ARIELLE
The rhythmic creaking of the ship has become a constant companion, a lullaby and a torment all at once. Two days. Two days I have spent cooped up in this cramped cabin, my mind a battlefield of unanswered questions and simmering resentment. Caith has been… polite. Bringing me meals, asking if I need anything, generally avoiding eye contact. As if a few stale biscuits and a carefully averted gaze can compensate for his evasiveness on the topic of… well, everything important.
I heave a sigh, pushing myself up from the bunk. The scratchy wool blanket does little to alleviate the chill that seems to permanently reside in this damp little room. I need air. I need to see something other than these bare wooden walls. I need to know if Khavena has somehow magically reappeared on the horizon.
I march to the door, fling it open, and stride out into the corridor, my expression daring anyone to comment on my sudden emergence. A few sailors glance up, their eyes widening slightly before they quickly avert their gaze. Good. Let them fear the wrath of the uninformed, yet determined, bride.
I make my way to the deck, the salty air filling my lungs. The sky is a vast expanse of gray, mirroring the restless sea below. The ship pitches and rolls, and I find myself instinctively grabbing onto a nearby railing. Sea legs, still elusive.
I spot Caith near the helm, deep in conversation with the captain. He looks up as I approach, his expression a mixture of surprise and… something that might, if I were feeling charitable, be relief.
"Arielle," he says, his voice a little too loud to be casual. "What are you doing out here? Are you feeling alright?"
"I am feeling… stir-crazy," I reply, my tone crisp. "I have been cooped up in that cabin for two days, subsisting on a diet of biscuits and unanswered questions. I require fresh air and, more importantly, information."
He sighs, running a hand through his hair. "Look, Arielle, I told you, I'll explain everything eventually. Just give me some time."
"Time?" I repeat, my voice incredulous. "Time is a luxury I no longer possess, Caith. I am adrift at sea, married to a man I barely know, heading to a land I have never seen. I deserve some answers, and I deserve them now."
He glances around nervously, as if fearing that the entire crew is eavesdropping on our conversation. "Can we talk about this later? Somewhere more private?"
"No," I say, my voice firm. "We will talk about it now. And we will start with the most pressing question of all: Where are they?"
He frowns. "Where are… who?"
"My guardians," I say, my voice laced with frustration. "My mother assured me that I would be accompanied by two of Khavena's fiercest warriors, Amazon as she call them. I have seen no sign of them. You claimed that they were on a ship ahead of us, but where is it? Have you seen it? Have you tried to communicate with it?"
Caith shifts his weight from one foot to the other, avoiding my gaze. "They left before us," he mumbles. "They were on a faster ship. They'll be waiting for us when we arrive."
"Waiting for us where?" I demand. "And why have I seen no sign of them? Surely they would have made contact by now. Unless…" I pause, my eyes narrowing. "Unless they don't exist."
He flinches, his expression betraying his unease. "They exist," he insists. "I swear, they're real. They're just… very good at their jobs."
"Their job being to remain completely invisible?" I scoff. "I find that highly improbable. I suspect my mother was mistaken." I can't keep the disappointment out of my voice. The thought of facing whatever awaits me without support is not enticing.
He sighs, reaching out to take my hand. "Arielle, please," he says, his voice pleading. "Just trust me on this. They're out there. They'll be watching over you."
I pull my hand away, my eyes searching his face. Do I trust him? I honestly don't know. But I do know that I cannot continue to exist in this state of perpetual ignorance.
"Tell me about your home," I say, my voice softer now. "Tell me about the land we are heading towards. Tell me about the people who live there. Tell me everything."
A flicker of relief crosses Caith's face, as if he's just been granted a reprieve from a lengthy interrogation. "Alright," he says, "I can do that. Let's start with the basics, shall we?" He gestures toward the helm. "Have you ever steered a ship before?"
I glance at the large, wooden wheel, its spokes worn smooth with countless hands. "I have ruled a kingdom," I reply, my tone dry. "But I have never steered a vessel. Khavena is an inland Kingdom; we rarely use ships."
He chuckles, a genuine, unguarded sound that warms me despite myself. "Well, ruling a kingdom is probably harder. But steering a ship is still… interesting. Come on, I'll show you."
He leads me toward the helm, his hand lightly touching my back. I try to ignore the unexpected shiver that runs down my spine. We are far too close to be discussing the intricacies of maritime navigation.
"This," he says, placing my hands on the wheel, "is the helm. It controls the rudder, which steers the ship. Simple enough, right?"
I grip the wheel, feeling the weight of the vessel beneath my fingertips. "Simple enough," I agree, though my heart is pounding a little faster now. "But how does one actually steer?"
He steps closer, his body almost touching mine. The wind whips around us, tangling strands of his hair in my face. I try to focus on his words, but it's difficult when he is so close.
"You just turn the wheel," he says, his voice low and conspiratorial. "To the right to go right, to the left to go left. But you have to be gentle. Too much, and you'll overcorrect."
He places his hands over mine, guiding the wheel with gentle pressure. I can feel the warmth of his touch, the strength of his grip. It is a strangely intimate experience.
"Feel that?" he asks, his voice close to my ear. "That's the ship responding to your movements. You have to anticipate the waves, the wind… It's all about finding the right balance."
I concentrate on his instructions, trying to ignore the fact that his chest is pressed against my back, his breath warm on my neck. It is incredibly difficult.
"Now you try," he says, releasing his hold on the wheel.
I take a deep breath and gently turn the wheel to the right. The ship responds, slowly arcing to starboard.
"Good," he says, his voice approving. "Now a little to the left."
I follow his instructions, guiding the ship back on course. The rhythmic creaking of the ship and the rush of the wind fill my ears. I am actually doing it. I am steering a ship.
"You're a natural," he says, his voice filled with admiration. "I can see it."
I glance up at him, catching his gaze. His eyes are fixed on me, filled with something that makes my heart skip a beat. It's admiration but there is something else there too.
"Perhaps," I say, my voice a little breathless. "Or perhaps you are simply an excellent teacher."
He chuckles, stepping back slightly. The distance is welcome. "Perhaps a little of both," he says. "But you have the touch. I can tell."
We continue to steer the ship in silence for a few minutes, the only sound the wind and the waves. I find myself relaxing, the tension in my shoulders easing. It is almost… peaceful.
"Thank you," I say finally, breaking the silence. "For showing me this."
He smiles, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Anytime," he says. "There's a lot I want to show you, Arielle."
I swallow, my pulse quickening at his words. "And when will we arrive at this… home of yours?" I ask, hoping my voice sounds more steady than I feel. "I should like to have some idea of what awaits me."
Caith's smile fades slightly, a shadow passing over his face. "It's still a few days away," he says, his voice more subdued. "We're heading north, across the Narrow Sea. We'll make landfall on the coast of… what you would call the mainland. Then, a few days ride inland. It is not a large town, but it is home."
I frown, picking up on the hesitation in his voice. "A few days?" I repeat, my voice laced with suspicion. "And what manner of transportation will we be using? Horses? Carriages? Giant, domesticated rodents?"
He laughs, though the sound is strained. "Horses," he says. "Mostly. And… wagons, for the baggage. It's not a particularly comfortable journey, I'm afraid. The roads are not as… well maintained as they are in Khavena."
"I see," I say, my tone thoughtful. "And will we be traveling through… populated areas? Or will we be venturing into the wilderness?"
He hesitates again, running a hand through his hair. "It's a bit of both," he admits. "Some of the roads are… well, less frequented than others. There are villages along the way, but they are small and… rustic. It will be different to what you're used to."
I consider this, my mind racing. The more he reveals about his homeland, the more uneasy I become. It sounds… primitive. Uncivilized. And potentially dangerous.
"And what of bandits?" I ask, my voice sharp. "Are we likely to encounter any of these… less reputable individuals along the way?"
He sighs, his shoulders slumping. "It's possible," he says. "But I'll have guards with me. Experienced men. They'll protect us."
"Guards?" I repeat, my eyebrow arching. "But I thought your people were peaceful farmers. Where do you find experienced guards in a land of rustic villages and poorly maintained roads?"
He flinches, his expression betraying his unease. "They're not just farmers," he says, his voice defensive. "They know how to defend themselves. They're… resourceful."
I look at him, my eyes searching his face. He is hiding something. I can feel it in my bones. But what is it? What is he so afraid of revealing?
"Tell me the truth, Caith," I say, my voice low and insistent. "What awaits me in this… home of yours? What are you not telling me?"
He sighs, closing his eyes for a moment. "It's complicated, Arielle," he says. "It's not as simple as you think. Just… just trust me, okay? Everything will be alright."
"Trust you?" I repeat, my voice laced with disbelief. "You have yet to provide me with a single reason to trust you, Caith. You evade my questions, you hide behind vague platitudes, and you refuse to tell me anything of substance about the land we are heading towards. How can I possibly trust you?"
He opens his eyes, his gaze pleading. "Just have faith in me," he says. "Please. I swear, I'm doing this for your own good."
"For my own good?" I repeat, my voice rising. "By dragging me away from my home, my family, my kingdom, and taking me to a land of which I know nothing? How is that for my own good?"
He steps closer, reaching out to take my hand. "Arielle," he says, his voice soft and persuasive. "Just give me a chance. I promise, I'll explain everything when we get there. Just… just wait until we get there."