The Runaway Princess

Chapter 9

*Storms POV*

Thala burst into my quarters a minute after I had stomped into them, looking extremely pissed.

"What was that?" she exclaimed. "You can't go from actually having fun with someone to calling them a waste of space. I've seen how you act around her, even if you try and deny it. You like her."

"And so what if I do?" I said loudly, my restraint on my feelings snapping. "My position on this crew is only because of being logical and not listening to whatever feelings I have! Once I push them down enough, I will be able to be impartial on such things." Thala stopped her pacing and looked at me, a strange set of emotions on her face.

"Storm, it's all right to care about people. And Ester, well, I don't know her full story, but she seems to feel something for you too. It's up to you to figure out if it's as a friend or more." Thala puts her hands on my shoulders. "She trusts you, I trust you. Can't you try and trust too?" Having said her piece she left, the door banging shut behind her. I slumped into my chair, causing it to scrape an inch back on the floor and make a screeching noise.

Thala, unfortunately, was right. However, I couldn't afford to become soft for anyone, much less a princess that I've hardly known for a week. My father was the one to teach me to be emotionless, to keep cool, and find the answer to every problem that faces me. Even though I want to escape my parent's reach, I can't deny that some of their lessons are useful.

Currently, I had to do damage control. My father trained me in swordsmanship with the guards, so I was able to see how he treated them. He was strict but compassionate, to the point where they would follow him everywhere. This led to them not holding back on hunting me down when I escaped, even after years of training with them, being treated as an equal. I keep the same method with my crew. They know my limits, we can joke around but at the end of the night, I'm their captain.

First I went to find Baylen. We met in Piscor when we were both at a rights parade about discrimination against sirens and we started working together after that. I valued their navigational skills, and they were great to turn to when I struggled for a solution. I normally had to communicate specifically that I want to talk informally for Baylen to relax with me, otherwise, they stick to formalities. I found them in their office, across from mine on the ship's deck. It was used to chart courses and to keep the official log of where we've been and why. There was a red expensive rug on the floor with a circular dark wood desk with a variety of chairs strewn about. Maps of the world covered the wall along with maps of each individual country and the ocean currents and trade routes.

Baylen was already there, seated on a small leather chair reading a book.

"Hey," I said, sitting down a few chairs away.

"Hi." They replied, not looking away from their book. Normally they would set down their book, so this was a good indicator that they are mad.

"Listen, I know I may have acted irrationally-"

"Irrationally?" They interrupted. "Couldn't you see she wanted to stay? Captain, I very much disagree with how you went about this. In my rank, I am allowed to say such things, and I believe the others would agree with me, though they wouldn't say so because you could get rid of them. Besides, we've already left Idi, so we can't change anything." I stared at them with my mouth hanging open.

Was that what they all thought of me? That I would remove them if they voiced an opinion that was different than mine? I guess I didn't have the same ease with the crew as my father had with his soldiers but I thought they would know me better than that.

"That is not what I would do at all," I told Baylen. "I'm sorry if I gave that impression but that was not my intention. All I'm trying to do is keep a level of respect for myself while also not being a strict dictator because that wouldn't function." At that, they laughed.