"Eira, when do you think Laurent will come back?" Astra asked me, we were stowed away in one of the countless nooks of the great library, sprawled across the overstuffed couches before a roaring fireplace as the snow fell heavily outside.
It had been nearly a week since the tea party fiasco and Laurent hadn't come back to the palace since. Though I was mostly relieved, a small part of me was worried about him. He'd left that day with his tale between his legs. I wished I could tell him he was okay and it was just a mistake. But I couldn't bring myself to write to him. I'll just wait until he visits again. I told myself. But as the days stretched on I wondered if he'd stay away until the date of our wedding. Whenever that was supposed to be. I wasn't sure yet.
"I don't know" I admitted, the realization brought on a pang of guilt in my stomach. I was the real cause of this afterall, if I had just kept my eyes to myself, it all would have been fine.
My thoughts turned to Markus. His cold angry glare as he followed a lamenting Laurent out of the room. He knew I'd been staring at him and I had no doubt he detested me for it. I rubbed my eyes, trying to shut out the embarrassment clouding my vision.
"You should go to him" Astra said, she rolled off the couch and made her way to a bookshelf to replace the heavy tome she'd been pretending to read with a much smaller one.
I scoffed, "Go to him? I could never, I wouldn't even know where to look." Even as I wrote it off, I knew she had a point. Why was I here worrying about him not coming all the way up to the palace when I could just as easily visit him and see what the matter was myself.
"He must be on one of the ships" Astra said as she flipped her new book open.
"But where to begin" I mused, "there are hundreds in the fleet"
"The royal family resides on the biggest boat, It had the house crest emblazoned on the sails" Astra replied, without looking up from her read.
"How did you know that?" I blanched,
"Mother told me about what happened at the tea party, The Prince described his trip and the boats they used, were you really not paying attention?" Astra said incredulously.
"I must have been lost in thought" I lied,
Astra sighed, "Well no matter, you know where to go now, best get going"
"Wait! But shouldn't I send notice? I should really wait for tomorrow so they will be prepared" I protested but Astra had already risen from the couch, effectively ending the conversation.
"You'll be fine, go now before you find a way to convince yourself not to"
So that was how I found myself On the frost bitten docks surrounded by the cry of sailors and the smell of frozen fish. My nose and ears were already pinked by the bitter wind coming off the river .I looked up at the royal ship. It was so much bigger than I had thought originally. A mansion in its own right, it towered above me, clad with dragon heads and spiked shields. How could they stand to live here for so long and not freeze their toes off? The thought of it made me shiver, even in my heavy coat. Now how would I go about getting on the thing?
My questions were answered by a voice behind me.
"Your Highness? Is that you?"
I whipped around to see Markus, arms filled with brown papered packages and eyes narrowed in distrust. My blood would have frozen if it hadn't been so cold already.
"Sir Markus" I stumbled, over my words.
"You- You caught me off guard."
Markus dropped into a curt bow, one more for compliance than respect.
"I apologize my lady. But if I may be so bold. What brings you here?"
I wrung my hands nervously. I knew I had to tell someone eventually in order to get onto the ship but it still made me inexplicably nervous. Snap out of it. I told myself. You've managed half a kingdom before, this isn't as hard as you make it out to be.
Taking a deep breath I said, " It's His Royal Highness. He hasn't come to the palace in a while. I was beginning to worry."
Markus smirked, "I'm afraid His Highness has been indisposed as of late. He is a very busy man you must understand. He cannot come every day."
I wanted to shrivel up and die from embarressment. I felt like an entitled brat of a girl and a hopelessly naiive child all at the same time. How selfish of me to expect him to come and call all the time. Of course he had better things to do than entertain me. My eyes pricked, warning tears. I couldn't believe myself.
"I-I apologize for my oversight. I feel quite ashamed" I muttered, head bowed,
"Don't be upset Your Highness" I heard Markus' voice soften,
"Please, come aboard, you came all this way from the palace the least I can do is offer you some tea to warm yourself. It's quite bitter outside for Anthea this time of year"
I said nothing of how I'd taken a coach across town and it had taken me only a half and hour. I let Markus lead me up the wooden ramp, waving off the guards. He place his arm protectively on my shoulder, making my cheeks flush again. I hoped he wrote it off the the cold.
The deck of the ship was massive. The size of a courtyard. It's polished boards were freshly scrubbed and I saw tough skinned crew members wandering about the deck. As big and burly as Markus, but not quite as well dressed. They wore no winter clothing but a fur lined hat over their ears and huge deer hide boots coated with black whale blubber to keep out the sloshing sea.
Markus led me under an overhang where a small fire crackled, a couple soldiers were huddled around it, but quickly made themselves sparse when I approached. I hesitantly took a seat and watched as Markus took a chipped earthenware mug and filled it with a dark grey-brown liquid from a pot that rested over the fire. He handed it to me and I took it gingerly, savoring its warmth.
"This is nothing like the tea we have here in Anthea" I murmured, more to myself than Markus, but to my surprise he answered.
"Its a black tea, from the deserts in the far west. We call it coffee. It gives you a burst of energy." He explained, "Go on, try it"
I took a large gulp and immediately spit it out, "It-it tastes like dirt" I spluttered,
Markus roared in laughter, I'd never heard him be so loud. It was deep and rich, filling my senses, soon enough, I was smiling too.
"It's an acquired taste" he assented, "But once you get a good taste of it, its hard to turn back."
He took a seat across from me and poured himself a glass.
"Well Your Highness, what can I do for you"
My smile faltered, I didn't want this moment to be over, not yet.
"If I may ask, why did you decide to become the prince's bodyguard?" I asked suddenly. surprising even myself. Markus raised his eyebrows but relented.
"I didn't choose to be His Highness' bodyguard any more than he chose to be the next emperor." he said,
" It's a hereditary position given to the son of the commander general. Its a high honor, I've been groomed for it my whole life" he smiled.
"You are the eldest then?" I asked, the firstborn rule in Anthea hadn't always been a thing. Long ago in its very beginnings it had been the strongest child of the first 3 born. But that rule had lead to many wars and bloodshed until it was eventually dropped in favor of a will and testament. A much more peaceful resolution to conflict.
"The youngest actually. By 10 years. My eldest brother gave up the pursuit at 16 and when I was born my older sister abdicated the position in favor of me. It made the most sense after all. Since Laurent- His Highness, I mean, was born only a month before me." I didn't miss the slip in title,
"You call him Laurent?" I questioned,
For a second I thought Markus had blushed but it was gone so quickly I chalked it up to an overactive imagination.
"I apologize Your Highness for the slip in formality, but I must admit The Prince was my closest confidant and childhood friend. He is very dear to me and always has been. As his guard and his companion I protect him with my heart and soul, from all manner of dangers, even the ones that aren't physical"
"That is very sweet" I said. Markus seemed to deflate a little and I could see the shadow of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. I hesitantly took a very small sip of the coffee. The bitterness still made me grimace but its intoxicating aroma made me overlook the worst bits.
"You are younger than the Prince then" I smiled,
"I would not have expected that"
Markus laughed, "Though he may look slight in size Laurent makes up for it in brains. He's sharp as a knife you'll soon learn. Don't let him get you into a game of chess. Unless you want to be quickly and brutally defeated.
"I'll keep that in mind" I giggled, the wafting steam from the pot of coffee made me think of the Great Western Deserts. The thought of the golden sand strewn dunes under the blazing sky was enough to make me feel warm all over.
"I'll have to talk about getting this coffee in the palace" I said, swishing the liquid around in the half empty mug.
"It tastes abhorrent but the smell..." I trailed off when I saw Markus nodding knowingly,
"I see you've already succumbed to its trances. Quicker than I expected. If you wish you can sweeten it with cream or sugar. Though we have none here. There is bound to be some at the palace."
"Very true" I said, "You know your way around this drink. I must admit I'm curious. How did the Orinthians come across it? I never took you as globalists."
"Then you are mistaken" Markus said, downing the last of his cup and pouring himself another.
"We travel wherever we can sail. Where there is a river there is a city and where there is a city there are new things to be learnt and discovered."
I hadn't expected that answer, "Wow, I never took you for a scholar Markus"
he grinned at that, "I am not I'm afraid, it is something Laurent always says. He is the one who commissions these voyages and wherever he leads I follow"
"Do you enjoy them then?"
"Oh yes!" his face brightened considerably. "I never thought I was one for adventure but Laurent's studies have been so exciting to witness. In Va'saai, a large city on the edge of the desert, there are the most beautiful people.
You would not believe them. They look nothing like us. Cold and sharp as we are. They are warm and free like the sun they worship. Long sloping noses and the softest eyes, all of them so strong, even though they don't look it. They wear their hair adorned with gold rings and opals and put emeralds in their ears. And they are always laughing. I feel I could fall in love in a place like that and never leave.
I grinned, though I didn't miss the prick of jealousy that poisoned my veins. All these things, he spoke of. Big and bright and beautiful. Anthea was a forlorn rocky slope compared to where he'd been filled with frigid rocky people. Just like he described.
"I've always wanted to travel the world" I mused, staring into the flickering flames.
"But duty has kept me here" It wasn't that I didn't love this place, my home, but I wanted to see more, smell more, feel more. Than the same old things over and over again.
"Once you are married, you will not be confined here if you do not wish to be. We can take you as far from here as you wish" Markus said, I looked up meeting his gaze. I was once again thrust into the reality of my impending matrimony.
"I-It's not like that" I tried to backpedal,
"I know I know" he chided, "But you see, my duty is to protect the monarch, and when you become empress, or empress regent. You will be part of the monarch body. And it is my duty to serve then both you and Laurent. I, along with as many navy as needed, can escort you wherever you wish to see. When you become empress, the sky's the limit, Your Highness"
Could that really be true? As empress regent I had to have duties, but what if some of those duties entailed taking a tour of the various states and trading ports? I could travel the world as an empress. I felt a smile slowly turn up the corners of my mouth.
"Thank You Markus" I said, positively beaming, he smiled tightly back, though he still held himself with a stiff air of formality, I could sense a faint softness appearing in his features. I felt myself get lost in his eyes again.
"Markus? Are you out there? Who are you talking to?" Before I could register who it was, Laurent barged through a side door onto the deck. He spotted the two of us immediately. I was suddenly thrust back into reality, and the real reason I'd even come here. I rose hastily, dropping into a clumsy curtsy.
"Your Highness"
But he wasn't looking at me, he was watching Markus, his dark brows furrowed.