is suited to handle the responsibilities of the crown?"

"A part of me wants to say no, since it has never been done so before. But another part can hear Aderyn screaming in my head that I'm as ignorant as they come."

The captain smiled.

"Well, I'm sure, given time, that the right decision will be made. I, personally, don't believe a woman could handle the job. Her soul responsibility is to keep the king happy and to produce his heir. Perhaps the princess is the one who is in for a rude awakening," he said and grew thoughtful; quiet.

In my head I toiled over his words until I felt the rocking of the ship trigger my nausea again.

"Well!" He said suddenly and I almost jumped. "I'll be coming for you again in time, I believe. I have a few other things to discuss with you but we'll save that for another time. Until then," he stood up and I did the same. We headed towards the door. "I believe you're probably hungry and it's about time for the men to be fed."

He opened the door.

"Get some rest and prepare yourself for the journey ahead. Perhaps try and find your sea legs, my boy," he added, obviously noticing the greenish sheen that covered my face.

"Thank you, sir. Will do," I said quietly and after I headed out into the brisk late morning air, I heard the door click shut behind me.