Angered, Maria returned to Billy's side and took a seat beside the bed. Legs and arms crossed, lip pouting, and an irritated tapping finger on her arm. Billy watched in amused silence, waiting for the inevitable outburst that would lead to an endless rant.
One little word, that's all it would take. One slight hint that he wanted to know what was on her mind and everything would either fall apart or into place. And with that one little word, Billy's prediction came true.
"So---."
"I can't believe he would do this to me," Maria cried.
Billy nodded. "Aye, neither can I."
"Who does he think he is?"
"Aye, he must think he's royalty or something."
Maria shot up and paced around the room in an animated fashion. "He doesn't get to tell me what I can and can't do."
"Aye, it's like he cares or something."
"I mean, I know he's worried, but I can take care of myself fine. He knows that. I know that."
"Aye, it seems you both know a lot of things."
"Stop doing that. It's annoying."
"Aye, it seems you are listening to me."
The calm Billy laughed and smiled at the agitated princess and motioned for her to return to her seat. Huffing the entire way over, Maria complied and crossed everything once more as she plopped down.
"Of course, I'm listening."
"Is that a first for you?"
"I'm not particularly fond of your teasing right now, Billy. Is there something you want to say or not?"
Billy sat up and sighed. "I don't know what's going on exactly. Mind explaining what your brother told you?"
"He said he would fund the trip to find the treasure, but I'm not allowed to go. He's worried I won't come back."
"Sounds like he's concerned about you. I would be too with a sister like you."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" she snapped, offended. "What's a 'sister like me'?"
"Reckless, for starters. Not to mention hard headed, a drunk, and not known to do as she's told. Mix in some desperation and hopelessness, and we have ourselves a fine concoction of a flight risk."
Maria hesitated before speaking. "You think I would run away too, don't you?"
"I don't know you well enough to say yes or no. What I do know is that you're not above sneaking out whenever you have the opportunity. And your tolerance for rum is both frightening and impressive. But that's it."
Maria stood up once again and approached the window, laying her hand on it. "I'm a mess."
"It seems you all are. Still, I'd be lying if I said there wasn't some layer of hope weaving in and out of those streets."
"Those streets?"
"The streets of your home."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't think you've noticed, but those people down there really do care about you and your brother. The librarian asked about you."
"He did? You met with the librarian?"
"I meet a lot of people in my time ashore. I couldn't sit in that tavern all day and night."
Maria peered at Billy. Her mind calmed while her heart settled in her chest. Something about Billy's demeanor led her to feel a comfort she had known once before. That presence had since left and was not foreseen to be returning soon. For a moment, Billy filled that void. It led Maria to ask him a nagging question.
"So, what did the librarian say?" she mumbled.
Billy smirked and chuckled under his breath, his eyes still locked on the floor. "He wanted to know how you were doing. He saw you at the tavern a lot. Wanted to make sure you were safe."
"Oh, I see. I should visit him again. It's…it's been a while."
"The baker mentioned you too."
"She did?"
"Said she missed making your favorite sweets. She made me one. You have good taste. A bit too much strawberry, if you ask me."
"I didn't, but that's fine. I guess I do miss seeing her. She was always the best."
"There was also an older lady I ran into on the street corner. She said she was a painter."
"A painter?" Maria repeated in a whisper.
"Said she had to shut down her business a few years back, but she didn't have the heart to leave her home."
"Did she ask about me too?"
"Might have. Said something about some princess being her favorite subject. She always had the best smile. Could've been you, I don't know."
Maria continued overlooking her people and the home she had neglected. She wrapped her arms around herself. Billy watched her as she lowered her gaze and cried.
"I can't believe I forgot about them. I can't believe they remember me. And they're all still here. Why?"
Billy shrugged. "Couldn't say. Maybe it's the location, the food, the fact that they have a prince and princess who also chose to stick around for them. Who knows? Could be anything."
Billy joined her, produced a cloth from his pocket and presented it to her. Maria accepted and wiped away the tears. Her eyes stung for a moment as she realized the cloth was damp with alcohol.
"I will say this, Princess. I didn't hear a single ill word against you or the prince. Your people love you, the sailors especially. They're worried about you. And above all, they support you in everything you do because they know how hard you're trying."
"You mean how hard Dominick is trying. I'm not much of anything when compared to him."
"But you, at least, are still here. That's more than someone else I'm thinking of."
Maria gasped when she heard this. When she glanced back up to Billy, she saw his unwavering gaze on her and a spark of urgency behind it. After several seconds, Maria laughed.
"I have to say, that is one of the best stories I've heard in a while."
"Oh?"
"I would be lying if I said I wasn't grateful. Seems this is the beginning of a new chapter, and it all starts with a ruined sheet of unreadable paper."
Maria rushed over to the table beside the bed and snatched the map. She pulled it open and studied every last detail she could. Her smile grew and grew until it became painful. She cared little as she proceeded to take the amulet and put it around her neck.
"This island holds the last scrap of hope we have. My people deserve a princess willing to take the chance to find it for them."
"You sound determined all of a sudden," Billy chuckled. "Wonder why that is?"
"Because I'm going to be more than a certain someone. I'm going to accomplish what they couldn't. Dominick will take care of all the details while I do everything I'm not supposed to."
"So, the usual?" Billy joked.
Maria didn't hear him. "If I'm lucky, he'll come to you for advice, since you were the one sent to find the island in the first place. Then you can pass on that information to me when he's not looking."
"Uh-huh."
"I can plan around his plans and then have a plan for when I go on the voyage."
"Indeed."
"Oh, but the sailors might know who I am, and I might not have the luxury to meet them beforehand. I'll need a disguise."
"A disguise?"
"A decent one. I'd rather not be alone on a ship with strangers, especially as a princess. Do I look enough like Dominick to pass as him? No, I don't. Too short."
"Aye, you are a bit on the short side."
"And I should probably learn the ins and outs of a ship too while I'm at it. Study the stars, navigation. Should I learn about ropes?"
As she rambled on and on, Billy approached her. She neared the climax of her grand plan, he laid a hand on her shoulder. Maria fell silent and looked to Billy. He was smiling, a bit impressed with her willingness to jump in. There was a bit of apprehension in his expression.
"Before we do any of that," he said, "you should know the island itself. The ocean is nothing to be afraid of. The island is a living trap waiting for the perfect, naïve prey. If you fill your head with anything, let it be that."
Billy pointed at the map, tapping it to further emphasize his point.
"This doesn't tell you how to find the island, that part is easy. Many have done so in the past. What this map is for is the island itself. Trap after trap. Do not stray from the path."
Maria returned her attention to it and knew he was right. The details that brought the island to life jumped out more to her than the ocean itself.
"Anything I should know about the treasure itself?"
"Barriers upon barriers. Flint was never a trusting man. Be careful once there and more so inside."
Maria observed the specific markings that stood out to her having heard that. The red X, the random black dot that could be on purpose or not, and the path itself with a literal rocky beginning.
Maria nodded. "Alright. You're gonna teach me everything there is to know about the island. I want it all committed to memory. And we have until Dominick finalizes the journey. Think we can do it?"
"That all depends on you, Princess," Billy stated. "You're asking for a lot. You think you can handle it?"
"I wouldn't have asked if I thought otherwise. Now," she exclaimed, slamming the map into his chest, "tell me everything."
Billy, with his toothy grin, took the map and opened it wider still so Maria could see corner to corner, each and every detail. Her eyes were locked, her hand caressing the amulet around her neck. The lesson started now.