Forlaith: The Attack

March 13

I have waited hours to write this down in the hopes that my hands would stop shaking. It hasn’t happened yet. I just hope this is legible. Though it might not be such a bad thing if it isn’t legible.

I thought getting lost on the island was the worst that could happen to me—until I reach the mainland, of course.

I was very wrong.

Today I was in the narrow corridor that connects the necessary to the few small cabins on the ship. The others were up on deck, enjoying our first calm afternoon in days. I went to fetch a warmer shawl for Oswyn, and down in that corridor I discovered I wasn’t alone.

I have no idea what that sailor was doing near our cabins. In general, the sailors are not permitted in our part of the ship. His very presence put me on edge, but I did my best not to show it. I nodded to him, as politely as I could, and ducked into our cabins. I was just beginning to rummage through Oswyn’s trunk when I heard the door creak open. I jerked up, hitting my head on the top bunk.

Before I could turn around and confront the sailor for entering our private cabin, he was on me, pushing me over the edge of the lower bunk.

I’m sorry, I cannot write more of this. I will just say that, praise the gods, I was saved before he could ruin me. Aleksandru, the first mate of the ship, heard my screaming from his cabin and came to my rescue.

I’m sure I don’t need to tell you the tumult that resulted. As much as I would have liked to keep the incident to ourselves, Alek insisted on calling Ardythe. This meant Ardythe, Marcys, Haddock, and all the women came rushing down to our tiny cabin, filling every space. I was curled up on the lower bunk, doing my best to not be seen.

Based on the pain in my cheek and arm, I knew I would have a new set of bruises from the attack. It seemed as though I couldn’t get a chance to heal from one incident before something else happened.

The large crowed clamored in, each one trying to speak over the other. I saw the sailor dragged out by Marcys and Haddock. I knew what would happen to him for assaulting me, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. May the gods forgive me, I did nothing to save his life. Even from within our noisy cabin, I could hear his mighty scream as he was thrown overboard.

Ardythe, Marcys, and Haddock returned instantly and the noise in the cabin increased as Ardythe began barking orders which no one seemed to be obeying. Finally, when I thought I would scream, I heard a high pitch voice carry over the others.

“SILENCE,” the voice shouted. I turned my head to see Rownet standing on one of the trunks and glowering down at everyone.

In the silence that followed, I heard someone crying and belatedly realized it was me.

“This is the last thing Forlaith needs right now. Everyone, and I mean everyone,” here she glared at Oswyn, “out. I will report to you, father, once I’ve ascertained how she is, but I cannot do that with an audience.”

I rolled back, away from their probing stares and let the tears roll down my cheeks and onto Oswyn’s blankets. From where I lay, I listened to them silently march out of the room. Two thuds indicated Rownet had hopped down off the trunk.

“Forlaith, dear. Can you roll over?”

I obeyed, and without thinking about it, I threw myself into her arms.

I have been gravely mistaken about Rownet. I may not understand her reaction to our new circumstances, but she is a truly kind heart. She let me cry myself out, not saying a word or demanding I talk about it. When I was beginning to run out of tears and grow sleepy, she lowered me onto the pillows on Oswyn’s bed.

“I’m sure you don’t want to talk about it, and that’s fine, but I need to know a few things.”

I nodded mutely.

“Did he succeed?”

I shook my head.

“Good. That’s good. Are you hurt anywhere? I see a bruise on your cheek.”

I pulled the sleeve of my dress up so that she could see the bruise on my arm where he had grabbed me.

“Anywhere else?”

I shook my head again.

“Okay. Sleep. Alek is standing guard in the hall. No one will come down here, except me, okay?”

I nodded one last time before drifting off to sleep.

True to her word, Rownet was the only one to enter our cabin until night fell and the women returned to sleep. Oswyn didn’t say a word about me being in her bed, and after a little shuffling, each person found a bed, leaving me where I was.

I cried myself back to sleep.

Forlaith

Marcys: Another Great Storm

March 1,

What a great respite it was to be on land again, even if it was only for a few days. I’m not sure Forlaith would agree, after being lost on the island. I have never seen Ardythe so panicked. He didn’t even act this way when his real son rode off into the night at the age of eight, having just had an impressive fight with his father.

Either Ardythe thinks Forlaith’s beauty will be the defining quality to help us gain the Mallawi’s aid, or he has grown to genuinely care for her. I am honestly not sure which is driving him.

When she was found safe and sound, I saw a great relief cross Ardythe’s face. After Oswyn declared her well enough, considering her ordeal, Ardythe grew extremely crotchety with the child. In fact, I found her often trying her hardest to avoid his company, because everything he said to her was waspish. It reminded me of the gruff way he acted around Fendrel, his son, when Fendrel would go missing or get hurt—as though the more brusque he was, the better he could hide his worry.

I hope, and pray to the gods, that he has grown attached to this young woman. Maybe she will be the savior of our nation, just not in the way any of us imagine. Maybe she will be our king’s savior, and therefore ours.

What we need most is a king who loves his people.

But I have wasted much of your time with my musings. I’m sure you have been wondering why it has been so long since I have written.

I’m sure you are aware, while on land, I had no time to myself. Then, when we boarded the ship and set sail from the islands, we endured many days of rough seas, some of the roughest we have yet endured, in fact.

There has been nothing to eat but the fruit we gathered on the island—thanks to Forlaith—and soggy jerked beef. Cook has been unable to keep a fire lit, what with great waves coming over the sides of the ship. The water has a pesky ability for finding any available path down into the bowls of the ship. Crews have been kept active around the clock bailing the water out. Thankfully, Haddock and Alek insist the storm is pushing us in the right directions, and at a much greater pace than mere sails could manage.

Of course, I think I’d prefer a slower and more comfortable journey than a fast, bumpy one. I’m pretty sure anyone on board who has received a bump or bruise from being thrown against the walls would agree—which is everyone, by the way.

Poor Jocosa even suffered from a blow to the head as she tried to journey to the necessary. After this, all the women tried to hold their bladders as long as possible.

Sadly, during this three-day storm, we lost a man over board. There are a few members of the crew who are greatly affected by his death, but for the most part, the crew did not know him well. Nonetheless, the crew is despondent. The death of one of their numbers always will have a profound effect on their morale.

But in this weather, there is little we can do to boost their morale.

To be honest, I think the best thing for all of us is to get to Mallawi. Maybe the rough ride will be worth it in the end. Maybe.

Marcys

Marcys: A Stowaway

 February 20

What an adventure we have had, and here we are only three days out from Bathum. Today we discovered a stowaway and not the normal kind. It not unusual for a ship to take on a stowaway, perhaps a young lad escaping from his master or a man hoping to find employment, but finding a young woman is quite unusual.

She was hidden in the one life boat that was placed on the main deck and covered with a canvas. It wasn’t until this morning that she ran out of food and was forced to emerge. No doubt she thought we were going someplace closer to home.

I’m sure you can imagine the shock of the crew when they suddenly noticed a woman, other than the princesses, standing amongst them as they hustled to complete their tasks. Though she tried to go unnoticed, heading in the direction of the galley where she likely hoped to acquire food and return to her hiding place, but even dressed in britches and with her hair pushed up under a hat it was easy to identify her as a woman.

            I heard the outcry from the crew as I stood on the forecastle and watched the fast ocean drift pass us. I reached the main deck about the same time as Haddock and the king. One of the crew had the woman by the arm and was dragging her towards us, the other sailors following and jeering at her.

            “Silence,” ordered Haddock. To my surprise, Ardythe tended to allow Haddock complete control over the sailors. “Who are you? How’d you get aboard my ship?”

            She stared defiantly up at Haddock. I suddenly liked her though I tried my best not to show it.

            “We found her stuff in the life boat,” announced one of the sailors. Haddock motioned for him to be silent.

            “My name is Dara. I believe you have my sister. I want her back,” announced the young woman, giving an obstinate toss of her head.

            I struggled not to laugh as she stared down the three most powerful men on this ship.

            “And your sister is?” asked Haddock. A tremor in his voice made me think he was also struggling not to laugh.

            “Lady Jocosa.”

            “I believe you mean her Royal Highness, Princess Jocosa,” I said before the sailors could question her statement. Most of them knew the others were not actual royalty, but some were starting to believe the lie in their own way. Sailors are strong men, but not always the brightest. We needed them to give in to the lie. “And she is no sister of yours. Captain, can I suggest we take her below for further questioning.”

            Haddock nodded and motioned for the sailor to hand her over to me. We remained silent until we reached the king’s cabin. He sat at his small desk while Haddock and I stood between the girl and the only door.

            “What do you mean princess?” she demanded.

            “Send for Jocosa,” ordered Ardythe. Haddock left to do so.

            “I have adopted your sister. Now why are you here?”

            “What do you mean adopted her?”

            “None of your business, now answer my questions.”

            Dara opened her mouth to argue, but was interrupted by the arrival of Jocosa. The princess stared at her sister, her eyes growing large.

            “Dara? What are you doing here? How did…” She trailed off, at a loss for words.

            “You were taken. I came to get you!”

            “Taken? Ha! You fool! I’m sorry Father. I do not know…”

            “Father?” shrieked Dara. I admit I was almost as shocked at Jocosa’s casual use of the honorary title. The others were not settling into their new life as easily as the Bathum native. She seemed almost happy with the sudden change her life had taken.

            “Shut up!” snapped Jocosa. “I don’t know how she got on board. I had nothing to do with this!”

            Ardythe nodded slowly and said the words I had been dreading since she was first discovered. “No worries. We’ll just throw her overboard.”

            I felt my shoulders drop. I knew this was coming. Haddock, Jocosa, and Dara all gave a start. They did not know Ardythe as I did. I saw that Jocosa wanted to argue, but wasn’t willing to risk her own position for the sake of her sister. Haddock was equally loath to argue with his king. I knew better than to do so.

            We marched out of the cabin and up onto the main deck, Dara openly weeping and calling out for mercy. I glanced at Jocosa and saw her swallowing and blinking back the tears that threatened to overwhelm her beautiful brown eyes.

            I noticed the other royals had arrived on deck to see the commotion. Ardythe took hold of the stowaway and forcefully guided her to the railing. Half way there Dara began to fight violently, thrashing about and clawing at anyone within range. Ardythe received a rake across the cheek before two sailors came to his rescue and grabbed her by the arms. They dragged her towards the edge, two more sailors taking hold of her feet and lifting her up off the deck.

            “Wait!” a voice cried out just as they reached the railing. I turned to see Forlaith charging forward. She reached Ardythe’s side and bowed low. “Father, please. There must be some way that we can spare her life.”

            “She risks our mission,” said Ardythe in a soft voice that wouldn’t carry beyond the immediate few people.

            “Please!” whispered Forlaith.

            “What do you suggest?”

            “We could… we could make her a maidservant. It is strange that a princess would travel without one,” said Forlaith in an even softer voice as she stepped closer to the king. “Much less three princesses.”

            Ardythe stared at her. I was surprised to see the king actually considering her suggestion. It was a good one, I admit.

            “I leave her in your care, little Forlatih,” Ardythe said before bending down and whispering in her ear. I was just close enough to hear his threat. “But one slip, one mistake and I give her to the crew before throwing her over board.”

            I saw Forlaith’s eyes grow wide in fright and her lower lip begin to quiver.

            Slowly the king was destroying her faith in humanity. It broke my heart to watch it happen.

Marcys