Chapter 24
Maia walked around the castle. All of her nerve endings were on high alert. It had been five days since she returned and she didn’t know when the attack would come. She had prepared all she could. She had medical tents. She had new weapons. Her troops were training and ready. The castle battlements were being fixed. From the looks of it, she had covered all the corners for a battle. She was cautious. She had watchmen in the fields and at the ocean for the purpose of informing of any change in the landscape. So she sat in her throne, waiting.
“Princess, you look tense. Perhaps you should release your stress,” suggested Irian from his position at her side.
“I want to be available to hear any petitions,” she grumbled.
“Do you want company? Maybe that Acelin of yours.”
“He is not my Acelin.” Her eyes looked away. She was embarrassed. Irian coughed quickly to cover up the laugh he wanted to let out. They had only waited a few moments before the princess stood up. On a normal day, she was a creature full of restless energy. Never one to sit around content with dictating from her throne. She could not change her habits so easily.
“Irian, I am going on the field to oversee the training. You will take notice of any petition the people may have. “
“Of course, princess.”
She walked quickly to her suite. It only took her moments to change and head to Acelin’s chamber. She was prepared to knock on the door when she heard a giggle. Fury roared through her as she pushed the doors open. There was a chambermaid in his arms. She was bent over backwards. Acelin immediately dropped her as he walked to the princess.
“Princess, nice of you to come.” His smile faded when he saw the burning look in her eyes. “What’s wrong?” He followed her line of sight to the maid who was picking herself off the floor. The top of her dress had been adjusted to show her cleavage. The maid pulled the top up and scurried from the room without meeting the Princess’s eyes.
“Are you jealous?” he asked with a smirk. He slid his hands to her waist. With a downward jerk of her elbows, she knocked his hands away.
“You are! Princess, I am flattered.” He grabbed her shoulders as he looked deeper in her eyes. She refused to say a word. Instead, she wiggled until she was free and began to walk to the door. He pulled her back and held her tight against him.
“I’m sorry that you are jealous, but there is no need. That maid fell down. Probably on purpose. She seemed to be a bit too coy.”
“As if you are not either,” she grumbled.
“Here we go. I need no one but you.”
“Acelin, you have to be careful. There are many who will tempt you. How can I trust you? Your reputation precedes you. Piracy does not bring to mind loyalty or fidelity.“
“Words won’t calm your worries. Just look at me and watch my actions. You will see that even a pirate has a sense of loyalty for the important things. My princess, you are my important thing.” He sealed his confession with a kiss.
“We’ll see. From now on, male attendants only.” He laughed.
“What did you come for? Unless it is only to see my handsome face.” At that, she snorted.
“You don’t have to be so flippant.” She merely ignored him and began to talk.
“Let’s go practice. You will need to work hard to keep up with me. I will not tolerate you slowing me down.”
“I would be honored.” Luckily, he was already in his practice clothes, so they began to walk down the hall. The whole way Acelin joked and teased until she was calm. She felt so relaxed until she heard the sound of the horn. It was her signal to announce any intruders. She ran straight to the field where a crowd had gathered. Acelin was not far behind.
“What is going on,Tirio?”
“A ship is heading our way. It will be here soon.”
Maia turned around to see Acelin coming with two horses out of the barn.
“You want to see?” She answered by hopping on the horse. Acelin copied her move. They were off. A group of soldiers followed moments later, going through the same jungle she went through to catch him.
“This is the same as the time I captured you. I was racing through these trees with the Zhiva class.”
“Captured? I gave myself up willingly.”
“That is what you say.”
“It is the truth.” Maia let out a burst of laughter. Before she was surprised, but she was getting used to laughing more. The soldiers were not. They were stuck with surprise at their carefree princess.
When the pair and their group of soldiers made it to the dock, Maia got the eerie feeling that this was exactly the same as before. Same ship and everything. It was a clear blue day. A wonderful day for peace and a horrible day for war.
“That is my ship,” said Acelin with awe. It had been so long, but it was still as beautiful as ever. They had taken care of it. His question was why were they here? He had not sent any word or gave any symbol. If they came to rob Maia, he would have to step in, friend or not. He had new responsibilities.
As before, Maia and her followers met up with them on a battleship. When they were side-by-side, a sailor laid a plank across. Acelin stood in front of the plank, waiting to see who would greet him. Gio was the first, but Reshik was not far behind.
“Captain, you are alive.” It felt good to hear his title said without sarcasm or snideness, but with the proper respect due to him. It had been so long.
Acelin held his arms out and turned full circle. “And perfectly healthy. Why are you men here?”
“We came to rescue you, captain. I should not have let you take my place.” The boy looked embarrassed.
“Reshik, there was no harm done. I am fine.” He took a deep breath and braced himself. “And staying.”
“Where in Baristia?” asked Gio in shock. “Are they still holding you captive?” He eyed Acelin’s clothes. They were definitely not new, but they looked to once have been of good quality.
“No. I have decided to help. There is a war about to happen. And I am paying back a favor. The Barisitan government has been good to me. So I will stay until I feel comfortable leaving.” Which would be never. He planned to stay a long time beside the princess. He just needed to prove he was more than some lazy pirate. He denied himself a look at the princess. He would not out her to his pirate buddies. They would not understand how precious she was to him. No doubt they would think he seduced her as he did the women at the portside brothels he used to frequent. She was nothing like them. So he said nothing more.
“You are helping them after they captured you!” yelled one of the younger recruit. He had always been a little too headstrong for his own good.
“Yes and I would like you men to help as well. You are here anyways.” Most of the men stared back in shock. He didn’t expect immediate approval, but he hoped some of them had a sense of decency. Before he could hear a reply, he heard a shout from the ship.
"Is that him?" shouted Georgie in glee. Acelin's face lit up when he saw Georgie. She was the closest thing to a parent that he had left. Even if she was a little unconventional.
"Georgie! It has been a while."
"It sure has. I thought you got yourself killed. Look at you. So healthly. Why are you staying here?"
"I have made a promise that I plan to keep."
"Hmm, is that right?" Georgie looked at the girl next to him, but neither said anything.
Then, there was a boom!. A blood-curdling scream that ripped through the air followed after. The sound of a horn sounded.
This time, he allowed himself to look at the princess. Her face was turning white.
“We are going now, Acelin.” She turned to the captain and gave the orders to return.
Acelin turned back to his ship and yelled. “If you join, you will join with me. If not, then disappear. This is my last order.” He didn’t need them helping that prince or worse using this time of confusion to ransack the villages.
He turned back around and headed to the princess. She was pacing.
“This is why he was waiting. He knew that I would lead the charge. He wanted me out of there. That pirate ship was the perfect distraction. He has just been waiting for me to mess up.”
Acelin made no motion to touch her. In this mood, she would push him away rather than want him to comfort her.
“Do not worry. You will be there. You put all kinds of protection in place. We will be there in no time.”
“I hope so because I could not live with myself if my people turned out to be killed for yet another mistake.”
“It was not your fault.” But the princess was already in her own world, planning strategies.