The Little Merman

Chapter Fourteen: "New Place, Same Problem"

Nate stared up at the likeness of this 'Vanessa and Captain Jones.' While he didn't recognize them, he did find a strange similarity. Around Vanessa's neck was Poseidon's Nautilus shell. There was nothing else like it in the world. He'd recognize it anywhere. He'd even seen it around Ursel's neck. The most fascinating thing to him was that despite the fact that Vanessa was clearly a woman... she was wearing Ursel's earrings and make-up. Even her dark eyes were the same as him. Swallowing, Nate glanced down at his legs. It made him wonder if Ursel become human once himself. His knowledge of the surface seemed to suggest that he had. He felt a little light-headed at the thought. Had Ursel been the reason for the war his father dreaded? From the head of the table, Sean asked him curiously. "Do you know them?" Nate looked at Sean and shook his head slowly. If these people had caused Sean's family problems, he certainly didn't want to ruin his chances with him by saying that he did.

Walking back to his seat, Nate locked his jaw as pain shot up his legs. He tried to stay as composed as he could though. Taking his seat, he exhaled softly to himself in relief. It felt better when he wasn't standing. Across from him, Princess Verlaine told them all in a solemn tone of voice. "I know I should feel nothing for a savage like Captain Jones... but I feel for them. To find love and have it so easily taken away. It's almost cruel. Why do you keep such a picture, Highness? Doesn't it seem... Morbid?" Beside Nate, Anslo piped in a bit sourly. "Many have asked the same thing. Even I have asked him to take it down. It's a disgusting piece. A pirate and a witch... both are savages that should have been hung side by side. Not displayed like... Well, like-" Sean cut in a bit sternly to finish off. "Like they were human?" Anslo bowed his head a little, his voice dropping to a gentler tone as he said. "Some would argue that." Sean leaned on the table, glaring at Anslo in a challenging manner as he told him seriously. "I don't care. Say what you want. Think what you will. I don't see them that way. Pirates are nothing more than sailors rejected by the crown. Witches are no more than independent and free-thinking women rejected by their village or town. Humans."

Anslo opened his mouth to clearly disagree, but Sean cut in before he could. "I don't care what others believe. You wanted me to think rationally. To have a well-rounded education. THAT is what education has taught me. If the crown suffers the people to be ill-educated and their manners corrupted from infancy, and then punish them for those crimes to which their first education disposed to them. What else is to be concluded then? That these false delusions come from me teaching them to think and act this way toward others? I will NOT allow that to happen in MY kingdom. Sometimes stories are just that. And while I love a good story... My education is what allows me to separate fact from fiction. So, I'm sorry if the painting offends you, Anslo. But to me it is nothing more than a reminder that there are people out there that suffer from these false labels that people have put upon them. And because of it, they act as the labels put upon them!" Anslo bowed his head more, uttering out politely. "Very well said, Your highness. My apologies."

Nate watched Sean relax back in his seat a little awestruck. He felt a strong connection to that line of thinking. Across from him, Princess Verlaine asked with a warm smile. "Sire? Where did you learn to think such a thing?" Sean smirked a little, blushing guiltily as he mumbled out. "One of my teachers forced me to read this book called 'Utopia.' He told me that if I was to be a good king that I should start there." Sean removed a top off the thing in front of him to reveal food. Nate's stomach growled just smelling the strong smell of crab. Lifting the top off to reveal his own food, he inhaled deeply. He had eaten crab many times in the ocean. Nate found it interesting that there was no need for the mini tridents. The belly of the crab was already open and even if it hadn't been, he could have opened it with his hands and a good rock. Scooping the meat out in his hand, he began to eat. The second the meat touched his tongue, he smiled. This didn't taste the same as the crabs in the ocean. It tasted sweeter and it was warm. He loved it. Leaning over it, he started to eat quickly. Only stopping when Princess Verlaine began to giggle.