The Sole Prince

Our ending would be different too. [part 2]

Sage turns back to James, who looks at him sadly.

"Well, a brief change of plans, but Jenua was Torrbeth's right-hand woman. She'll be able to take you home," he says, trying to be cheerful. The prince just nods, so the captain places his hands onto the prince's shoulders. He rests his forehead onto the prince's, the two close together, desperate to be closer. "I don't think this is the way either of us wanted it to end, but it shouldn't have begun either. You know that," the captain says softly, sadly, trying to put the weight of the world into so few words. "Maybe we'll meet again someday."

"Maybe we won't."

"Even if we don't, you'll be in my memory forever."

"And you in mine, always."

"In another life, we're having the time of our lives. And I just want you to know that, if our situation was different, our ending would be different too."

"We'd have so many more chapters to read, huh?"

"So many, James. And I'd have you read them all." The captain pulls away from the prince, removing his left hand from the prince's shoulder. He softly cups his face, wiping away a tear with a finger. "We'd have a whole saga, my-" He doesn't finish his sentence because the way the prince is looking up at him distracts him. Hesitantly, the prince moves a step closer to the captain, closing their already minuscule distance. They both want something so badly, and it's only a question of who shall take it first. The prince moves a hand up to the captain's collar, gripping lightly. And they are both about to take what they so awfully deserve, when a voice booms from behind them.

"Captain Sage Morrow!" the shrill voice yells, coming from the beach near the bottom of the ship's ladder. It must be Captain Jenua. Her voice pierces between them, pulling them apart instantly. So close, yet too late. And never to be tried again. "Long time, no see!" she continues, walking up to them, her outline in the sun getting larger as she gets closer. Her voice is almost ominous. The two men turn to face her.

"Captain Jenua," the captain says awkwardly, Jenua now just a few feet away. "It's a pleasure to see you again."

"Oh please, the pleasure is all mine," Jenua chirps in the same way a crow would. "And who is this with you?"

"This is James Serrio," the captain says, now more comfortable. Was the prince's name able to do that? "He's actually what I wanted to talk to you about."

"Oh, pray tell!" she croaks quickly. Her posture is meticulously straight, with slick, raven black hair falling down to her lower back. Her facial expressions almost look plastered on. Fake. Her long fingernails are talons.

"Well, I was hoping to ask a favor of you. Due to a turn of events, James here, ended up on my ship. But he's from Roriark, you see."

"Oh, Roriark. What an interesting coincidence that is, is it not?"

"Indeed," Sage continues. He's uncomfortable again with Jenua's voice bouncing in his head. James is even more. "As you know, my crew and I don't travel to Roriark."

"I do know."

"So." He ignores her. "I was hoping you and your crew would be available to take him back there for me."

"Oh," she caws, elongating the vowel. "You want me to take the boy off your hands. It would be my pleasure," she adds with a wicked smile, the first emotion that doesn't seem to be fake. "You mind if I take a better look, without James completely hiding behind you." She speaks as if the prince is a piece of property.

James hadn't even noticed he'd been hiding behind Sage. Awkwardly, the prince side-steps, exposing himself to Jenua. She squints her eyes to look at him, like she's checking if he's damaged goods. "I feel like I recognize it for some reason," she says, continuing to pierce her eyes into all parts of the prince's body. Then she smiles. "I'm surprised you'd be willing to give away such valuable loot," she hisses at the captain.