The Pirate's Legacy: New Horizons

Chapter 39: A Bundle of Disappointment

"Ah, Your Highness," Oh Henry called down to the main deck. He stood at the top of the portside staircase. "Good morn. So glad of you to finally join us day walkers!"

Roger, from his position in the helm's balcony, watched Em step away from the hatch. Louise appeared after her, carrying the long train of the dress that her mistress wore. A look of distaste marred Em's face, and Roger didn't blame her for it. She wore a burgundy dress that Oh Henry had procured before they left Pirata. In normal dresses, the bodice was stringed at the back. That dress had strings down the front. Frills lined the bottom of the long skirt as well as the square neckline that hung low to show off Em's cleavage. Otherwise, the dress was very plain. As it was, the bust was loose. Ropes wrapped around her upper torso as well as her small waist. The skirt hung limp and straight without the usual cushions and hoops underneath it. Lastly, Em's long sleeves puffed at the top and ended narrow and tight around her wrist. The dress was the most conservative-looking that Oh Henry could find, but nonetheless, it obviously once belonged to a lady of the night.

Louise had tied up Em's shoulder-length hair with leather thongs she'd borrowed from Oh Henry. Two ringlets, which she curled from using the heated end of an iron-cast skillet, hung down either side of Em's face. Louise wore her sailing attire, over which she appeared glad.

Vast amusement colored Oh Henry's voice. "You look very lovely, Your Highness. Any man would pay top price for you."

Em's dark brown eyes slid up to the helm. Roger watched the portly pirate captain stiffen as her gaze pierced him. Roger smirked, impressed. Em shook off Louise before walking over to the gangway. They had arrived in Peralta's dockyard near noon. The pirate ship was abuzz with activity as men lowered the anchor and furled the sails around the masts. Down below on the dock landing, a thin wisp of a harbormaster waited to collect his fee. He eyed Em as she walked down the gangplank and greeted him with a small curtsey. His yellow eyes immediately plunged down her low neckline.

"Three shillings," the harbormaster muttered.

"You will have your tax," said Em, "after you send word to the castle that the queen of Tarym has arrived."

The harbormaster squint his eyes and raised them up to Em's face. "Yeah? Y'mean you?"

"Yes, I do," said the queen of Tarym. "Send the message specifically to Baron Phoenicus, the King Regent."

"Lady, the Baron Phoenicus is no longer here," said the harbormaster.

"Is not here," Em repeated. "Where did he go?"

"Haven't you heard?" The harbormaster looked at Em distrustfully. "He's gone off to kill the dragon on the mainland."

"We're done here," came a dark and muffled voice from behind Em. She turned around to see Roger walk down the gangplank. He was accompanied by Oh Henry, Michael, Daryl, Louise, and Blika. When Roger reached the harbormaster, he gestured to Oh Henry, who promptly held up three shillings.

"Why did you do that?" Em demanded after the harbormaster sauntered off the dock landing, his pockets jangling.

Roger narrowed his eyes. "You're wasting my time," he said. "If you want to get back to your castle, stop waiting for a litter to pick you up and go there yourself."

Em lifted a hand and rubbed her face as he walked past her. Her head swam with the unexpected news of Demitri gone and the dragon in her country. Roger was right. She couldn't wait for a messenger.

Their group paid for horses at a nearby inn. Em and Louise shared a horse while Blika sat in front of Roger on his horse. Together, they rode out of the town. The smells of food from the inn elicited a lightheadedness in Em. She hadn't eaten anything yet due to Louise's diligent preparation on her person, but she ignored the hunger and concentrated on riding her horse through the forest path. However, they encountered the same trouble at the gates of the castle as Em did in the dockyard. She demanded to speak with the new King Regent, whom she learned with shock was her cousin Leo, but the two soldiers standing on either end of the gates refused to relay her message.