Being on the boat was great. We had electricity, though we'd been banned from the air conditioner in order to conserve as much fuel as possible, and a refrigerator that Claude put to use straight away as he put away the food from the bags. It narrow, which had fooled me for being 'small', but the inside was amazingly decked out. It had to be one of those fancy yachts.

They'd 'borrowed' a yacht. Incredible.

We even had a TV and instantly it was used to check the news. It was kind of depressing- more stuff about the terrorists, but Yu only muted at those moments. He was searching for news on the destructive storm.

The storm had caused quite a bit of damage all over Oriens but particularly along the coastlines. The high tide and the storm surge had caused some problems for quite a bit of infrastructure along the coastlines, especially in the low lying cities on the coast, and a number of people had to be evacuated when trees fell on houses or power cables. Parts of Oriens would be without power for a few days and schools were being used as evacuation centres for people. There was open criticism of the royal family for not doing anything.

On top of that, the storm hadn't just hit Oriens. It'd also grazed Alteria and they too were looking at a huge repair bill for one of their coastlines, the storm having done quite a bit of damage across half the country. Roberto seemed to be quietened by this and before I could blink, he and Alberto had started working quietly in a corner already.

Of course not. They were fake. My Father probably was up to his eyeballs in this work all of a sudden. Tough for him.

It wasn't all bad news though- aid was already being flown in from the other five countries and from Lord Michael. Prince Keith had cancelled his visit, due to safety concerns, but his country had sent a large amount of tradespeople to help the cleaning up and restoration of power. Prince Roberto's country had sent a large amount of medical personnel to assist in hospitals. Prince Wilifred's country had sent food, toys, and builders to assess the damaged sites for no charge. Charities were already taking donations from all the nations to help.

I had to admit I admired the bond between the countries.

The news sent all the Princes and Butlers into quiet talks and I felt a small gap open between us now- the work they were doing didn't involve me at all. I wasn't surprised. El, the girl from Oriens, and I sat there quietly watching the news cycle over and over as the Princes sat in the table and passed around paperwork.

El was eventually assigned to sailing the yacht, much to her shock, and I was assisted to my room the second I yawned. I was starting to feel pretty tired anyway... and the endless news was boring.

The room wasn't much better. I saw a sliding door half open which seemed to go into a cramped bathroom, good to know, and a double bed on the bottom with a bunk above it. It looked pretty fancy- there was even a tiny TV- and I decided I'd look at it tomorrow. I just wanted to rest.

I knew it wasn't just boredom- that it was probably related to the wound- because I had started to feel pretty odd as the hours changed over. It was difficult to describe what 'odd' was... feeling a little bit too warm for the temperature of the cabin, then a bit too cold, or a little too sore in the calf, or that sense of unease. Prince Glenn had gone straight to a cabin and hadn't come out- Yu was working on his behalf, as Claude or Jen took turns staying with him- so I suspected he wasn't in a good way either.

As the afternoon dragged on, I felt my appetite vanish, and the need to sleep grow. I was sure someone tried to offer me meal, probably one of the butlers, but I was too busy feeling sore to care.

By the time evening had come the pain and warmth of my body had started to increase so much that I was trembling, which scared El the moment she entered, but I muttered something I hoped was reassuring about 'summer' and 'heat', and felt her crawl into her bunk.

It was almost paralysing- the pain. The slightest move of blanket on calf made me flinch. I just lay there, caught between sleep and wakefullness, feeling really hot and craving desperelty some kind of breeze. This cabin was behind the living area and had barely any air coming into it that I could feel.

I felt suffocated and frustrated... but I couldn't bear to move my leg. Not now. So I just lay there, trembling, sweating, feeling far too hot and far too sore, and thirsty.

"...Phia?" A head popped up. I blinked a few moments as a light switched on and warm red-brown eyes peered into mine.

A forehead bumped against mine, our breath intermingling, my heart suddenly racing for reasons other than pain as Roberto got really close. I froze as his hands ran across my arms.

"You feel really hot. Hotter! Your face is getting hotter even as I touch it!" He exclaimed, alarmed, standing up as he stared down at me. "Infection? You're sweating!"

"I'm sweating cause it hur.-" Before I could speak, the covers were tossed back, Roberto sitting down on the other end of the bed and gently lifting my leg up. "Ow!"

"Sorry." He muttered. I felt him carefully start to peel away the covers. "It's really red. It's stopped bleeding but-"

"It looks infected." Eleira seemed to be back. She stood there, leaning against the wall, a little concerned. "I mean I haven't done my first aid course yet. But it doesn't look good."

I twisted back trying to see and saw stars when Roberto pressed a finger into the skin near the wound. "OW!"

"Sh, you'll wake Alberto. I only just got him to sleep. Took three mugs of warm milk." Roberto was trying to joke but it fell flat. "What do we do?"

"Wake another butler?" Eleira suggested. "Yu might know..."

I twisted around again, carefully, and saw that it was indeed looking pretty scary now. It was puffed up, bright red all over the calf, my calf twice the size of earlier. "I suppose that's why it hurts. I wish-" I wished I'd had time to swim in the ocean. I sighed, shutting my eyes, and felt sick. "Nevermind."

"Wish what?"

"I … just... swimming in the ocean is really good for wounds. I wish I'd done it. I'm sure I won't need to when we get to Liberty." I breathed out slowly as the pain started to subside. Roberto kept my legs in his lap, his fingers stroking my good calf, his hand trembling. Why was he trembling?

I sighed and shut my eyes. I was tired anyway. It felt nice to have my good leg stroked like that. Lucky I'd shaved.

"Eleira, can you leave us alone for a bit?" Roberto muttered.

She nodded and vanished. I felt him slide out and come around to sit beside my head, his face serious, and he gazed down at me. One hand returned to my forehead.

"You're infected." Roberto's voice was very quiet. "You know. You're my real friend. The other Princes... we have to be friends cause our countries can't be at war. But you're a real friend."

"I am." I wasn't sure I agreed with him about the other Princes though. They'd looked like brothers to me.

"So you can't get sick and die." The words were barely auidable and he gazed up, suddenly, adding, "Being weak doesn't suit you."

"I'll be okay."

"It looks bad."

I didn't answer that. It did look bad. His hand felt good though on my forehead and I started to doze again, relaxing, head against the soft pillow.

"Oceans are good for wounds, huh." His voice muttered, cutting through the quiet, and when I nodded, I felt Roberto stand up. "Okay. I'll be back."

Roberto returned a few minutes later and seemed to grin. "Okay. You're in a dress so that's good."

I opened my eyes to see that he'd stripped down to his pants, rolled them up, and was tossing blankets off me. Before I could ask what the hell he was doing he'd lifted me up and we'd started through the narrow cabin, through the living area, and up onto deck.

The boat wasn't moving. Was it?

"We'll just be a few minutes, Wils! Make sure no one moves the boat!" Roberto called to someone on deck. Wilifred? He stood there at the helm, waving lightly, before leaning against the edge in the moonlight. The air was a little cooler outside than inside but not by much.

"What are we-"

"Ready, one, two..."

Suddenly we were in the ocean. I spluttered, shocked as cold water surrounded me, finding it nearly impossible to swim with my calf screaming in pain.

A hand yanked me up against him abovef the water and Roberto grinned down at me, his hair wet,his other hand grasping the end of the boat.

"Ocean." He explained. "It's okay. Hang onto me."

We were floating in the ocean behind the boat.

I breathed in and out slowly as the salt stung, trembling with the shock and pain of it, clutching hard onto Roberto's arm. Nevermind that he was half naked or that we were pressed up against each other- it hurt!

Wilifred appeared, gazing down, before he carefullly dropped something in the water beside us. Then he was gone again.

"It's a diving platform for swimmers who need to get back up." Roberto explained. His arm tightened around my waist as he smiled. He was so pleased with himself. "Now we can get some salt water into your calf, right? The infection can be killed."

"Right." Was that what he was trying to do? Now that the shock was gone I had to admit... the cold ocean water was very refreshing. When it wasn't trying to burn my leg off. I gritted my teeth and breathed slowly. If it was burning away then it was doing good things. It was killing the bad bacteria. "It's going for the infection right now."

"Does it hurt?" His voice dropped as his smile faded. I wasn't sure if I should lie or not.

"Um. Well. Yeah. But it's not so bad... and hurting means that it's working. Getting inside." I breathed out slowly and gazed across at him. Our faces were just inches away from each other, the moonlight casting a soft glow, stars glinting above us. I grasped the end of the boat as well.

He gazed back and my heart sped up, beating a crazy rhythm as he pressed his forehead against mine, our noses brushing against each other. "The water's cooling you down too."

"Y... yeah."

"Now you're getting warm again!"Roberto seemed flustered by that. He pulled away an inch but stared at me, our bodies brushing in the water, his legs brushing against mine as he kicked slowly and lazily. His hand let go of the boat and reached up to stroke my face, fingers sliding through my wet hair, leaning forward slowly.

A huge SPLASH made us both jump and cling to the boat. Shark? Oh god. I forgot about sharks!

Alberto surfaced and shoved at Roberto with a surprising amount of violence. "Onto the boat right now, Your Highness!"

He empathised the last two words and added, spluttering as water got into his mouth, "And pull Miss Sophia up as fast as you can! Getting Prince Wilifred in on your schemes... out of the water!"

Roberto obeyed. He slid up easily, stood up on the diving platform, and pulled me right up out of the water onto my good foot. An arm slid around my waist as Alberto joined us, his body heaving out of the water with some effort, his breathing hard. He was almost completely dressed- only his shoes were missing.

Uh oh.

I saw a flash of blonde hair vanish below the deck. Prince Wilifred was running away... and I had the distinct feeling that he was escaping some kind of storm named Cyclone Alberto.

We stared at him, Roberto keeping me upright with one firm hand, as he slowly crawled up the platform and tugged off one soaked sock. Then the other. Every inch of him was wet, every inch of his suit now a very dark grey instead of the paler grey it had been once, his hair close to black as it dripped with sea water.

He was furious. Trembling.

"Prince Roberto!"

Two words- and it made Roberto yelp, suddenly, stepping between me and Roberto. "Before you get angry-"

"Sharks! Jellyfish! A stitch! Infection! We may not have noticed and turned the boat back onto a steady course!" Alberto's voice was soft, at first, as he approached us. "You have the risk accessment skills of a three year old! Jumping into the ocean like that!"

"Really, it wasn't-"

"It was my idea, not Roberto's idea." I added.

Alberto ignored me. He was facing Roberto, arms crossed now, a giant menacing figure that made Roberto's shoulders slump. "Irresponsible! Have you … forgotten everything? The dangers? If you wished for a swim you needed only but wait for Liberty..."

"Hey, it wasn't about that!" I cut in. He was working himself up. "Salt water cleans wounds!"

Alberto's jaw slammed shut at my words. He stared at me, Roberto sliding sideways almost as if silently unbidden, so that the two of us were facing one another. "You decided to swim?"

"I..." Well, it was closer to 'I'd suggested salt was good', but... "Sorry. You're right."

"Miss Sophia!"

"Al- be nice." Roberto muttered.

Alberto seemed to swallow back words, his face narrowed, before he said in a voice that was far too soft, "I expected far more sense from you, Miss Sophia."

Ow. That hurt. I turned away, face going red, the amusement and warmth from before long gone now.

"She just wanted salt water in her wound, Alberto. I decided we should swim." Roberto cut in quickly.

Alberto frowned. We both watched him as he slowly peeled off his sodden jacket, dropping it to one side, and undoing his tie. Oh boy. Every inch of him was wet. The shirt clung to him as he tried to wring out his jacket.

"Both of you are reckless." He decided, breathing out, and his eyes snapped to Roberto. "When we are in Liberty you will not leave my side."

"Al, come on."

"Not until I am certain you are able to access risk!" He folded his jacket across his arms and sighed, running a hand through his hair. Maybe he'd been scared for us. "I will need a new suit."

"Sorry about your suit. Can't you just rinse it with cold water?" I muttered. Guilt. Oh boy.

"Regretfully- this suit is now ruined. It was dryclean only. But I live to serve." He bowed... but he looked furious. Seriously. It was kind of funny when he was standing there, soaking wet, leaving a puddle from his now dark grey suit all over the deck.

"It's not ruined. Lots of things say drycleaned. I used to wash a few scarves by hand when they said dry clean only... didn't harm them at all..." I was trying to comfort him. I wasn't sure it worked.

"That may be so for your scarves but not so for a suit of this quality." The poor older man was frowning at me as if I'd lost my mind. "Do not fret- it is not you I blame."

"Thanks..."

"It is Roberto for not having the common sense to think about the dangers of swimming in deep ocean!" Alberto's voice rose once again. His anger was kind of scary- Roberto was sort of backing away now, sliding behind me, as Alberto snapped, "I will have a new suit made in Liberty and His Highness can pay for it. This one can only be thrown out."

"Oh, come on." I was shocked! "Waste that beautiful suit? Don't do that... get it cleaned up nicely by a professional and then donate it to a charity thrift shop if it isn't good enough for you."

"Chari.. this is a Armana! Measured for me alone!" Alberto was clearly gobsmacked and a little angry. "I could never..."

"Yeah you could. People do it all the time. If you donated it then some man, who hasn't got a lot of money, could wear that suit and look as amazing as you. Mum... mum once found an Versa bag from the year before in one thriftshop that someone had donated, all because it had a little stain inside from lipstick, and she didn't stop boasting to everyone for weeks. It only cost her ten cruz." Mum. Memories. It hurt but even as I said it... I was smiling, and feeling good all over again, surprised at how powerful a happy memory was. I'd heard that grief became that. That... while you never stopped hurting or missing them... you started to remember great things about them. Wow.

"See, Al?" Roberto piped up. Had he... taken shelter behind me? I should have shoved him back in the water for that. "Good idea. Charity thift shops. I think I've got lots I can donate too when I get home."

"Absolutely not! Have you lost your mind?"

"Oh boy... time to run for cover..." Roberto grinned and scooped me up. We vanished down deck as fast as we could- leaving the soggy Alberto standing there, jaw open, starting to get worked up all over again.

"Good idea- getting him worked up about clothes." Roberto whispered. We were inside the cabin I shared with El- though she wasn't here, and he shoved the door shut and locked it quickly. "Okay. Clothes."

He headed for the bags that had been placed in here for us women to use. "You want to get changed?"

"Not with you in here!"

"Oh, right." Roberto hesitated, face warming, uncertain. "I can wait in the bathroom." He nodded behind me to the little sliding door and the private en-suite. "Okay? Here's the bag. Oh! A towel. Here." Something was flung to me from the bathroom before he vanished inside.

I changed as quickly as I could, gritting my teeth and trying to stay quiet, but I did feel a little better now. Maybe it was just because I'd gotten a nice swim. Who knew? Once I was in another dress and panties, the bra tugged back on- I hadn't worn it to bed!- I called, "Okay. Come in."

Roberto returned, a towel across his head, and he peered outside the door. "I need pants but Alberto's … probably huffing around in our space"

"Can you borrow some?" After all- Prince Wilifred and Prince Joshua were next door.

"Oh. Good idea. Be back in a moment!"

I sat down slowly and automatically smiled as the door slid open again. It wasn't Roberto. It was Alberto. He looked really odd in casual clothing, his hair still damp, but he seemed calmer.

"Excuse my intrusion." He said smoothly and knelt beside me, tugging a first aid kit open, offering a hand. "Would you like help to lie down?"

"Um. Thanks." I muttered. Lying back down on the bed I tried to relax. The warm sheets felt really nice now that I had cold skin. It was really soothing. "

"Al?" Roberto appeared back at the door, still damp, but wearing a fresh pair of pants. "I can do that."

Alberto ignored him. He was gazing at my calf slowly, a hand steady on my foot, and muttered, "You are going to need a little more medical care than I can offer. But I will do my best."

"I'm sure of it."

"Prince Roberto- bed."

"In here." Roberto agreed. He crawled on top of the bunk above me and I saw Alberto's eyebrow twitch.

"Forgive his rudeness, Miss Sophia." He said very quietly as he gently applied paste. "I imagine you did not suggest swimming in the ocean..."

"What are you whispering about?"

"...but salt water in general. Am I correct?"

Uh oh. When I hesitated Alberto grimaced. "I see."

"But it was still my idea."

A head popped down, Roberto gazed at the two of us, head twisting from side to side as his wet hair rained droplets down on Alberto's tshirt. "Whispering about me?"

"Mmhmm." Alberto didn't even bother denying it. He continued to dress the wound carefully. "Discussing how impulsive Prince Roberto, the heir to Alteria, can be and how much training he seems to have forgotten. Perhaps he requites a new tutor."

"No, I have a good butler." Roberto disappeared again and I felt the bunk tremble slightly as he settled down.

I sighed and shut my eyes. The pain was back to a low steady throb. I felt cooler though. "It was nice to cool down."

"I could arrange for you to have a cool shower at any time, Miss Sophia, day or night. Please don't allow yourself to be dragged into something so reckless again." Alberto responded. He tugged the blanket over my body and stood up slowly before gathering up the wet clothing. "I will dry these for your use again."

"Thanks."

"Prince Roberto- If you sl-" Alberto paused suddenly. I opened one eye and saw him staring at the bunk above us, sighing, shaking his head lightly. "Asleep. Already."

"You can tell?"

"I know when he's faking." His eyes raised to the ceiling a moment before he bowed to me. "I will return early to ensure that he does not disturb your rest. Goodnight."

"Can I have...something cold to drink? Water?"

Alberto nodded and he took about three seconds before I felt a cold glass of water offered. His hand stayed on it as I drank, tasting something like mint attached to the glass, while Alberto kept it steady. When I was done he stood and offered, "I'll come back in with a cool cloth, if that will help."

"Thanks."

"Please try and rest."

The hum of the engine restarted not long after that. I fell into a more comfortable sleep, only sometimes broken by the feeling of a damp cold cloth on my forehead, equally comforted by the sense that I was being taken care of.

Sunlight woke me early and I felt... well, still kind of strange, but still 'okay.' I noticed that in the narrow space between the bunks there was a chair and in that chair... Alberto. Sleeping.

Oh. He'd really stuck around.

As soon as I lifted my head, he jumped, and seemed to be awake instantly. His eyes had shadows under them.

"Morning, are you hungry?" He seemed genuinely concerned. I blinked, checking, and ...nodded. "Maybe... a little."

"Then I will bring you something. Scrambled egg." Alberto stood.

"Um. Sorry. But I need..." I felt my face grow flustered. Bathroom. I hadn't gone for ages.

Alberto followed my gaze and stood up, reddening as well, before he slid closer. "Then I will help you inside."

"Thanks."

His hand brushed across my forehead and he seemed to relax somewhat. "You are warm still but … perhaps the salt has helped."

"Maybe." I didn't want to get into the whole 'Roberto is reckless' thing again. "Or just cooling down."

Alberto didn't answer. He just wait patiently till I was done and helped me into the living area of the yacht, into a seat, before turning and starting to cook in the beautiful kitchen area.

"How long does it take to sail?"

"We are being careful- so it takes at least two days. Perhaps three." He responded as he started to crack eggs into a bowl. "But the technology used to block signals will soon be out of range of the yacht. I estimate that we'll be in touch with Liberty by lunch."

"So we escaped?" Wow! So soon! I felt a small rush of relief and smiled faintly.

"Almost."

Prince Glenn hadn't gotten his throne back though... and we still didn't know if his parents were okay or not. I supposed for them it wasn't a moment for relief. Alberto didn't seem relaxed as he cooked a breakfast, offering me a plate, and I wondered when he'd eaten last.

"You should eat breakfast too." I offered as he stood there.

"I could not-"

"Before Roberto wakes up. Seriously. Just get something and eat. I'm not one of the royalty. Remember? Just relax." I smiled up at him and he hesitated, his eyes going towards the cabin door, before he turned and headed back to the kitchen.

It was kind of funny- he sat there awkwardly, trying to eat, but his attention was clearly on Roberto once again- Alberto's eyes kept going to the cabin door. I knew that they weren't slaves or anything but … shesh.

They needed to take care of themselves as well.

Once Roberto was back, Alberto was up, and moving around as he busied himself getting food for Roberto as well. I yawned and rested my head on my arms, warm and sleepy now, 'listening' to the throb throb rhythm in my calf as it continued to talk to me about the injustice of wounds.

Or something.

"How's your leg?" Roberto rested his head on his arms so that he could peer at me. There might have been a trace of worry but he was hiding it pretty well.

"It's sore." I admitted and that concealed worry peaked out as he repeated the word.

"You should rest again then." Roberto sat back up. "Right, Al?"

"Miss Sophia knows when she's ready to rest. You have work to do."

"Me?" Roberto blinked.

"You are the most experianced at sailing- therefore the others have requested it is you that spends the morning at the helm." Alberto slid a plate in front of Roberto before standing there once more, arms resting at his sides, managing to look pretty difnifed for a butler wearing a tshirt and long shorts.

"You can sail?" I asked as Roberto started to eat.

"Prince Roberto is well trained in sailing." Alberto answered for him, before Roberto could swallow, and he turned to bring a teapot over with tea. I had to assume he meant a literal champion- I couldn't picture Alberto complimenting Roberto with that word. "Would you like tea?"

"Um. Thanks."

"Want to come watch?"

"You will be working, Prince Roberto, not playing."

"She can still watch."

"Where does everyone else sleep?" I hadn't been able to ask this yesterday and it seemed like as good a time as any- Alberto's brow was twitching.

"There is another cabin beside yours for Prince Glenn's use." Alberto responded, turning to me, as he slid the teapot down. "Further down the hall-" I had to assume he meant that narrow gap between our cabins, "-is the main cabin with a large bed which we have prepared for the Princes to share."

"It's a bit crowded." Roberto muttered.

"And we share a crew's quarters down below. I was due to sleep this morning." Alberto continued as if he hadn't heard Roberto. I suspected the crew's quarters were probably very cramped compared to the main cabin.

Once breakfast was over I followed Roberto, mostly due to the fact that he'd picked me up and made it clear I had no other choice, over to the helm.

The 'helm' was right near the living area, seperated by a screen that looked like it could be pulled back to open up to the ship's couches, a cosy couple of seats in front of a pretty intimidating looking panel of instruments and stuff. Roberto flopped himself down in the main chair without a bat of an eyelid as he started to read instruments.

I could at least understand the map part. Map. Showed ocean. Okay. "You sure... I won't distract you?"

"This is easy to operate. I could teach you." Roberto gazed upwards. "We could get a bit more speed with a sail. The wind's right."

"Really?" I gazed upwards as well. They'd left those sails packed away. Slowly Alberto lowered me down into the other chair and offered me a blanket and a pillow. Maybe he'd seen the yawn I'd tried to hide.

"Sails may show if a vessel was searching." Alberto's voice was soft but firm. "It was decided that would rely on the engine alone."

Roberto nodded. He turned to me and offered his hand. "Want to learn?"

"I'm a bit sleepy." I admitted and he frowned, his eye flickering to my leg, before he nodded and turned forward to the controls once more. "Plus it's a bit...Complicated."

He grinned at that. "You scared of a few buttons? When you're healed up I'll teach you. You can help me sail."

"Uh huh. Or just watch you." I suggested. I jumped as he grabbed my hand and shoved it onto one of the ...levers? "I'll crash it!"

"Into a wave? Come on..." Roberto lifted me up, suddenly, dragging me into his lap, laughing as I squirmed, his hand pressing my hand on buttons.

"Prince Roberto!"

I was yanked up into Alberto's arm and he fixed a stern look down at Roberto, who blinked, his smile fading. "You have a job to do and Miss Sophia has to rest."

"Aw, come on..."

I was sat back down carefully in the other chair as Roberto pouted and turned back to the helm. He flashed me a smile though, as Alberto moved away a little to stand near the other side of the helm, before concentrating on the ship.

I dozed on and off, snuggled up against the pillow, the dipping of the yacht in the waves somewhat pleasant enough to sleep though.

The dipping grew more prounced at one point and I opened my eyes, blinking, before nearly falling off my chair as I saw our yacht going down. Down! Then suddenly it was tipping upwards again, so steep that Roberto had to hang onto the helm, his eyes focued on the istruments.

"Problem?"

"No, just ocean." He responded as he flashed me a grin. "Fun, right?"

"Ye... yeah."

"Al wouldn't let me sail in the ocean alone like this. I always wanted to." Roberto leaned back as we went down the large swell's side, totally relaxed, and apparently totally in control. Alberto... was not here. Roberto's smile faded. "You looking for him?"

"He's usually keeping an eye on you." I responded.

"Claude is now." Roberto nodded backwards, frowning a little, adding, "And I'm your friend. You should look for me."

"I did. First thing I did when I opened my eyes." The words slipped out before I could think about what I was saying. I went red and concern flashed across Roberto's face.

"You're going warm? You okay?"

"Yeah."

"Good." His eyes went to my leg and he frowned. "You sleep a lot."

"It's probably a bit infected." I admitted. He tensed somewhat and I added quickly, "But it's not hurting like it was last night."

Movement in the corner of the eye caught my attention and I saw Prince Wilifred move into the helm area with a bottle in his hand. He offered it to me with a soft smile before he sat on the chair on the other side of Roberto, offering Roberto a bottle, and unscrewing a drink of his own.

"Morning." I offered and he nodded to me. "Thanks."

"You're welcome. Good morning." Prince Wilifred gazed ahead. To my relief he also looked a little pale as the yacht suddenly dipped down towards the ocean again as it crossed another huge swell. He automatically started to assist Roberto. Wow. Was there anything these guys couldn't do?

"Prince Joshua and Claude believes it's a good time to try the radios." Wilifred explained, as he caught me watching him, his fingers easily touching buttons, adding, "Roberto, you'll have to show Claude how the instruments work for the radio."

"Got it." Roberto turned and Wilifred slipped into his seat, effortlessly taking over, while Roberto went down the steps to where Claude waited beside smaller area of instruments.

I relaxed again, shutting my eyes, letting the need for sleep take over. I could learn about boats another time.