The Princess's Servant

13. The Offer

It was evening and a stillness had fallen upon fair Lailoy. The hot summer day had cooled to a tepid dusk, and the once burning sky had filled with soft colors and pinpoint stars. No clouds crossed the dimming sunset, but the air held a certain dampness that it hadn't held before. This night would have been perfect, Holden thought, if he hadn't been observing it from the balcony of this prison.

The suitors stood on the veranda and looked out across the northern hills. A small garden table stood on the tiled floor, flanked by hanging baskets that overflowed with delicate vines. The table with dressed with a white table cloth and topped with lillies. The two wooden chairs on either side of it were cushioned with silk pillows.

"The final challenge," the princess said, "is dinner with me."

The suitors shuffled and kicked the floor. The other men had received proper baths, and now looked the picture of royalty, with their hair combed out and their clothes crisp. The only exception was Garg, who was drenched in some sort of salve that covered his acid wounds, though he didn't appear too pained.

The princess turned to the Duke. "Williams," she said, "you're up first. Everyone else — wait inside."

The pirate grumbled and Garg beat on his chest. Holden, however, was very happy to turn tail and escape this nightmare before it began. But as he put one foot through the doorway...

"Except for you," the princess said to Holden, and she nodded to Marcus. "You'll stay here in case."

Holden froze and retracted his foot and the guard came to retrieve him. He didn't ask 'in case of what?' He didn't ask 'why?' He simply stood for a moment, not flinching; not breathing. He wondered if he should snap. He wondered if he should jump off the balcony and escape to either death or forest. But he made no such move, and the other suitors walked past. He heard Williams take a seat. Marcus led him to the corner behind Her Royal Highness.

"So, Duke," the princess said, folding her hands in her lap. "Why do you think you should have my hand?" She asked.

Williams raised his eyebrows and looked to the princess. Then he looked to the silently still Holden. Sybil smiled the way dolls smile, the expression painted on her face in mockery of happiness. He opened his mouth to speak.

"Your Highness," he started. "After what I've seen today, I'm not certain—"

"Yes, you were rather impressive today, weren't you?" The princess interrupted. "With all that swinging around and... delivering me the basket and whatnot."

The duke blinked a few times. "You were impressed by that?" He asked. Holden wondered if forcing him to watch the duke's stupidity was intentional torture or just accidental.

"What could you offer me?" Sybil responded. "If I were to choose you over the others?"

"Well," the duke said. He shuffled in his seat and sat up straight. "Besides my wicked good looks and my enchanting charisma, my family has quite the coffers. I'd bet my third summer home I'm richer than anyone here. Including you, since the Wardians took nearly all of... what... you..."

The princess cocked an eyebrow and the Duke realized what he was saying.

He cleared his throat. "Own," he completed. "What I'm trying to say is: I could make you very comfortable."

The princess withdrew her hands from the table. "Is that so?" She asked. "And have you enough money to raise an army against the Wardian Empire?"

The duke batted his eyelashes. "Well I'd have to check. How many soldiers does the Wardian Empire have?"

"They have fifty thousand soldiers," Sybil replied.

Not far off, Holden thought. The princess had done her research.

"Fifty thousand?" The duke asked. "No, I don't suppose we have the money to raise an army of fifty thousand soldiers. Do you?"

The princess raised her hand in the air to some unseen guard. "Next!" She called. The duke's eyes went wide as some man came up behind him and pulled him from his chair.

"What?" He asked. "That's it?"

The princess didn't look at him as he was escorted off. She looked only to the pirate prince, who wobbled via peg leg to the table.

The pirate set down his drinking bottle hard and slammed his booty into the seat.

"G'd evening, Princess," he called in his raspy, salt-cut voice. "How are ye?"

The princess looked the man up and down. "I'm well 'Edmund.' How are you? You seem to have shrunk three inches since we last met. And aged twenty years," she said.

"Aye," the pirate said. "I'm not the person I seem. But then neither are you, are ye?" He asked.

Sybil's attention sharpened at this. "And what mean you by that?" She asked, a bit of hostility entering her expression.

"Yer an imposter here, it looks. A seagull stuck in a singing bird's cage. Though yer the type tha's better off free."

The princess rested her chin on the backs of her fingers. "Free from what?" She asked.

"No' free from, missy. Free to," the pirate said. "Free ta go wherever ya like. Free to sail around the world and drink, kill, and fuck to yer heart's content. You have a sharpness about ya. A hardness. You'd do well aboard me ship."

The princess stared at the man. She blinked at him and withdrew her hand as she sat back. "I would like that," she said. "Very much."

The pirate tilted his head towards her and took a swig of his drink.

"But I have people to look after," she said. "Responsibilities. I cannot join your crew."

Holden was surprised to find himself surprised. He supposed he hadn't anticipated even one noble trait in this reptilian woman. Though he wished dearly she would take the pirate up on his offer and leave the rest of them alone.

"Tha's alright, dear," the pirate said. "To be honest with ya, I took this gig more ta escape the Wardian navy than ta actually win yer hand. Though yer little games have been fun."

The princess smiled. "Do you often take on the Wardian navy?"

"Daily," he said. "Though they're no' much competition for me and my crew."

Sybil straightened herself out and smiled at the pirate. "Well, if you're even in need of extra funding, I'm certain I could work out a job for you. There's always room in the budget for a Wardian-sinking privateer."

Holden coughed.

"I'll keep that in mind," the pirate said.

"What is your name?" The princess asked. "Your real one?"

"The name's Bailey," he said. "Though I'm better known as One-Eye."

"It was very nice to meet you, Bailey. I'm sure we'll be in touch. Next?" The princess called, and the pirate took his leave.