As the sun broke through the cracks of the tavern window, Maria awoke when the rays hit her eyelids. Her back ached, her arm was asleep, but the scene was quiet for a change. Smelled like men who hadn't seen a bath in months mixed with alcohol and salt. Despite the commoner's awakening, Maria had no reason for complaint, or so she felt.
She sat up and her eyes landed on the street outside. Too early for any bustling activity, but appropriate enough for people to begin opening their stores. The smell of fresh baked bread wafted into the tavern while the rhythmic sounds of stone masons went about their work. But as she noticed the life of her home coming alive, Maria also noticed she was alone.
Her eyes opened with urgency. Maria scanned the tavern for any other presences. Arthur must have been asleep still, no patrons would ever be there so early, and Billy was gone and out of sight.
"Billy," she cried. "Billy?" Maria stood and searched each corner. "Billy?"
"Hush yerself, lad, I can't hear meself think," a grumbled voice responded.
When Maria turned, she saw Billy reenter the tavern with a mug in one hand and a wrapped item in the other. She sighed with relief as he approached and set both items down in front of her on a table. But when she reached for them, Billy slapped her hand away.
"Ow," she screamed. "What was that for?"
"I hear the tone of a privileged lass," he snapped.
For the first time, Maria could hear his real sound, his real speech. A change from what she had come to know and found a fragment of comfort in. When Billy looked at her, he was stern and frightening, like a grizzly ex-pirate would be.
"What's the big idea?" Maria whined, and he smacked her hand again. "Stop."
"Your voice be high for a cabin boy. Ye are what age, lad?"
"I'm…" Maria took a moment to understand and corrected herself. Her sound adjusted accordingly. "Um, I be barely seventeen, good sir."
Billy rolled his eyes, but then laughed. "Don't do that. Keep the accent, keep the pitch, don't change your speech habits. Stick to the rules you know."
"Oh, thank goodness," Maria sighed.
"Well, I can give you points for effort, and for reacting semi-reasonably to an odd situation. As a reward, here's breakfast." He tapped the wrapped item.
Maria ripped it open and found a glazed pastry with a sugar topping. She already knew what it was. She sunk her teeth into the sweet wonder and felt the oozing strawberries reach her tongue. Heaven in a single bite.
As Billy watched, he smiled. "I knew you'd appreciate that. Here."
He slid the mug to her. It was filled with milk. Without thinking, Maria chugged it in a single gulp. It was amazing.
"It may be the last decent meal you have for a while," Billy stated. "I'd say savor it, but it's a bit late for that."
"You're speaking politely again," Maria said through a full mouth.
"I think you already know the reason for that. Speaking of, lass, have you decided on a name for yourself? Can't go around calling yourself Maria."
"I can't say I have, but it shouldn't be too hard. I'll come up with something when the moment is right."
"You're planning to improvise. Great, brilliant, a work of true genius."
"I sense sarcasm."
"Perfect, you know how to recognize disingenuous speech. You'll need that where you're going."
Maria finished the treat and licked her fingers. Wiping her face, she saw Billy peek outside to observe the scene. Little activity still. Good. Maria would slip into the minimal crowd and join a motley crew no problem. All that was left was to actually do it.
She joined Billy's side and took a nervous breath. "Is it time?" she asked.
He nodded in response. "We should be going now." Billy looked at her and spoke as clear as he was able. "Remember your pitch and your accent. You are not a princess when you board, you are a cabin boy, at best. You don't give orders, you take them. Don't start anything, don't draw attention to yourself, don't stand out."
"Be a sailor, basically."
"And don't be snarky. Your mouth will have no place there. Stay low, alright?"
"Yes, sir," she said, not a hint of sarcasm or mockery.
Billy grinned. "See. You're doing great already. Shall we, then?"
With nothing left to say, Billy opened the door and stepped out. Maria followed him and they made the trip in silence. It was a cool day, cooler than most that time of season. A light breeze greeted Maria's face, rustling her hair and reminding her to adjust the wig she forgot to remove before falling into slumber.
They passed several faces she knew, several they didn't. Many of whom she recognized due to her many nights out on the town. They all looked so different when sober.
Oh, right, being sober. Maria knew she had little control when she had a drink in hand. If she was going to be around sailors, drinks were all but a requirement. She would either practice abstinence or watch her limits. Both were difficult, one more so than the other, and that was left for anyone to guess which was which.
As they neared the ships, Maria felt her body run cold and her hands shake all over again. It was happening. It was really happening. She was going to do this. Without Dominick knowing. Oh, what did that matter? He would be finding out soon enough.
Would he be angry? Proud? He could have been expecting it. Who knew? Maria tried to ignore every possibility running through her mind, but there was no denying what would happen as soon as she was gone. Dominick would find out, if he hadn't already, and be furious with her. Her return would be bittersweet, and met with an all too deserved slap across the face.
And before she knew it, Maria bumped into Billy as he stopped at the piers. Coming to attention, she scanned the boats and saw one massive beauty stand out before her.
A Galleon ship with the brightest white sails, the most perfect woodwork with ebony and marigold highlights. The bowsprit expanded high above their heads and into the heavens. It was made of the finest polished mahogany. The main deck was brimming with commotion. The S.S. Conli.
"That's a really big ship," Maria exhaled with awe.
"All the more room for the treasure you'll find," Billy joked, nudging her with his elbow.
Billy stepped aside and folded his arms. Maria's eyes darted between him and the ship as she realized what he was doing.
"Wait. Right now? Now now? I'm not---I could, but I'm a bit---you can't be serious."
"I am. Time's a-wasting. Go on."
"Billy, I don't think this is the best idea. I mean, what was I thinking? Weeks, months, at sea all alone with complete strangers hunting down some island? An island a random ex-pirate told me was real?"
"Princess."
"I could very well be walking into a trap. Well, it would be quite the elaborate trap, and it would speak volumes to your patience. But alas, here we are, anything's possible when you're desperate."
"Maria," Billy shouted.
Hearing her name, she stopped. Billy placed a steady and firm hand on her shoulder. When his eyes locked with hers, he grinned, showing off his horrid teeth. Yet, there was a sense of reassurance within the expression and Maria could feel the tension leaving her body.
Billy leaned close and whispered, "Be the one that comes back." He patted her and walked off. "Until we meet again, wee lass. Yer journey starts now, ya hear? Ye be safe."
"Billy, wait."
"Do take care."
He disappeared into the crowd, out of Maria's sight. Although she had the intention of running after him, her feet remained planted to the ground beneath her.
There was nothing keeping her from returning to the palace and pretending nothing had happened. There was nothing holding her back from giving up and crawling into her own bed. There was absolutely nothing keeping her from changing her mind.
Yet, she did not move. Maria's eyes glanced back to the ship. It towered over her, its shadow threatening to consume her as she came to terms with her situation. There was still time. She had until that ship set sail to make a final decision. She had that same amount of time to think over every possible worst case scenario.
No, she couldn't. Maria shook the thought away. The worst case scenario was staying put. To accept life as it was and wait until everything fell apart around her. It already was, it wouldn't be much longer. All she had to do was nothing.
"No," Maria snapped under her breath. "No. I didn't study and memorize some random map for nothing. I can do this. I can do this."
One step forward, shaky and small, but one step closer than a second before. Maria gulped. She could see the bustling activity on deck. So many rugged men getting things in order for a long journey.
One more step. "I can do this. This…this is for me."
Closer still.
"This is for me. This was my idea."
Two steps, then three, then four. Before she knew it, Maria was walking, albeit with a broken tempo. Her eyes were focused on the path before her. The world and the people within it faded away.
There were no sounds, no colors. It was Maria, the ship, and the ramp leading up to it. In seconds, she was at the base of the Conli. Her bag might as well have been solid brick for all the difference it was making. Did the air seem unbreathable all of a sudden?
Someone bumped into her, almost causing her to fall over. A burly man with a dark complexion and missing eye. A muscular woman was beside him, hair half-shaven off, but similar in appearance otherwise. Were those pistols on their hips and daggers on their calves?
Moreover, the man was using two crutches attached to both arms to help him walk up the ramp. Maria didn't see much else outside of that. Maria caught herself on a rope keeping her from falling straight into the water below, hitting her head on the way down.
She was about to yell at him, tell him off for not watching where he was going, but she remembered Billy's advice. Using whatever self-control she had, she kept her mouth shut. She knew her cover would have been blown or she would have caused trouble without touching the ship.
Maria had to follow them up. Forgetting her fear, if for but a moment, she climbed the plank and made it to the deck. A new sight to behold with people she had never seen before.
Among the horde of sailors, she had never imagined there was such a variety of seafarers. It was something she had not noticed before, or never cared to remember.
Tall, short, hefty, slender, filthy, clean. So many people to keep track of, at least twenty from what she could see. And the smell of salt and rum reminded her of the atmosphere she was meant to expect. It was a bit disheartening to not recognize any of them.
Maria glanced up to the crow's nest in awe. She could make out two people from her angle. To her left was the helm. A group of men were chatting, joking, and laughing, all with their hardy chuckles and booming voices.
Despite the fear and raging nerves, Maria could not stop herself from smiling. A lift in her step as she delved further into the fray. Standing in the center, she watched the activity as if it were some rare spectacle. To some extent, it was. Fitting in no longer seemed like a problem. She could feel herself on the verge of tears, caused by excitement and adventure.
"Aye, lad, who are you?" a strong voice barked from behind her.
Maria jumped and turned around to see a scarred, built man covered in too much hair for one body and an uneven stubble on his chin. His eyes were a piercing and clear hazel that held no kindness toward her. Brooding was the appropriate term.
Despite that, his clothes were a cut above the other men around him. The captain? No time to deduce that. Maria had two seconds left to say something before his patience, if there was any, gave way.
"Uh---uh---I, um," Maria stuttered. Her voice, she remembered her voice. Catching herself, she dropped the tone and applied the accent. "Good morning."
"Answer the question, boy," the man ordered. "Who are you?"
"I'm new," she blurted out.
Her eyes grew wide and she held an awkward smile that screamed, "What the hell was that supposed to mean?"
The man narrowed his eyes at her. "What?"
"I'm---I'm…new?"
Repeating it did not help her in any way. The man leaned in, the smell of tobacco causing Maria to gag.
"I won't ask again. Who are you? Why are you on my ship?"
Might have been beneficial to have thought through those kinds of questions before ending up there. Tell the truth and get kicked off, lie and hope it worked, or say nothing and be booted. So many options, so little time.
Maria swallowed hard again. "I…I…"
"Ceddy, what are you doing?" a lighter voice called from above them.
Maria and the man's eyes shot up to the crow's nest where they saw another individual staring down at them. He fluttered his eyelashes and pursed his lips while chewing on a piece of hay. Where did he get that?
Tanned with bright eyes, brown, and a round face. Before Maria could study him further, the man jumped out, slid down a rope, and landed beside the brooding gentleman in front of her. Leaning on the intimidating brute, the stick-thin man scanned Maria down then up and smiled.
"I don't think I heard anything about a young boy joining my crew," he said. His voice was kind enough, but there was no hiding his suspicion.
"I'm new."
"As you've said three times now," the first man, Ceddy, growled.
"I'm a last minute addition."
"Last minute addition? I don't think the prince mentioned you. Aren't you a bit young to be here?"
"Wes---I mean, the prince sent me personally."
Ceddy lifted a brow. "Did he?"
"Sure did. Just this morning."
"Must have been last minute indeed." He turned to the thin man. "What do you think, Lucas?"
Lucas. That was his name, the lively one. Lucas chewed his hay for a few seconds before grinning again, his eyes beaming.
"I think we should ask the prince ourselves."
"Wait, what?" Maria cried, her voice cracking.
"Well, why not? If you're telling the truth, then you have nothing to worry about." Lucas walked over to the helm with Ceddy in tow. Maria ran after them.
"That won't be necessary," she claimed. "We shouldn't bother His Highness. He's probably super busy and doesn't want to see anyone. I mean, this has been pretty stressful for him. Or so I've been told."
"Relax, laddie, it won't take long."
"No, you don't need to let him know."
Before she could stop them, Maria froze when she saw Dominick himself speaking with some of the crew members. How did she not see him earlier? Was she not paying attention? Was her view blocked? It didn't matter. He was there, awake and present.
Lucas approached him and bowed. "Pardon my interruption, my prince."
"No, not at all, Captain," Dominick answered.
Oh, good, this was the captain. Then who was Ceddy? Oh, who cares?
Maria stepped back, ready to run and ditch the plan altogether. But as she turned, Ceddy grabbed her by the collar and pulled her back, placing her in front of him. Lucas gestured toward them, bringing Dominick's attention to her.
This was it. It was over. He was going to be furious. How was she going to explain this? Dressing as a boy and sneaking aboard, if he could tell? Disguising herself meant nothing if Dominick confirmed she wasn't meant to be there. She would be dragged off in no time. There was no winning.
Lucas placed his hand atop Maria's head and laughed. "This gentleman said he was a last minute addition and you, personally, sent him my way. I wanted some verification. Maybe something got lost in communication?"
Dominick approached Maria. She wondered if he could hear her heart thumping. It hurt and paralyzed her, like waiting to be shot. Dominick glanced over her for several seconds before…smiling?
"Yes, that is correct," he said. "This boy is part of your crew. I apologize, I must have forgotten to tell you."
Lucas gasped. "So, he was telling the truth. You'd be surprised how many young lads try sneaking onto a ship. That's how Ceddy and I met, after all."
"Call me Cedric if you want to live," Ceddy, now Cedric, snarled.
"Anyhoo, this boy is a crew member?"
"He is," Dominick confirmed.
Maria's body relaxed, so much so she almost fell from the lack of intense torrent of emotions. Looking at Dominick, their eyes meeting, she felt both relief and newfound sense of confusion. He was helping her? Or was he that stupid? No. Maria knew better.
Dominick placed a hand on her shoulder, squeezing a bit to provide some comfort, and pulled her away from Cedric. Standing side by side, it surprised Maria no one took a moment to put together the physical similarities, not that she wanted them to.
Dominick glanced back down to her. "I'm sorry, I'm pretty bad with names. What was yours again?"
And here was the exact scenario Maria said she would take care of when the moment came. Well, the moment was here and she had nothing prepared. Perfect.
"Oh, um," she stammered, "I'm…I'm…"
"A shy boy, ain't he?" Lucas chuckled.
"Overwhelmed," Dominick stated. "It's alright. What's your name?"
The way he said that, "It's alright." That wasn't a throwaway moment or something said to say something. It was directed at her, meant to calm her as he had many times before. His voice and touch brought her back to her senses.
Maria straightened herself up, remembered her accent, and spoke with clarity. There was little time to think of a unique name or something meant to stand out while blending in. She cycled through every name she knew, aside from Dominick's, and settled on the two that came up first.
"James Hawkins."
"James Hawkins? Good name. You go by James or Jim?"
"Uh, Jim," Maria added in an instant.
Although James came up first, the sound of it put her on edge as soon as it left her mouth. It tasted like dirt and filled her with a sudden disgust. No way she could change it, but at least there was a way around it. Besides, it wouldn't be forever.
Dominick nodded. "Jim Hawkins it is, then. I do hope you have a safe voyage." Dominick looked to Captain Lucas and Cedric. "Is this alright?"
Cedric groaned. "If you say he's supposed to be here, then that's that."
Lucas gave a thumbs-up. "I like him already. We needed some cute faces on this ship."
"Don't try anything, Captain. You're a married man," Dominick said.
"And happily so, but I can appreciate adorableness when present."
"As we all can," Dominick laughed. He glanced to Maria one final time. "Be safe. And make sure you come home, okay?"
Another statement directed at her. Maria could tell the message was for her. But this time it wasn't an order or a plea, but a request. With the way he was looking at her, the tone of his sensitive voice, Maria knew refusing was not an option.
But in the back of her mind, part of her also believed that, if an opportunity arose, it was possible she wouldn't return. Failure was a possibility. Why would she come back with nothing to show? To return to a home on the brink of destruction. She couldn't make a promise, but giving a sense of false hope was worse.
She averted her eyes and lowered her head. "We'll see."
To her surprise, Dominick accepted the answer. "Fair enough. Never know what could happen, right?"
"Well, no need to be a downer, Highness," Lucas exclaimed. "We have everything we need. Leave it to me and my crew. I put a lot of time into getting them together." He winked.
"I have no doubt, Captain. I have high hopes. The map is secure, right?"
"Absolutely."
"Good. Well, I should leave you to it. Be safe."
Dominick was about to pass Maria before he stopped, bent down, and "picked something up."
"Oh, what is this?"
Maria couldn't see what he was talking about from her angle, but when he turned, she saw the cutlass amulet in his palm. He handed it to her.
"Is this yours, Jim?"
Maria chuckled. "Yes, it is. Thank you, Your Highness." She shoved it into her pocket.
"Alright, then. Bye."
Dominick turned one final time and walked away from the helm. Maria watched him make his way off the ship and climb atop his mare. He clicked the reins and took off. He disappeared from sight, leaving Maria with an unfamiliar hollowness she hoped would pass in time.
*** *** ***
Dominick arrived at the palace where he was met by Vincent and Annie at the entrance. Annie, of course, was panicking.
"Your Highness, thank goodness you're back," she cried.
"What's the matter?'
"Maria, she's gone again. I'm so sorry, sir. I promise I didn't mean to let her run off. She had been doing so well, I thought I didn't need to, but now she's gone and it's my fault."
"Calm down, Annie, it's okay."
"No, it's not. I'm sorry."
Dominick hopped down and patted Annie's back. "Relax. She's fine."
"She is?"
"Well, we'll see. I'm sure she'll be happy to know you're worried about her."
"Why do you say that?"
He smirked. "I don't know, Miss Hawkins. A passing thought, I guess."