Maria reached the main deck and was overwhelmed from the first second. Men were running around and into her as she navigated her way to a safe place. At the helm, Captain Lucas and Cedric stood by and barked orders. Amazing that the chaos was producing a legitimate result.
Maria watched as the ship pulled away from port, ropes being brought up to deck and coiled away into any available spot. She glanced up and saw the sails adjusting to the breeze beginning to take hold. The water beneath them help guide them out to the open space that was the ocean's domain.
There was no helping the smile on her face. It was a shame she couldn't join in on the fray, but the excitement she was experiencing made up for it. Catching sight of an unoccupied Jacob's ladder, she ran over to it and climbed. Holding on tight, she saw from above the distance between the ship and port grow wider and wider.
Many people had come to see them take off. They waved and cheered as the prince's funded expedition for treasure began. Hard to believe it wasn't more popular, but Maria was shocked to see as many people there at all. They were on their way to discover a land unknown to them, saving their home in the process.
"Wow," she exhaled in her amazement.
The ship turned and made a straight shot for the watery vastness before them. The smell of salt and the thin mist that accompanied them solidified their beginning. Maria climbed higher and leaned out and over the edge of the ship. For but a moment, she was flying above the depths she had long dreamed of exploring.
Maria let it sink in that her home was falling far behind her. Before long, it became a faint speck in the distance.
When not paying attention, she didn't see Silver emerge from beneath and approach Lucas and Cedric both. "Good mornin', Captain," he exclaimed. "Lovely weather for a first day at sea, eh?"
Lucas raised a brow. "Can't say I have much complaints." He sounded annoyed.
"Oh, ye have a harsh tone, sir. Did I offend?"
"No, but it would be best for us all if we two spoke as little as possible, Silver."
"Ya wound me, Captain. I merely come to exchange pleasantries."
"We did all that when you were hired," Cedric snapped thereafter. "You will do your job as agreed and nothing more. Are we clear?"
"Such cold words to a hardworkin' crew, Mr. Musker. Ain't no way to gain trust, I assume."
"Keep to your duties and we'll see how we go from there, Silver. Until then, my fondness of you is wholly nonexistent. Remember that it was the convenience of your situation that brought you here, not your personality. Keep that in mind when you decide to open your mouth again."
Silver shrugged. "Aye, Mr. Musker."
Lucas glanced up and took notice of Maria hanging off the ladder. He chuckled and pointed at her.
"Isn't that the prince's personal request hanging there?" he asked Cedric.
"It is. I wonder why the boy has been allowed to wander about, Mr. Silver."
Silver groaned. "I gave the lad a little time for himself. He be workin' soon enough."
"Let that 'soon' be now, Mr. Silver."
"As ye wish, Mr. Musker." Silver turned and walked up to Maria, whistling to grab her attention. "Oye, Skipper."
Maria turned, but was confused. She glanced down to Silver with a furrowed brow.
"It's Jim," she hissed.
"Good for ya. Ye take in all the sights?"
"Not all of them."
"Well, ye can fix that in the coming days. I need yer help with somethin'."
"What's that?"
"Come with me."
Maria jumped down and followed Silver to a less active part of the ship. Much of the excitement had died down. Reaching their destination, Silver and Maria were met with a stack of boxes, buckets, and sticks with ends hidden behind said boxes.
Silver rummaged around them for a few seconds before throwing a rag and bucket at her. When he finished, he stood up straight and motioned for her to go.
"What am I supposed to do with these?" she asked.
"The deck won't wash itself, no?"
"What? Already?"
"No fussin', Skipper."
"It's Jim."
"First Mate wants ya making yerself useful. Get started while he's in a nicer mood."
"And what are you going to be doing?"
"I have a whole ship to feed, lad. Be ready when I hear them stomachs grumblin'."
He brushed past her, leaving her alone with an empty bucket and no idea where to start. Maria ran after him.
"You can't be serious. I have to wash the whole thing myself?"
"Ya still talkin'? Better move or ya won't be done by dinner. And ye ain't stoppin' to stuff yer face either."
"A little help wouldn't hurt."
"Then ask around. You might find one good soul among 'em."
And with no further opportunity to protest, Silver left Maria and returned to his spice-ridden pit.
"You have got to be kidding me," she exclaimed, forgetting her accent. "This is ridiculous."
"Problem?" Lucas asked, appearing behind her without warning.
Maria jumped and cried out. "Uh, no problem, sir."
"You sure? You seem dissatisfied."
"Well, sorry, but I didn't come here to be bossed around by a one-eyed, wooden legged chef with a chipper attitude."
"You could learn a thing or two from that chef's chipper attitude," Lucas said with a beaming smile. "Try letting loose and having fun. We're going to be close for a while."
"You say that like it's a good thing," Maria mumbled.
"It is when you're me," he sang. "More time with the people I love."
"Good for you."
"Listen, Jim, if you need anything, come to me, alright? Ceddy ain't the most gentle soul around here."
"No, really?" Maria exclaimed, sarcasm lacing each letter.
"I know. Tis a pity. But I can't be too picky. All that said, neither can you. Let's see if the prince's personal request is worth the honor of being such."
"You know, if not for you, I could've gotten a head start by now."
"But then you wouldn't have heard the part of me telling you to come to me when you need something. You're welcome, by the way."
Lucas turned, ready to walk back to Cedric, when Maria remembered something.
"Actually, Captain, there is something I want to know."
"And what might that be?"
"The map. Where is it?"
Lucas's light expression changed in an instant. "What did you say?"
"The map?" she repeated. "The whole reason we're here?"
Lucas grabbed Maria by the arm and dragged her up to the helm and to a door behind it. On the way, he snatched Cedric and stormed both of them inside what Maria could assume were the far superior captain's quarters.
A desk took up the back end while a large bed was lined against the wall to the right. A cabinet stood next to that while the rest of the room was open and spacious.
Cedric yanked himself away from Lucas. "What was the meaning of that?"
"He knows," Lucas snapped, pointing at Maria.
Cedric's shocked irritation dominated his gaze. "What?"
"He knows about the map."
Cedric turned to Maria, who was more concerned for her safety than confused. She didn't realize she had entered a life or death situation. Cedric reached back and locked the door. No one was leaving that room until their business was done.
Lucas went to the desk, clicked a few unseen buttons out of Maria's sight, and opened a drawer. He pulled out the map and presented it to Maria.
"You are talking about this, right?"
"Well, even if I wasn't, I would be curious about it now."
"I agree, that was dumb of you, Lucas," Cedric groaned.
"Never mind my dramatic stupidity. Boy, you know about the map. How?"
Something about this situation lacked sense and/or proper context. Freaking out about her knowing about the map? Didn't everyone know about it? After all, that was the whole reason they were on that ship to begin with.
Maria nodded. "To answer your question, yes, I do know about the map."
"How?"
"I overheard the prince talk about it."
"Overheard? Quite an eavesdropper, aren't you?"
"It's not like it was a secret around the palace. Everyone knew about it. Are you saying your crew is working for a job they know nothing about?"
"Not exactly," Lucas said. "Certain parts were omitted."
"Why? I think the crew would be understanding if you had told them from the start."
"And attract every treasure seeking sailor under the sun, in turn drawing out pirates and the like? Absolutely not. Once we are well into our voyage and I know I can trust these hooligans, I will announce the real reason for our expedition."
"You don't trust your own crew?"
"More like I don't much care for them. A smelly bunch, more so than the usual, but they had the skills I needed. Convenience at its finest."
Cedric stepped forward and planted himself beside Lucas. "It would be a real shame if the new cabin boy were to ruin this voyage for all the men aboard."
"Is that a threat, sir?" Maria asked.
"A reminder. I would hate to hear any rumors about treasure or anything of the sort roaming about. I'm sure you understand."
Yet another factor Maria hadn't considered before stepping aboard the ship. She never once thought of the possibility that the captain and first mate would be keeping secrets from their own crew. Her knowing anything at all almost singled her out. It wasn't enough to give away her true identity.
Still, that did present an additional option. Revealing herself to Lucas and Cedric could come in handy. It would give her the chance to reclaim some authority and wiggle out of the labor that came with being a sailor. Besides, that would be a far better explanation for why she knew of the map than falsely admitting to eavesdropping on a conversation she was, in reality, a part of.
But there was another risk that came with that. True, being in charge to some degree would be beneficial, and Dominick's sudden approval of her being on the ship could be explained away as well.
By allowing more people in on her secret, the more likely it would spread around. If what they said was true, that their opinions of the crew were less than friendly at best, then there's no telling how they would respond to knowing that the princess was among them. Better than any treasure they could bring back as far as the prince was concerned. Billy did mention that.
Silver crossed her mind. She wasn't too comfortable with the idea of being around him, not helped by what Billy warned her about earlier. If he was the person she was thinking of, then there was no way he'd pass up the chance to use her as a bargaining tool against Dominick. No doubt her brother would sacrifice anything for her safety, no matter how stupid it seemed to anyone else.
No, it was too dangerous. Knowing what she did, maintaining a false identity was her best bet until getting home. For the time, she did have a slight advantage in knowing about the map. Not to mention having possession of the amulet that would get them to the treasure itself.
Maria smirked. And yet another secret she could use to her own benefit. Brought onto the ship at the last second with the entry key to the treasure. A mere precaution by the prince, or so she would tell them. Brilliant. As far as anyone needed to know, she was the single most trustworthy cabin boy in history and they would be none the wiser.
Cedric slammed his hand on the desk, breaking Maria from her thoughts. "Well, boy? You plan to say anything?"
"No, sir, I won't. I understand the situation now. I apologize for the rude assumption."
"Fine. But remember, if I hear one word about treasure aboard this ship, I won't hesitate to keep you in the brig for the entire voyage. Are we clear?"
"Very much so, sir."
"Perfect," Lucas cried, clapping his hands together. "I'll admit, you had us worried there, Jim. If I had known, I would have filled you in, but that's all water under the bridge. Oh, I am curious. You said you heard the prince mention the map, right?"
"In passing, yes. I work in the palace after all."
"Ah, yes, you did mention the palace. No wonder the prince knows you. Well, if he trusts you, then I suppose I have no choice but to do so myself. Right, Ceddy?"
"Lucas, you're too kind to him. There's no telling what this child will do if left unsupervised."
"He's with Silver, right? I'm sure he'll be too busy to spread rumors."
"Is Silver that work heavy?" Maria asked.
"He was a first mate back in his day, or so he says. Ran a tight ship with his sister under the captain."
"Oh, she wasn't she the captain herself?"
"No, not at all, but she wasn't a pushover either. I wouldn't go messing with her, if I were you."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Now then, I do believe Silver gave you an assignment. Why don't you go? You'll need to pull your weight while you're here. I don't accept slackers under my care."
Maria grumbled. Not the most fruitful conversation she's ever had, but at least she learned something of value. All she had to do in the meantime was keep the map itself a secret and not reveal herself. Easier said than done, but doable, nonetheless. Somehow the voyage became far more interesting.
With nothing else to say, Maria excused herself. Cedric came over and unlocked the door for her, all but shoving her out. The deck had calmed down. Most of the sailors had taken up positions around the open space.
Some sat in groups and played cards, others watched the water. A few smoked and ate bits of meat while a handful assigned themselves a corner and slept. Quite a different sight from before. It produced jealousy within Maria to see them lounge around while she had to wipe down the whole ship.
No use complaining, she believed. She'd rather be scolded for trying and failing than doing nothing at all. Her work awaited her and there was no more time to waste.